NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings effectively restricted Rajasthan Royals to a modest total of 144 for nine in an IPL match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Despite the challenging conditions, local hero Riyan Parag managed to put up a commendable performance, scoring 48 runs off 34 balls for the Royals. However, the Punjab Kings bowlers, led by skipper Sam Curran, made significant contributions to their team's strong defensive display.
Curran claimed 2 wickets for 24 runs in his 3 overs, while Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar also made valuable contributions, taking 2 wickets each for 28 and 26 runs respectively in their allotted overs. Nathan Ellis also played his part, conceding just 24 runs in his 4 overs.
Harshal, who overtook Jasprit Bumrah to regain Purple Cap with 22 wickets in 13 matches so far, aspires to be as good as Bumrah but sees him as a competitor.
"(On purple cap) Has been a see-saw. Keeps going away from me. (On Bumrah) He is someone who I see as a competitor, I aspire to be as good as him," Harshal said in the mid-innings beak interaction
"(On his dipping slower delivery) It is a difficult delivery to execute but once you start executing, it gives you a lot of confidence. If the batter doesn’t pick it, then it increases your chance of getting a wicket. I’ve been bowling it for almost five years now. In the last year and a half, I wasn’t able to execute it consistently so I didn't try it in the first half of the IPL. I
It gives me so many options at the death, the batters are ready for that slower one and I can sneak in a yorker or a quick-length ball. And when you get the batters out, they can’t get that acceleration at the death. They are probably 10-15 below par, I think we bowled really well after the powerplay. Hopefully, we can play some sensible cricket and chase this down," Harshal added.
