NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson lauded pacer Sandeep Sharma's standout performance following the team's heartbreaking 36-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2, which dashed their hopes of reaching the IPL 2024 final.
Despite the Royals' overall struggles, Sandeep's precise swinging deliveries shone through on a night dominated by spinners. The 31-year-old speedster delivered an impressive spell, capturing the wickets of SRH's power-hitting duo, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, finishing with figures of 2/25 in his four-over spell.
Samson, who has closely followed Sandeep's progress throughout the season, praised him as the "next guy" after India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.
"I am happy for him. By not being picked in the auctions and coming back as a replacement. The way he bowled, he has delivered. If we look at the numbers, Sandeep Sharma in the last two years, he will be the next guy after Bumrah. He has done a great job," Samson remarked post-match.
Sandeep's journey this season has been noteworthy. After going unsold in the previous IPL auction, he was signed by the Royals as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna. From that moment, he emerged as a crucial figure in Rajasthan's pace bowling setup.
Sandeep ended the season with 13 wickets in 11 matches, maintaining an economy of 8.18 and a strike rate of 17.54.
1/8:Qualifier 2: SRH down RR to set up IPL final with KKR
PTI
2/8:Sunrisers Hyderabad Victorious
<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 36 runs on Friday to set up an IPL final against Kolkata Knight Riders, as spinner Shahbaz Ahmed starred with three wickets.</p>PTI
3/8:Heinrich Klaasen's Heroics
Heinrich Klaasen smashed 50 off 34 balls to help Sunrisers post 175/9.AFP
4/8:Shahbaz Ahmed Shines
<p>Ahmed came in as an impact substitute in Hyderabad's batting innings to score 18 runs and then returned figures of 3-23 with his left-arm spin to flatten the opposition chase.</p>AFP
5/8:Kolkata Knight Riders Await
Kolkata, who thrashed Hyderabad in the first play-off game to reach their fourth final, will meet Pat Cummins' side again in the decider.AFP
6/8:Pat Cummins' Impact
Cummins, who cost SRH $2.5 million at the auction, remains on the cusp of another title after he led Australia to the WTC trophy and then to the ODI World Cup in India last year.AFP
7/8:Rajasthan's Chase Falters
Rajasthan faltered in their chase despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's quickfire 42 before the opener fell to Ahmed and skipper Sanju Samson soon departed for 10.PTI
8/8:Hyderabad's Victory Path
Ahmed strick twice in one over, including the in-form Riyan Parag for six, and despite Dhruv Jurel's late unbeaten 56, inaugural champions Rajasthan fell well short.AFPFormer India captain Sunil Gavaskar, during his commentary, urged the BCCI selectors to consider Sandeep for the national team. He highlighted the often-overlooked consistency of the pacer's performances, despite the focus on express fast bowlers.
"Whenever someone bowls over 140kmph, we begin salivating, but no one talks about him as an India prospect. Look at the slower bowls, it shows cleverness," Gavaskar noted.
(With inputs from ANI)
