Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson has expressed disappointment over a no-ball that cost his team the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, May 7.
Sandeep Sharma, the pacer, was defending 17 runs off the final over when he thought he had dismissed Abdul Samad in the last ball. Sandeep looked up at the sky in celebration, but actually, it was a no-ball. Samad went on to hit Sandeep for a maximum and powered the Sunrisers to a four-wicket win in the dramatic encounter.
After the match, Samson acknowledged the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and the excitement it brings to the IPL. He said no team can ever feel like they have won a match in T20 cricket. Any opponent can win the game, and the Sunrisers were batting well, but he was confident in Sandeep to defend the final over. He had done it before against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
“This is what IPL gives you, matches like these makes the IPL special. You can never feel like you have won the game. I knew any opponent can win it and they were batting well too, but I was confident with Sandeep,” Samson said at the post-match presentation.
“He has won us a game from a similar situation (against CSK). He did it again today but that no-ball ruined our result.”
Samson also downplayed the impact of the no-ball, saying that it is a common occurrence in cricket and one should not think about it too much. He also praised Sandeep’s experience and said he knew what to do in such a situation. However, Samson admitted there might be a slight change in the mindset for a few seconds when a team thinks the job is done, and everyone starts celebrating.
“Sandeep knows what to do. Maybe there might be a small change in mindset for a few seconds when you feel that the job is done, everyone was celebrating but I think that’s the nature of this game, you can’t step the line at that point of time,” added Samson.
The defeat against Sunrisers was RR’s fourth in their last five matches. This last-ball loss can be a big blow to their hopes of making it to the playoffs.
