RR v PBKS: Top 5 Performers of the Match!

A high scoring thriller at Wankhede and both teams ran so close to each other in the end. Punjab Kings put on a cracking score of 221-6 in 20 overs. Rajasthan Royals was up to the challenge almost chasing it down in the last over powered by a smashing ton by Sanju Samson on captaincy debut! RR managed 217-7 in 20 overs.

Here are our Top 5 Performers from the RR V PBKS fixture:

Deepak Hooda

They say it’s a  hard act to follow Chris Gayle. Enter Deepak Hooda at No.4 ahead of Nicholas Pooran for Punjab Kings. He smashed a 20 ball half century stunning every one on and off the field.

He was the major difference in Punjab Kings reaching 180 and 120. Hooda scored 64 runs in just 28 balls with the help of 4 fours and 6 sixes. The team score at his departure was 194-3 in 17.3 overs

KL Rahul

The 2020 edition Orange Cap winner came to the party again with a sumptuous 91 in 50 balls. He smacked 7 fours & 5 sixes in the innings. The Punjab Kings captain helped his team to 221-6 in 20 overs.

Rahul put on a 105 run partnership in 46 balls with Deepak Hooda to puzzle the RR bowling options.

Chetan Sakariya

The 22 year old Saurashtrian pacer impressed every one. Sakariya picked the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Jhye Richardson and KL Rahul on his IPL debut. He conceded just 5 runs and picked a wicket in the 20th over of the match which proved quite critical in Royals taking a psychological edge at the end of the innings.

The left arm pacer bowled 4 overs and picked 3 wickets for 31 runs. He even took a stunning catch to send Nicholas Pooran

Sanju Samson

Captaincy debut for Sanju Samson in IPL and what a knock it was! The Rajasthan Royals captain looked unshuddered by the mountain of a target set by Punjab Kings.

He became the first ever cricketer in IPL history to record a century on captaincy debut! Samson hit 119 runs in 63 balls and got his team so close to the target but couldn’t quite finish it. He struck 12 fours & 7 sixes to push Punjab Kings on the backfoot. The next highest score by a batsman in RR is 25 by Jos Buttler and Riyan Parag!

RR needed 5 runs to win in 2 deliveries as Samson denied the single and kept strike of the penultimate ball. He tried to clear the boundary over wide long off but caught by Deepak Hooda inches awar from the rope!

Arshdeep Singh

Another left arm pacer – but this time from Punjab Kings. Arshdeep Singh displayed some impressive death bowling last season and when it mattered he delivered! Bowling figures of 3/35 in 4 overs.

Arshdeep picked the wickets of Manan Vohra, Shivam Dube and the all important Sanju Samson. KL Rahul gave the last over duties to Arshdeep Singh with RR needing 13 runs to win in 6 balls. The Punjab pacer conceded just 8 runs in 6 balls including 3 dots and a wicket! – 0,1,1,6,0,W

What a finish to a splendid match – Truly entertained all fans!