Aakash Chopra brought attention to Rajasthan Royals (RR) current plight securing a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs only due to favorable outcomes. The defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets in Guwahati on Wednesday May 15.
After choosing to bat first, the Royals gave PBKS a 145-run aim that was below average. The visitors chased down the objective with seven deliveries to spare, handing Sanju Samson and company a fourth successive defeat.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Chopra noted that the Rajasthan Royals had not won a game this month.
“What has happened RR guys, will you win or will you qualify only when others win? You might feel bad that why am I saying that as you won eight matches. It seems like you won those eight matches last month. Have you won a match this month? I think they haven’t won a match this month.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener questioned the Jaipur franchise’s decision to play two home games in Guwahati.
“They have lost four consecutive matches and their condition is looking slightly miserable. They win the toss and bat first but don’t score runs after that. They didn’t show any intent, whether it was in Chennai or Guwahati. Why are you getting such a pitch made in Guwahati?”
“Firstly, why are you making a home away from home? If you have a fortress in Jaipur, which no one is able to breach, you have understood those conditions well and played five matches as well, why should you travel and go somewhere else?”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra stated that he is fine with the Rajasthan Royals playing in Guwahati as long as they play all seven home games there.
He reasoned that the squad would have to travel to a different site and play under unfamiliar conditions at the end of the competition.
“Tom Kohler-Cadmore played some slogs but he won’t work on slow pitches” – Aakash Chopra on Rajasthan Royals’ batting
Aakash Chopra commented on the Rajasthan Royals’ batting, saying that while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson were bowled cheaply, Tom Kohler-Cadmore is unlikely to deliver on slow wickets.
“Yashasvi (Jaiswal) once again at the start. He tried to hit the ball so hard and the ball hit his stumps. Sanju Samson also got out. There were expectations from him but he jumped and tried to play some shot. Tom Kohler-Cadmore played some slogs but he won’t work on slow pitches.”
Aakash Chopra
While applauding Riyan Parag for being a lone fighter at his home stadium, the cricketer-turned-commentator remarked that the Rajasthan Royals scored a poor total.
“He will neither work here nor in Chennai, if this team reaches there, because they might get stuck in Gujarat itself. Riyan Parag saved them for some time. In fact, he only stood till the end. The wickets were falling regularly at the other end, whether it was Rovman Powell or Dhruv Jurel. The team reached close to 145 with great difficulty. Is that enough? Not at all.”
Aakash Chopra
Parag led the Royals’ scoring with a 34-ball 48. Ravichandran Ashwin (28 off 19) was the only other RR player to score 20.