Finalists Are Set...

When this season's IPL started, one thing was certain for me. it was that SRH will go to the finals. With the batting power they possess, it looks unbeatable for other teams. But they were beaten by some teams due to their approach to batting. Anyway, SRH qualified to finals, not with the performance of batters, it was a team effort.

Yesterday, the 2nd qualifier for IPL 2024 was held at Chidambaran Stadium. RR won the toss and Sanju Samson gladly chose to bowl first. We all know how good Trent Boult at bowling the first over. Proving that, he took the wicket of Abhishek Sharma even though the 1st over went for 12 runs.

Just like in last few matches, Travis Head was unable to get a good start. Seems like his reckless but creative batting style has vanished. So Rahul Tripathi had to set up and increase the run rate. When he was going so well, he got out for 37 trying to play an upper-cut for a slow-bouncer by Boult.

Aiden Markram was called to the playing 11 after a while and he didn't hang there for a long time. He just tipped the ball to the hands of Chahal at the same over putting SRH in grave danger. So, RR picked 3 wickets at the powerplay and all were taken by Boult.

Then Travis head and Heinrich Klassen had to build the innings from scratch. They scored in good rate. Both put short balls of spinners away to sixers, until Travis Head got out by getting outsmarted of a slow ball from Sandeep Sharma. That's when the innings started to get slow.

Avesh khan and Sandeep Sharma bowled really well in the middle phase. They didn't give away runs easily. That pressure was mounting on Nitish Kumar Reddy. So he went for a ramp shot and got out. Then Abdul Samad came and got bowled by the first ball from Avesh Khan.

Klassen required someone to rotate strike with him and carry the game until 19th over. And Shabhaz Ahmed, the impact player helped him do that. With the wicket of Klassen at the first ball of 19th over, SRH was unable to get the extra runs they hoped to get in last overs. Eventually they ended up at 175 in their 20 overs.

175 wasn't a winning score in this edition of IPL. But with the conditions of the pitch, SRH had a chance. The ball was getting low for fast bowlers. The ball was spinning for the spinners. With the handful of part-time spinners in the team, commentators said that they got a good chance. But I didn't believe in it, until the reply inning started.

At the powerplay, batsmen were struggling to find the timing of the ball. Just like in previous matches, Tome Kohler-Cadmore failed again. This could be his first and the last IPL contract. But RR likes to believe in players. Anyway, we can confirm it in the next season.

While Jaiswal was playing his shot just as other days but he got out eventually. Other key players of RR such as Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag struggled to score against the spinners in the middle overs. They were unable to score at least run a ball.

SRH played this match with 4 main fast bowlers. but they only bowled 11 overs. Captain Pat Cummins bowled his spell. Jaidav Unadkat bowled only one over. It is because their spinners were doing well. Abhishek Sharma and Shabhaz Ahmed bowled really well, giving only 47 runs in their 8 overs and getting 5 wickets.

Talking about RR batting, while all the others were struggling, Dhruv Jurel stood up and played some amazing shots traying to carry the team alone to the finishing line. On other days, Jurel was struggling. But not yesterday. Any way, other batsmen was unable even to rotate strike well, costing RR the game.

RR could have gone to finals easily if they didn't end the group stage in losing streak. Then they could go for the 2nd place. But that chance was earned by SRH and they are not through to the finals to play again with KKR, just like at the 1st qualifier. Let's hope the result won't be as the qualifier..