The 17th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 featured a heavyweight clash between the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings and the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, April 12.
Although Rajasthan Royals eventually had the last laugh, the contest was evenly spread for most of the part and was drawn down to the wire, courtesy of Devon Conway’s magnificent half-century and Ajinkya Rahane’s splendid knock, before MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja took matters in their control. It came down to Dhoni and Jadeja as they looked to chase down 19 runs in the final six deliveries of the game.
Sanju Samson handed Indian pacer Sandeep Sharma the responsibility of defending the target in the final over. The 29-year-old conceded 16 runs, and as Rajasthan won the game, he came forward to reflect on his performance in a chat with Lasith Malinga.
“I have been working with him (Malinga) on yorkers, and it is coming out nice. The ball that Mahi bhai hit was a tough ball. If someone else was facing the ball, he would have failed to hit it. I think I executed nicely, and it is always nice to end up on the right side.” Sandeep Sharma said in a video posted by the IPL.
Hope he would improve more: Malinga
Continuing about the same, bowling coach Lasith Malinga also opined that he was very happy with Sandeep’s performance and hoped for improved performances in the forthcoming matches, saying, “I am very happy (with Sandeep’s performance), and hope he would improve more.”
The Indian pacer bowled three overs against Chennai, in which he took one wicket and conceded 30 runs in the process. His final over was integral to Rajasthan clinching the win by three runs and moving to the top of the IPL points table. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings dropped down to the fifth position in the standings with four points in equinumerous matches so far.