Alongside an effort that propelled Rajasthan Royals’ chase alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, Riyan Parag struck for 77 runs in 49 balls, moving him up to fourth on the Orange Cap table of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). After Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson were bowled for ducks by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the opening over of the encounter, Parag joined Jaiswal. Following a dismal start, the two combined to score 134 runs off only 78 balls, helping RR rally and finally close to within two runs of SRH’s goal of 202.
Here on Thursday, Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a robbery, defeating Rajasthan Royals by only one run in a last-ball drama to preserve their IPL playoff aspirations. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the star of the show with a spectacular last over.
Bhuvneshwar (3/41) caught Rovman Powell (27) with a full toss when RR needed two to win off the final ball, leaving them stuck at 200 for seven while chasing a total of 202. Nitish Reddy (76 not out) and Travis Head (58) struck brilliant fifties when Sunrisers Hyderabad batted, while Heinrich Klassen (unbeaten 19-ball 42) helped push Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201 for three.
When Bhuvneshwar dismissed Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks in the first over, leaving RR at 1 for 2, things appeared to be improving. To build the groundwork for the chase, though, youthful guns Yashasvi Jaiswal (67) and Riyan Parag (77) produced counterattacking fifties on route to a huge 134-run partnership.
Parag’s total has increased to 409 runs at an average of 58.43 and a strike rate of 159.14 in nine innings. As a result, he passed LSG skipper KL Rahul, who has scored 406 runs at an average of 40.60 and a strike rate of 142.95 in 10 innings. After breaking Virat Kohli’s record during their encounter against the Punjab Kings, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is still at the top of the chart. Sai Sudharsan of GT is third.
Read More: Gautam Gambhir Commends CSK for Emphasizing Dhoni Influence in IPL 24
