Ravindra Jadeja turned up with a vintage performance in Rajasthan Royals win over Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match on Wednesday. His all-round show helped the Royals bounce back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.
The veteran allrounder top-scored with an unbeaten 43 to rescue RR from a precarious situation of 77 for 5. With the ball, he dismissed the dangerous Nicholas Pooran for 22, who was steadily building a partnership with Mitchell Marsh.
Jadeja claimed his first IPL ‘Player of the Match’ award in two years, which he dedicated to his wife Rivaba, recalling that how she had predictated on the eve of the match that he would play a big role in the match for his team.
“Feeling good, winning Man of the match. I want to dedicate the award to the education minister of Gujarat (which is his wife). She said yesterday that I will do well and I did. Wicket was not easy to bat because the ball was seaming and swinging. I wanted to play long as much as I can. In T20 cricket, you never know last over you can cash in and we did,” Jadeja said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Jadeja and impact player Shubham Dubey added an unbeaten 49 runs together, which turned out to be crucial for the Royals. Dubey scored a quick 19 not out off 11 balls. Earlier, LSG pacers Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav had picked up two wickets each to keep things tight.
Chasing a target of 160, the lowest successfully defended total this season, RR bowlers started strongly and stayed in control throughout. With some excellent fielding backing them up, they handed LSG their fourth straight defeat.
Jofra Archer led the bowling attack well and got good support from Nandre Burger and Brijesh Sharma, who took two wickets each. Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi chipped in with one wicket apiece as LSG were bowled out for just 119 in 18 overs. With this win, RR have climbed to second place on the points table.
