IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals Always Find A Way To Mess It Up, Former Cricketers Criticise Sanju Samson & Co

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Former Indian cricketers have criticised Rajasthan Royals for their questionable decision-making and inability to capitalise on favourable situations, particularly evident in their recent match against Punjab Kings in IPL 2024.

Expressing his disappointment, former India and Rajasthan Royals players Robin Uthappa remarked, "They find problems when they don't exist. It made little sense they sent Tanush Kotian to open tonight. Every season they do that.

"They start off well and look like a team who has it in them but then they find ways to lose matches they are not supposed to."

In the low-scoring chase against Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals managed to secure a narrow three-wicket victory. However, their approach to the game raised eyebrows, especially with the decision to promote Tanush Kotian as the opener in the absence of Jos Buttler.

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan highlighted the consequences of the slow start, stating, "They added 50 runs for the first wicket but not scoring runs quickly put them in trouble and that's why we saw that middle-order collapse before Hetmyer saved the day."

Defending the decision, Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson emphasised Kotian's potential, stating, "Tanush is an interesting youngster. He came in as an allrounder, he had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season with Mumbai and he's been performing well."

Despite initial success, Rajasthan's batting lineup faced a collapse, slipping from 82/2 to 138/7 within seven overs. It was left to Shimron Hetmyer to steer them to victory with a crucial 10-ball 27, sealing the win with two sixes in the last over.

The match itself showcased Rajasthan Royals' ability to make situations more challenging than necessary, struggling against Punjab Kings' clever bowling tactics on a challenging pitch. However, they managed to scrape through, highlighting their unpredictable nature.

In contrast, Punjab Kings faced their own challenges, failing to capitalize on a solid start and struggling to accelerate against Rajasthan's disciplined bowling display. Despite late heroics from Livingstone and others, their efforts fell short, resulting in a below-par total.

Overall, the match served as a reminder of Rajasthan Royals' tendency to complicate straightforward situations, a trait that former cricketers believe could hinder their progress in the tournament.