Former great Indian player Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized Riyan ParagThe decision to hand the ball to Donovan Ferreira to bowl the 18th over during Rajasthan Royals (RR)'s defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, May 17.
Before the start of the 18th over, DC needed 35 runs in three overs, with RR firmly in the driver's seat to seal the win. However, 16 runs were scored off Ferreira's over, with Axar Patel and David Miller both hitting a six each, reducing the equation to 19 needed off 12 balls.
Gavaskar questioned Parag for bringing in a bowler whose pitch had no service, while he had not even bowled in the beginning of the innings. The South African also had a forgettable day with the bat, getting out for a golden duck, which could have hampered his confidence.
Gavaskar said on Geostar, “Handing the ball to Donovan Ferreira to bowl the 18th over was a suicidal move. You are bringing a slow bowler on a pitch that is not giving him any help. He was just bowling in the slot. It was his first over of the match. He also made a golden duck with the bat. Sometimes you have to see where the luck is going that day.”
Gavaskar It was suggested that the RR captain should have used a frontline bowler in place of Ferreira to give him a better chance of defending the total. Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka still had one over left and he had conceded 29 runs in three overs, and also took the wicket of KL Rahul.
“If he had scored 40 or 50 and was full of confidence, there would have been some point in giving him an over. But he got out on the very first ball, and yet you gave him the ball. He gave away 16 runs in that over and the match was done and dusted. Ryan Parag could have handed the ball to a proper bowler, a regular bowler. Even if that bowler gave away 20 runs, that's not the point. The point is that at that crucial stage, Gavaskar said, Donovan Ferreira was a suicidal decision of Rajasthan Royals.
The defeat has hampered RR's chances of qualifying for the playoffs, while their net run-rate has also been affected. After their defeat to DC, the 2008 champions are sixth on the points table with 12 points from as many matches played. Parag's team is in action once again on Tuesday, when they take on Lucknow Super Giants in Match 64 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
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