Pujara, Bishop Criticise RR for Ignoring Nitish Rana in Super Over

Cricket specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ian Bishop and Shane Watson have slammed the management of Rajasthan Royals for not attempting Nitish Rana in the Super Over while playing against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. RR went down to DC in the Super Over after Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag were promoted to bat in the Super Over, the third batter being Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Nitish Rana, who had struck a scorching 51 off only 28 balls and had taken the match to the Super Over with RR, was not selected by the RR team management for the Super Over, which resulted in accusations of “nepotism” on social media.

Pujara, Bishop disagree with RR over Nitish Rana decision

Cheteshwar Pujara believed that RR should have sent Jaiswal as the opener in the Super Over against DC’s Mitchell Starc and Nitish Rana must have been the third batsman.

“I think Nitish should have been there in those three,” Pujara told. “But I don’t know whether he should have started. I would want Jaiswal to start because of the way he bats against Mitchell Starc his record [against Starc] has been phenomenal across formats [26 runs from 15 balls without a dismissal in T20s and 133 from 203 with three dismissals in Tests].

“I know it was the Super Over and Starc was just trying to execute his yorkers, but there’s a psychological advantage. If Yashasvi had faced a few balls, then Starc would have been under some pressure.”

His co-panellist Bishop was in concord. Former West Indian great felt Rana’s “silky skill” might have served some purpose to RR.

“I like Jaiswal at the top there, but I am biased towards Nitish Rana as well,” Bishop said. “I would not mind Rana’s silky skill to come in there, not necessarily raw power.”

Watson, Axar grapple with Nitish Rana snub

Australian all-rounder of yesteryears, Shane Watson, was also perplexed with the decision on TV. He grappled with RR’s failure to send Rana in the Super Over, even though he was in peak condition.

“There were some brainfade moments as there were couple of run-outs. We kept on saying what wrong has Nitish Rana done that he was not sent in the Super Over. You have a batter who is set and has scored runs. In that case, not sending him made no sense,” Watson said.

DC captain Axar Patel himself was left surprised at RR’s batting decisions during the Super Over.

“Hetmyer wasn’t able to connect in the match either,” Axar said after DC’s win. “So I felt Jaiswal and Riyan would come out. But it worked out well for us, whoever they sent out.”