Tom Moody questioned RR’s death-over strategy against GT, which backfired as they did not utilise Trent Boult in the final overs.
Cricket expert and former Australian cricketer Tom Moody criticised Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson’s decision not to utilise experienced fast bowler Trent Boult during their match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 10th.
Boult, known for his swing bowling and death-over expertise, bowled just two economical overs upfront. However, Samson opted against bringing him back later in the inning, a move that apparently baffled Moody.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Moody highlighted the missed opportunity. “You had to use Trent Boult at the end. He’s certainly bowled at the death before and has a huge amount of experience. So when it comes to pressure, he is used to absorbing it and taking on those challenges. He’s walked off that park with two overs left in the bank, which makes no sense whatsoever,” said Moody.
Also Read: Trent Boult’s Limited Bowling Raises Eyebrows: Aakash Chopra Critiques RR’s Tactics
Apparently, RR’s gamble backfired as the Titans chased down a target of 197. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal conceded a combined 83 runs in their eight overs, failing to contain the GT batters.
Furthermore, Moody questioned the decision to use Ashwin in the 17th over, particularly considering his expensive spell. “It’s nothing against Ashwin. He is a quality bowler. But him and Chahal together went for 83 runs in their 8 overs, which is pretty heavy. I certainly think it was a miss with Trent Boult, unless there’s an injury or illness that we don’t know about,” concluded Moody.
With April 10th’s match, RR booked their first loss of the IPL 2024, ending their unbeatable run in the tournament. However, the Royals will hope to bounce back as they face PBKS on April 13th.
Last Updated on April 11, 2024
