Inconsistency with the bat and lack of depth in the bowling department, issues that held back Rajasthan Rajasthan (RR) throughout the campaign, were their nemesis again as they went out of the playoffs race following a heavy defeat in their last fixture on Sunday (November 1).
Outside of Jofra Archer (1/19) and Rahul Tewatia (3/25), skipper Steve Smith searched for control but found no one there to provide it. RR conceded a massive score of 191/7 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the first half.
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Then with the bat, their top six collapsed like a pack of cards. The team could manage only 131/9 in response, with Jos Buttler (35) and Tewatia (31) being the only ones to take the fight to the opposition attack, including a firing Pat Cummins (4/34) and the incisive Varun Chakravarthy (2/20).
The result meant RR suffered yet another league stage exit, finishing eighth in the competition with just 6 wins in 14 matches.
"I thought it was a 180 wicket. There was a bit of dew. Losing four in the Powerplay, it was always going to be tough from there. Cummins bowled nice lengths, made us play some good shots," Smith said at the post-match presentation, as quoted by ANI.
"We got off to a flyer, but then we lost wickets in a clump. Unfortunate way to end. We started off really well, won the last two before this one. In the middle we lost our way."
"Our batters, the top four or five didn't take responsibility perhaps. A couple of real positives. Jofra has been exceptional pretty much every game.
"Tewatia obviously has pulled a few out of the hat throughout the tournament. He has bowled exceptionally well throughout the tournament. Not enough support for them," he added.
