Mumbai: It was a bizarre situation for Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede on Sunday night. After coming close to losing their third game on the trot in this IPL, Royals were still celebrating after Ambati Rayudu 30 (10b) was run out and scores were tied at 189/5 in 14.3 overs. Royals’ thought they are through to playoffs despite heroics by Corey Anderson 95 (44 b) who was stranded at the other end.
But soon the big screen flashed that the Mumbai Indians can still qualify if they score a boundary of next ball. New man in, Aditya Tare did it in style by flicking an inconsistent James Faulkner for six over backward square-leg and celebrations in rival camp soon turned dismay.
The situation summed up the campaign of inaugural IPL champions, who started off with lot of promise, and ended in a disaster. Even mentor Rahul Dravid couldn’t hide his emotions, who was pumped up in the dugout after Rayudu was run out but a ball later he uncharacteristically threw his cap down in anguish. “We thought we won the game (in qualification tussle) at one stage. Still we had to bowl one ball and they hit a boundary. You can just imagine the emotions.
There was sheer disappointment in their camp, joy in our camp and then suddenly a ball later that was completely reversed,” a disappointed Dravid said. Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that they thought it was over for them after Rayudu was run-out while trying to get the second run. “We did not know exactly (who qualified). We did not know the match could be tied in 14.3 overs. We wanted to win in 14 or 14.2 or thought we would lose. Then the big screen flashed it,” he said.
