New Delhi: Leg spinner Suyash Sharma was glad to have executed his plans perfectly to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the final of IPL 2025 on Thursday.
Sharma claimed 3/17 in three overs as RCB obliterated PBKS by eight wickets in Qualifier 1, winning by 60 balls to spare, the biggest margin in terms of balls remaining in play-offs.
RCB won the toss opted to field and were at the throat of PBKS from the very beginning. RCB’s pace trio of Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17) and Yash Dayal (2/26) made early inroads to cripple the PBKS innings.
Sharma then broke their back through probing bowling, picking the wickets of Marcus Stoinis (26), just when he was beginning to look dangerous, with a beautiful googly.
He then also foxed Shashank Singh (3) and Musheer Khan (0) with his deceptive deliveries as PBKS batters kept attempting big shots and kept losing their wickets.
“My coaches gave me just one role, which is to hit the stumps whether I bowl legbreak, googly, flipper or any other variation. It (googly) is my stock ball and also I got a bit of help from the wicket as well,” he said at the post match presentation ceremony.
‘Clear plan’
RCB Rajat Patidar also praised Sharma for his tight bowling and ability to bowl at the stumps.
“I think we were clear in our plans, how we have to bowl. I think the fast bowlers used the surface really well. The way Suyash chipped in, the way he bowled his lines and lengths, that was really good,” he said.
“As a captain I am clear about his bowling. He has to target the stumps, that’s his strength. His wrong ‘un is difficult to read for the batters. I always want to give him clear ideas, I don’t want to confuse him.
“I am okay if he concedes a few runs (in the process.) We have had a lot of practice sessions throughout the tournament, so one day of not practising won’t harm you.”
Suyash Sharma claimed 3/17 in three overs as RCB obliterated PBKS by eight wickets in Qualifier 1, winning by 60 balls to spare, the biggest margin in terms of balls remaining in IPL play-offs. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
