The pitches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have produced matches of contrasting outlooks and results. Matches have either been high-scoring ones or the team have collapsed due to assistance to bowlers with the new ball.
Rajasthan Royals have had a taste of both in their two games this season. In their first game against the Punjab Kings, it was a nightmare affair for the bowlers on both sides as batsmen ramped up scores beyond the 200-run mark.
Royals’ captain played a sublime innings that almost turned out to be a match-winning one before he failed to hit the big shots on the last two balls of the game.
He had denied a single to Chris Morris on the penultimate delivery of the game that created dividend opinions among experts and fans. Instead, he backed himself to clear the boundary and win his side a close game needing five runs off the last ball.
He failed to do that and the Royals lost a game they should have won. That game was followed by another close game but that time bowlers had an upper hand over the batsmen from either side.
Going into the third game against the Chennai Super Kings, Sanju Samson understands the pinnacle position he holds in the Royals batting line up and hence he sweated it out in the nets to better just the hard-hitting abilities.
In a video released by the franchise on its Twitter timeline, Samson can be seen hitting all balls he faced in the air and practising long shots in a bid to prepare for the game against the Super Kings.
Samson for long has been commended for his intent and abilities to hit big shots but has also faced criticism due to lack of consistency. He needs to up his consistency and the game against the Super Kings is the imperative occasion for him to do that having failed in the last game against the Capitals.