The already bad season for Rajasthan Royals seems to be getting worse. Or at least that is what online analysis and news media reports are suggesting.
In focus is the head coach Rahul Dravid and the captain Sanju Samson, who don't seem to be on the same page as far as team affairs are concerned.
A video clip from its last game against DC --- Rajasthan lost it in the super over --- seems to hint at communication breakdown between the two. The clip that has gone viral shows Dravid addressing the team in a huddle before the Super Over, while Samson appears to distance himself from the discussion. A teammate is seen gesturing for Samson to join, but the captain signals with his hand and walks away. This has fuelled rumours of discord within the team. Samson's absence from the huddle has sparked debates about his relationship with Dravid and the overall cohesion within the team.
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On the other hand, it could also have an innocuous reaction and Dravid's chat may have been a general one. There is also a school of though that feels Samson's recent injuries, including a rib injury sustained during the match, could be a possible factor affecting his involvement and leadership.
The incident comes at a critical juncture for RR, who are struggling in the tournament with just two wins from seven matches. Since it bungled the Super Over against DC, the scrutiny has intensified. Questions have been raised about RR's decision-making during the match, particularly the choice of batters for the Super Over. Despite Nitish Rana's impressive 51 off 28 balls, he was not sent in, with RR opting for Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal instead. The move backfired, as RR managed only 11 runs, allowing Delhi to chase down the target with ease.
As RR prepares for its upcoming clash against Lucknow SuperGiants, the focus will be on its ability to regroup both on and off the field.
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