The Royals, still mathematically alive in the race for a play-off spot, face Punjab on Friday in Dharamshala.
Given their higher net run rate, the Royals are better placed than Punjab but both will have to rely on further results after a rocky season.
“This type of game is the easiest to play, you don’t need to think a lot, go ahead and express yourself. From now on we go into tomorrow’s game as the last of the season and we We’ll look to end it on a high note,” Sandeep said on the eve of the match.
“Obviously it’s a bit stressful, every team wants to qualify for the playoffs, and we found that difficult this year. But, at the same time, as a professional player, we have to perform and try to win the game for our team.”
The Rajasthan Royals, who looked like the team to beat in the first half of the IPL with four wins in their opening five games, have only themselves to blame for their troubles.
While Sandeep starred in the team’s win over Chennai Super Kings with his two brilliant Yorkers in the final over, his lack of the ball in the final delivery cost the Rajasthan Royals the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Abdul Samad hit the bowler directly above his head for a boundary to win the match for SRH.
“If you play first and you get hit for 15-16 runs, nobody even thinks about it. But you play second and you have to defend 15-16 runs, so there’s a lot more pressure on the bowler. But for a bowler, it is important that he is not afraid of the situation and accepts the challenge instead.
“And as you can see, the hitters are too good these days, and the boundaries are small, running 15-16 runs in the last over isn’t a big deal anymore.
“So it’s important for a bowler to keep their nerves, work hard during practices, have confidence in their abilities and try to execute their plans. Some days you will win a match for your team , and some days you will lose. But it’s very important to keep training and to keep trusting yourself,” Sandeep said.
Despite the exemplary performances of personalities such as Yashasvi Jaiswal And Yuzvendra Chahalthe star-studded outfit flattered to deceive.
Jos Buttler also played some sensational shots but wasn’t consistent enough. After being dismissed without scoring in the previous two games, the England striker will be looking forward to playing in the do-or-die game on Friday.
“I think we’ve played very good cricket this season. In some games we couldn’t control the crucial moments so we ended up on the wrong side. But I’m pretty sure that this ground (stadium HPCA) will suit us a plot.
“I think we’ve got some good swing bowlers… when you’re playing in such conditions you try to play in good areas, at good lengths, try to swing the ball until it swings and after this, you have to make variations.
“It’s always easier to plan your bowling by watching other games. We’ll try to have better plans for tomorrow,” he concluded.
(With PTI entries)
