Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur
Jaipur, Apr 20: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Avesh Khan's spectacular death-over spell that clinched a thrilling two-run win for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.
Needing just 25 runs off 18 balls, RR seemed well on course to a comfortable win. But Avesh turned the match on its head with a masterclass in yorker execution, picking up key wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer in his final two overs. He capped off his effort by defending nine runs in the final over, ending with figures of 3 for 37.
"Avesh Khan single-handedly won them the game," said Manjrekar on JioHotstar. "He bowled the 18th over for just five runs and then nailed the final over. No fancy variations—just relentless yorkers. That’s what brought them back into a game they had almost lost."
Manjrekar also credited LSG skipper Rishabh Pant for backing Avesh at the crucial moment. “It was smart captaincy—Pant trusted current form over reputation,” he added.
Meanwhile, former India batter Ajay Jadeja analysed Rajasthan's collapse, calling it a tale of missed opportunities. “Things have just slipped away for Rajasthan Royals. They needed just 9 runs in the final over. In the IPL, you expect teams to finish from there, regardless of conditions or who's bowling,” he said.
He added that while RR had picked big wickets early—Pooran, Marsh, and Pant—they faltered both with the ball in the death overs and in the chase. “Those four sixes off Sandeep Sharma in the first innings made a big difference. They had the game in the bag but let it slip.”
The result marked RR’s fourth straight defeat in the competition, while LSG celebrated a much-needed and morale-boosting win.