RR not panicking despite back-to-back close defeats, insists Bahutule

The Rajasthan Royals lost games they were supposed to win twice in just over three days. They failed to score nine runs in the final over on both occasions. In the Super Over against the Delhi Capitals, they came up short, and in the Over against the Lucknow Super Giants, they lost by two runs. The fact that they are now eighth in the points table with only two wins in eight games is a negative sign, but the fact that they missed out on the chance to pick up four crucial points in the league stage of IPL 2025 is a positive sign. However, Rajasthan Royals spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has advised against panic with nearly half of the league stage remaining. He also gave LSG pacer Avesh Khan special praise for defending nine runs in the final over under pressure. "To be honest, we've been playing good cricket," Bahutule stated after the Royals' Saturday defeat to LSG in Jaipur. "The only thing that has changed is the result. In the dugout, there's a lot of calmness with Rahul (Dravid) being there. "Everyone in that dugout has played enough cricket to know not to panic and to take things as they come. But unfortunately, losing by two runs this game and the previous game with the super over, yes, it's been hard, but that's the way the game goes. "There is a lot of risk in the T20 format. Our goal is to minimize the number of mistakes that you make. When we were working together, I think we could have finished it in a couple of overs on our own. But Avesh bowled that excellent over once more. Therefore, yes, we could have completed it. But once more, we are completely composed and calm about it, and we are just looking forward to the next game." Bahutule also defended pacer Sandeep Sharma, who was run out for 27 runs in the final over of LSG's innings by Abdul Samad, who hit him for four sixes. In the previous match between RR and DC, Sandeep was given the task of bowling the Super Over ahead of more experienced international players like Jofra Archer and Wanindu Hasaranga, but he was unsuccessful. Bahutule, on the other hand, does not wish to assign blame to specific performers or moments. He stated that Sandeep Sharma's costly over occurs in any game. "He's a fantastic bowler, so that doesn't mean I can take anything away from him. He has always bowled those crucial and difficult overs. We would have had 20 fewer runs to chase, possibly 10-15 fewer runs. However, I believe we were still prepared to pursue that goal." He later also added, "Don't think any team wins or loses because of a player. To tell you the truth, this is a team sport. He also pitched two overs with very few runs—5 and 7—in the previous match. As a result, we tend to focus on overs in which he has not bowled well and to disregard important overs. However, I believe he is a complete giver to us. Additionally, the team and everyone else support him. "Going there and performing with the same intensity every day is not easy. However, I simply feel that we are one unit. The outcomes are not in our favor, and neither are the circumstances. However, I think it's a young side, and I'm sure that everyone is hurting and will learn from their mistakes. Despite the fact that you were in command of both matches, you were ultimately defeated. After a string of defeats, Bahutule also denied rumors of miscommunication in the team think tank. "The clarity with us, the players, the support staff, and the dressing room is the absolute best I've seen. Whatever the plans are, Rahul is very clear about what the game plans are. The players simply failed to execute on that particular day, and only in that final over did things not go our way. "We were playing good cricket most of the time while we were in the game. Therefore, I simply believe that we failed to cross that finish line. I believe they will evaluate the circumstance and inform us.