Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan questioned Dhruv Jurel’s strike rate after Rajasthan Royals suffered a five-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Sunday. Jurel scored 53 runs off 40 balls and batted with a strike rate of 132.20 before he was plumbed in front by Lungi Ngidi.
Pathan said Jurel should have had a higher strike rate after he faced 40 balls, which is one-third of the total deliveries in an innings. Jurel scored five fours and three sixes but he could not change gears in the final few overs as RR kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
RR lost six wickets for only 30 runs in the last six overs as they veered off the track after Riyan Parag’s dismissal.
Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Rajasthan scored just 33 runs from the last six overs. Dhruv Jurel is a good batter, but scoring 50 runs off 40 balls, you expect someone who has played 40 balls to have a better strike rate. That was a mistake, and because of this, they could not cross 200.”
Pathan said Dasun Shanaka’s addition as Impact Sub left RR’s bowling line-up as weak.
“Rajasthan’s problem is now backing Ravi Bishnoi. If Shanaka is your fifth bowler in the impact player era, that means there is a weakness. People say that the all-rounders are finished because of the impact player rule. Teams that have good all-rounders go with six bowlers.”
The former swing bowler urged Riyan Parag to control his emotions. Parag was seen fuming at his fielders when they misfielded and when overthrows were conceded.
Pathan concluded, “Riyan Parag got very angry on the field. When you do that, your attention gets diverted from your strategies. You need to be calm. He is a good player, and he batted brilliantly. I think he can be a better captain in the future. There is a lot of potential as a captain and a batter, but it is important to control your anger. He himself ended up misfielding when he got angry.”
Rajasthan Royals will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on Tuesday.
