Pujara, Bishop, Watson criticise Rajasthan Royals over Nitish Rana Super Over snub: 'Nitish should have been there'

Cricket experts, including Cheteshwar Pujara, Ian Bishop and Shane Watson, have criticised the Rajasthan Royals management for not sending Nitish Rana in the Super Over against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. RR lost to DC in the Super Over after Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag were asked to bat in the Super Over, with Yashasvi Jaiswal being the third batter.

Nitish Rana, who had hit a blistering 51 off just 28 balls and helped RR take the match into the Super Over, was not picked by the RR team management for the Super Over, leading to accusations of "nepotism" on social media.

Pujara, Bishop disagree with RR over Nitish Rana decision

Pujara felt RR should have sent Jaiswal as opener in the Super Over against DC’s Mitchell Starc and Rana should have been the third batter.

“I think Nitish should have been there in those three,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo. “But I don’t know whether he should have started. I would want Jaiswal to start because of the way he bats against Mitchell Starc - his record [against Starc] has been phenomenal across formats [26 runs from 15 balls without a dismissal in T20s and 133 from 203 with three dismissals in Tests].

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“I know it was the Super Over and Starc was just trying to execute his yorkers, but there’s a psychological advantage. If Yashasvi had faced a few balls, then Starc would have been under some pressure.”

Fellow panellist Bishop agreed. The former West Indian great felt Rana’s “silky skill” could have been useful for RR.

“I like Jaiswal at the top there, but I am biased towards Nitish Rana as well,” Bishop said. “I would not mind Rana’s silky skill to come in there, not necessarily raw power.”

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Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson also questioned the decision on air as he struggled with RR’s decision not to send Rana in the Super Over despite being in top form.

“There were some brainfade moments as there were couple of run-outs. We kept on saying what wrong has Nitish Rana done that he was not sent in the Super Over. You have a batter who is set and has scored runs. In that case, not sending him made no sense,” Watson said.

DC captain Axar Patel was himself shocked over RR’s batting choices in the Super Over.

“Hetmyer wasn’t able to connect in the match either,” Axar said after DC’s win. “So I felt Jaiswal and Riyan would come out. But it worked out well for us, whoever they sent out.”