September 7, 2024

Rahul Dravid Announced as Rajasthan Royals’ New Head Coach

Former India coach Rahul Dravid has officially joined the Rajasthan Royals as their new head coach under a multi-year contract. Dravid shared that after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup this June, he felt it was the “ideal time” to embrace a new challenge with the Royals.

“I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called ‘home’ for a number of years in the past,” Dravid said in a statement, having captained RR in IPL 2012 and 2013, and been their team mentor in 2014 and 2015. “After the World Cup, I feel it’s the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that … It’s an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Two days ago, ESPNcricinfo reported that Rahul Dravid and Rajasthan Royals had finalized their deal, including early discussions about player retentions for the upcoming mega auction. Dravid has a strong connection with RR captain Sanju Samson, who developed under Dravid’s guidance in the under-19 team.

Rahul Dravid’s Return to IPL and New Role with Rajasthan Royals

Dravid is returning to the IPL for the first time since 2019, when he took over as head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. In 2021, he became the head coach of the India men’s team and led them to their first ICC title in 11 years before completing his three-year term.

RR said in a statement that Dravid will “commence with the team immediately, working with Royals’ director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara to implement the franchise’s overall cricketing strategy.”

The Rajasthan Royals haven’t won the IPL title since their first season in 2008. Their best recent finish was in 2022, when they were runners-up to the Gujarat Titans. In 2023, despite a strong start, they didn’t make the playoffs and finished fifth. However, in 2024, they did reach the playoffs but were eliminated in Qualifier 2.

“We are delighted to be bringing Rahul back to the franchise,” RR CEO Jake Lush McCrum said. “His exceptional coaching capabilities are evident with the transformation he’s driven in Indian cricket. He also has a deep connection to the franchise, and we’ve seen that passion come through in all our conversations. Rahul has already got to work with Kumar (Sangakkara) and the rest of the team, as we prepare for this exciting new period for the franchise starting with IPL retention and the auction just around the corner.”

Josh Inglis’ 43-Ball Century Secures Series Win for Australia

Josh Inglis led Australia to a total of 196 runs, scoring 103 off 49 balls. He achieved the fastest T20I century by an Australian batter, reaching his hundred in just 43 balls. Scotland was bowled out for 126, with Australia winning by 70 runs. Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green were key in the bowling attack, taking a combined 6 wickets for 39 runs.

Inglis’s innings was especially impressive given the challenging conditions, where other batters struggled to find their rhythm. The final scores were: Australia 196 for 4 (Inglis 103, Green 36; Currie 3-37) and Scotland 126 (McMullen 59; Stoinis 4-23, Green 2-16).

Josh Inglis’s innings was crucial for Australia, as he scored 103 runs while the rest of the top six combined for 89 runs off 73 balls. His performance was key to Australia’s 70-run victory over Scotland and gave them a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Australia Sets Challenging Target as Scotland Fails to Keep Pace

Australia set Scotland a target of 197 after batting first, looking to bounce back from their loss in the series opener. Although Brandon McMullen contributed a solid 59 off 42 balls for Scotland, they struggled to keep up with the required run rate. On a pitch that varied in pace and offered some seam movement, Australia’s bowlers used their height effectively, maintaining challenging lengths and making the most of the conditions.

Scotland had a few moments of fast scoring, such as George Munsey hitting two sixes off Xavier Bartlett in the first over and Brandon McMullen smashing four sixes, including a standout front-foot pull off Aaron Hardie. However, Australia consistently took wickets by bowling short and forcing mistakes.

Sean Abbott ended McMullen’s innings in the 13th over, and Scotland’s resistance crumbled quickly after that. They lost their last six wickets for just 20 runs and were bowled out for 126 in 16.4 overs.

Without Inglis’s standout performance, Australia’s batting was less impressive. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had a duck on his T20I debut, scored a boundary on his first ball this time but struggled with his timing. His aggressive approach didn’t suit the pitch or McMullen’s challenging medium pace.

Inglis Shines as Teammates Struggle and Tim David Adds Final Flourish

Inglis’s teammates struggled against Scotland’s bowlers. Jake Fraser-McGurk scored 16 off 16 balls, while Travis Head, who had scored 80 off 25 balls in the first T20I, was out for a duck on his first ball, bowled by a brilliant delivery from left-arm quick Brad Currie. Currie was one of five new players in Scotland’s team, with three being bowlers. Their fresh approach made it tough for the Australian batters, except for Inglis.

Cameron Green managed 36 off 29 balls, and Marcus Stoinis ended with 20 not out off 20 balls. However, Green and Stoinis later took 6 wickets for 39 runs in 5.4 overs with the ball.

Inglis, on the other hand, seemed to play on a different pitch. While his teammates struggled, Inglis found the boundary consistently with his quick reflexes and precise placement. He expertly used his movements around the crease and techniques like the scoop and reverse-scoop to score runs. Even when the Scottish bowlers tried to restrict him with short balls, Inglis responded with swift and powerful shots.

Despite Inglis’s impressive innings, Australia had only reached 179 when Chris Sole dismissed him in the 19th over. Sole, who was introduced in the 11th over and bowled just three overs, was Scotland’s standout bowler. His pace and ability to vary his speed made him more effective than the other bowlers.

Australia’s total pushed close to 200 thanks to a quick burst from Tim David. He hit the first two balls of the final over, bowled by Brad Wheal, for sixes, with the second one flying well over the midwicket boundary and out of the ground.