After defeating DC, RR skipper Sanju Samson talks about how player dynamics have changed, saying, “Earlier it was about 11 players, now it is about 15.”

The Rajasthan Royals continued their winning start in the 2024 Indian Premier League on Thursday, defeating the Delhi Capitals by a score of 12 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

After restricting DC to 173/5 in 20 overs with an undefeated 82-run innings from Riyan Parag, RR amassed a score of 186/5 with two wickets apiece from Nandre Burger and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sanju Samson, the captain of RR, expressed his happiness with the outcome and spoke about the impact player conundrum he encountered throughout the match. Samson chose to bring in Burger as the impact substitute instead of big-hitting Rovman Powell to finish off the Jaipur team’s batting after Parag began to dominate in the last overs.

It felt a little like a roller coaster. “Well, Rovman, get ready; you might have to bat today, the way we started the first ten overs,” Samson said.

The captain said, “But the way the batters accepted the responsibility was fantastic.”

“Parag truly made the difference,” he said, giving the child credit.

Samson continued by discussing how the impact player rule has changed the way the game is played.

The game is evolving, therefore, everyone of us has to be adaptable. There are now perhaps 15 players instead of the previous 11 or so, according to Samson.

Samso said that while he and head coach Kumar Sangakkara had long conversations about who would be the impact player that day, Parag’s heroic innings made the choice simpler.

Around the 13th–17th, Sanga and I had four or five conversations. However, the 29-year-old said that Riyan’s actions in the 20th over made things simple.

The outstanding batsman said that it was important to assess the bowlers’ mental states when Samson was debating who to throw the ball to in the last over of the chase.

The wicketkeeper-batsman said, “It is all about gauging in which zone they are; you have to look at that and take the decision accordingly.”

He ultimately decided to give Avesh Khan the last over and Sandeep Sharma the 19th over, and his choices were successful.

“I answered that call, and Sandy and Avesh were both calm,” he said.

Samson predicted that the talented Parag would have a breakout year this year as well.

“Riyan has gained a lot of notoriety over the last three to four years. People in Kerala often ask me when they can expect him to make a breakthrough. This is the season, Touchwood. The captain said, “He has a lot to offer Indian cricket and has to keep his head down.