IPL 2024: RR Review: How did the hot favourites RR lose the plot at the very end?

Fortunes can change quickly in a tournament, and no team knows this better than the Rajasthan Royals (RR). They were leading the points table for over a month, looking like the most balanced side. But then they hit a rough patch, slowly slipping to third place, and eventually getting knocked out. Things started to fall apart as they lost four games in a row towards the end of the tournament, ruining their chances of making it to Qualifier 1.

RR managed to bounce back with a crucial win in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, giving them some hope. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going and lost to Sunrisers in Qualifier 2, ending their tournament run. Despite their strong start, the sudden losses proved too much to overcome, leading to their elimination.

See Also: IPL 2024: CSK Review: What factors contributed to the Yellow Army’s inability to retain the IPL title?

High Point of the Tournament – Jos Buttler’s Ton vs KKR

The incident occurred last month when Jos Buttler delivered an incredible knock of 107 off 60 balls against KKR at Eden Gardens, securing his seventh IPL hundred, just one shy of Virat Kohli’s record of eight hundreds. Leading the chase of 224, Buttler played a crucial role in scripting an epic victory. The match also featured a blistering century from Sunil Narine, but Buttler stood out with his nerves of steel, guiding the Royals to a thrilling win by 2 wickets.

Low Point of the Tournament – 4 losses in a row

The Royals were close to playoff qualification with 8 wins by the end of April 2024. They led the points table for four straight weeks, but the month of May didn’t treat them well. They lost three consecutive away games against SRH, DC, and CSK, respectively, before suffering a defeat at their second home in Guwahati. RR lost to Punjab Kings by 5 wickets, and their last league stage game against KKR was abandoned due to rain. Despite this rough patch, their strong performance in the first half of the tournament ensured a top-four finish.

Sanju Samson had a mixed season as a captain but a decent one overall. Under his leadership, the Royals soared high before losing balance when some of their match-winning players had to leave. Nonetheless, he managed the remaining resources wisely, although the results didn’t favor them in the end. Samson’s strategic efforts kept the team competitive, even as they faced significant challenges in the latter part of the season.

Most Valuable Player: Riyan Parag

The IPL 2024 showcased the emergence of Riyan Parag as a prominent batter. Known for his bowling in previous editions, Parag focused on his batting this season, building on an impressive domestic season across formats. He finished as the highest run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals (RR), amassing 573 runs in 16 matches. This remarkable performance placed him third on the overall IPL 2024 run-scoring list, behind only Virat Kohli (741 runs) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (583 runs).