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Sangakkara Lauds Dubey's Match-Winning Knock After RR's Thrilling Chase

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara praised Shubham Dubey for his mental strength after the impact player scored an unbeaten 31 to help RR chase down 223 against Punjab Kings. Dubey formed an unbroken 77-run partnership with Donovan Ferreira to seal the win in 19.2 overs. Earlier, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a blistering start with 43 off 16 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 51. Punjab Kings posted 222/4 powered by Marcus Stoinis' unbeaten 62 but suffered their first defeat of the season.

Key Points: Sangakkara Lauds Dubey as RR Beat PBKS in IPL Thriller

  • Shubham Dubey scores match-winning 31 as impact player
  • RR chase 223 with 77-run unbroken partnership
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hits 43 off 16 balls
  • PBKS suffer first defeat of IPL season
2 min read

'He's exceptionally skilful to bring the game to us': Sangakkara lauds Dubey after RR's win over PBKS

Kumar Sangakkara praises Shubham Dubey's mental strength after his unbeaten 31 helps Rajasthan Royals chase 223 and hand Punjab Kings their first defeat.

"He is exceptionally skilful to be able to keep that focus and go and bring the game to us. - Kumar Sangakkara"

New Chandigarh, April 29

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara heaped praise on finisher Shubham Dubey for his mental strength and match awareness after the left-hander played a match-winning knock of 31 runs, coming as an impact player against Punjab Kings at the PCA New International Stadium.

Chasing a daunting 223, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were under pressure with the required rate climbing steeply. But Dubey, alongside Donovan Ferreira, turned the game around with an unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls to seal the chase in 19.2 overs and hand Punjab Kings (PBKS) their first defeat of the season.

"I thought Dubey, coming in as an impact player, it's one of the hardest things to do, because you don't know if you're playing. So mentally, he is exceptionally skilful to be able to keep that focus and go and bring the game to us. He went in at a tough position," Sangakkara told reporters after the match. "Riyan Parag's small innings was exactly what we needed to bring the momentum back over here. So it was a collective effort," he added.

Earlier in the chase, 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a blistering start with 43 off 16 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal chipped in with a fluent 51. Despite a brief slowdown triggered by Yuzvendra Chahal's strikes, RR stayed in contention before their finishers took charge.

Sangakkara also underlined the depth in Rajasthan's batting unit, insisting the spotlight should not be limited to just Vaibhav.

"I know the focus is a lot on Vaibhav, and I know why, because he's an incredible player, amazing to watch. But at the same time, when I look at my side, and I run through my batters, there's Vaibhav, Dhruv Jurel, Yash, Riyan, Donovan Ferreira, Dubey, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dasun Shanaka today, they're all top players," he said.

Punjab Kings had earlier posted a formidable 222/4, powered by an unbeaten 62 off 22 balls from Marcus Stoinis, while Prabhsimran Singh made 59 and Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 30.

Despite the big total, Rajasthan's fearless finishing turned the game around, handing Punjab their first loss of the season.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Honestly, I was skeptical about Dubey before this match. But he proved me wrong! That partnership with Ferreira was pure class. Also, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at 15 years old playing like that? The future of Indian cricket is bright. ⭐
M
Michael C
Great analysis by Sangakkara. He's always been a student of the game, and watching him coach is fascinating. But I think PBKS need to work on their death bowling. 222 should have been enough on any pitch.
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Nisha Z
Dubey's knock was brilliant, but let's not forget Riyan Parag! He's been quietly consistent this season. Also, Sangakkara's point about the batting depth is spot on. RR have 7-8 match-winners in their lineup. It's unreal. 🏏
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Vikram M
I feel for PBKS fans. They've been unlucky so far. Stoinis played a blinder but unfortunately ended up on the losing side. Dubey and Ferreira just took the game away in those last 5 overs. That's T20 cricket for you - never safe until the last ball.
J
James A
Impressive composure from Dubey. Sangakkara's coaching philosophy clearly emphasizes mental toughness. The way they handled the pressure chase shows good preparation. Though I wonder if PBKS should have bowled their death overs differently.
S

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