Punjab Kings’ stand-in captain Sam Curran played a pivotal role in the team’s victory over Rajasthan Royals, which has given the Chennai Super Kings a chance to finish among the top two teams in the IPL 2024 points table. The English all-rounder’s match-winning knock propelled PBKS to victory, handing RR their fourth consecutive defeat and keeping them stuck at 16 points. If RR loses its final league match and CSK defeats the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in its last league game, CSK will secure the No. 2 position in the points table, a significant achievement as it grants teams two opportunities to reach the final.
Curran’s heroics evoked gratitude from CSK fans, who shared an old video of the player, then a CSK member, expressing his desire to spoil other teams’ chances. He had said, “We can definitely spoil the other team’s party like we did the other with Kolkata. They are probably struggling for the playoffs, and now if we beat Kings XI, they will be out as well, so it’s all good fun.”
In a thrilling chase of 145 on a sluggish pitch, Punjab relied on Curran’s unbeaten 63 to reach their target with seven balls to spare. He formed a crucial 63-run partnership with Jitesh Sharma, who contributed 22 runs, and despite losing his partner in the 16th over, guided the team to victory, lifting them from the bottom of the standings.
Curran, who took over as Punjab’s captain mid-season following regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan’s injury, expressed his excitement about leaving for England with teammate Jonny Bairstow on Thursday to prepare for the T20 World Cup in June. He said, “Me and Jonny are leaving tomorrow. Obviously nice. Have thoroughly enjoyed the season, have enjoyed captaining. Atmosphere around the group has been really good. Excited about the World Cup.”
Rajasthan’s fourth consecutive defeat in this edition of the T20 tournament was sealed by impact substitute Ashutosh Sharma, who smashed 17 runs and the winning run. Several England players, including RR’s Jos Buttler, have already departed for home ahead of four T20 matches against Pakistan, serving as a tune-up for the World Cup in the West Indies and the United States.
