LSG vs RR: Sandeep Sharma's in-swinger bamboozles Marcus Stoinis, video goes viral

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) battled it out in the 44th match of the IPL 2024 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. In the match, Marcus Stoinis, fresh off a century in the previous match, found himself grappling with the brilliance of Sandeep Sharma's bowling prowess.

Sandeep Sharma's wobble seam delivery left Stoinis befuddled, inducing an errant drive that saw the ball sneaking through to rattle the middle stump. Stoinis departed for a mere four-ball duck, leaving LSG reeling at 11/2. However, skipper KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda took on the mantle of rebuilding the innings with aplomb.

Coming to the LSG's inning, it was a rollercoaster ride as early blows threatened to derail their momentum. However, KL Rahul's composed innings, coupled with Hooda's aggression, ensured that they posted a competitive total on the board.

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Despite the early setbacks, LSG managed to put up a challenging score, courtesy of some calculated strokes and quick running between the wickets. However, RR's bowlers, led by Sandeep Sharma, fought back valiantly in the death overs, conceding just 24 runs off the last three overs.

I just bettered what I was doing the last year: Hooda

After the first inning, Deepak Hooda expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that he improved upon his previous year's form and carried his domestic success into the IPL. He adapted his batting to the conditions of the wicket, recognizing the need to exploit the shorter boundaries. Hooda considered the team's total to be competitive and emphasized the importance of smart batting and bowling strategies on the pitch. He highlighted the confidence within the team and expressed optimism for the upcoming challenges.

"I just bettered what I was doing the last year, took my domestic form into the IPL. The wicket demanded it (on his off-side shots), one side was longer, one side was short. I never thought that it would be my day. I think this is a par score, the wicket is good, we'll have to use the longer side and use our variations., You can't slog blindly, have to be smart and it's a challenge for the bowlers as well. The confidence is high and we're hoping for the best," Hooda said as quoted by Cricbuzz.