Cricket is a game of fine margins. One small change can make a huge impact on a game. That is exactly what happened on Friday when Sunrisers Hyderabad took on Rajasthan Royals at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
The impactful Impact Sub
With the score at 120 for 6, Sunrisers needed to add a batter to reach a competitive total. Thus, they sent all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed instead of leg-spinner Mayank Markande. The choice made all the difference to them because Shahbaz contributed an important run-a-ball total of eighteen and claimed three wickets to help SunRisers qualify for the final.
Daniel Vettori’s masterstroke
Pat Cummins after the game revealed that it was head coach Daniel Vettori’s call to use Shahbaz Ahmed as an impact sub.
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“Dan Vettori, left-arm orthodox and wanted as many left-arm orthodox as possible,” Pat Cummins said when asked who made the call to send Shahbaz Ahmed as the Impact Player.
“That was a surprise, tried to stick one out of him with a couple of right-handers and he bowled beautifully and those two won it with their bowling in the middle overs. 170 was a tough chase and had we got a couple of wickets we knew we had a chance,” Cummins added.
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