Chris Morris has helped Rajasthan Royals win two games in IPL 2021, one with the ball and one with the bat as they are off the bottom rank in the points table.
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Rajasthan Royals have moved themselves off the bottom of the table after their win against Kolkata Knight Riders. After five matches in IPL 2021, Rajasthan Royals have two wins and are in sixth position. Their one win came against the Delhi Capitals while the win against Kolkata Knight Riders came on the backdrop of a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore. The common factor behind Rajasthan Royals’ two wins in IPL 2021 so far has been one player.
Chris Morris has been in the news even before IPL 2021 began. The Rs 16.25 crore price tag in IPL 2021 already made him a big news target even before a ball was bowled. The price tag invited reactions from opposite ends of the spectrum. If he failed, he would be criticised immensely. If he succeeded, the price tag would be justified. However, there is no denying this trend in IPL 2021 for Rajasthan Royals. When Morris contributes, Rajasthan Royals win.
Against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals looked buried after collapsing to 42/5 in their chase of 148. David Miller led the revival but it was Morris that landed the finishing touch. His 36 off 18 balls was a calculated assault. He started off slowly but understood that Delhi Capitals’ bowlers were struggling with the dew and grip. Morris launched into Tom Curran and Kagiso Rabada to give the Rajasthan Royals a crucial win.
In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, skipper Sanju Samson said he could see in Morris’ eyes that he wanted competition. He was determined to go after the big fish. That is exactly what Morris did. In the death overs, he took out the best batsmen who had rescued Kolkata Knight Riders many times in the death.
In two overs in the death, Morris took out Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell and Pat Cummins to end with 4/23. It was Morris’ bowling in the death overs, combined with the efficiency shown by the Rajasthan Royals bowlers in the powerplay that allowed them to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders.
After the match, Morris outlined his policy that has worked well for him. “I, as a cricketer, do not care if I go for 60 in three overs, get a first ball duck or drop four catches. I don’t care as long as the team wins. That is how I play my cricket. It is nice to reward some of the faith,” Morris said.
Morris has helped Rajasthan Royals win two games out of five. That itself should silence critics on the Rs 16.25 crore price tag. If he contributes consistently, then there will not be any questions.
