Kuldeep Sen, the young Rajasthan Royals pacer, has turned doubters into believers with a spectacular performance against the Gujarat Titans in Match 24 of IPL 2024. After a promising debut season in 2022, where he played a crucial role in propelling RR to the finals, Sen’s IPL 2023 campaign was a forgettable one, with him featuring in only two games and failing to pick up a wicket.
This year, Sen initially struggled to find a spot in the playing XI, warming the bench for the first four matches. However, an injury to teammate Nathan Coulter-Nile presented him with a golden opportunity to prove his worth.
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Seizing the moment, Sen delivered a spell that announced his return to form in emphatic fashion. With RR desperately seeking a breakthrough after a wicketless first eight overs, skipper Sanju Samson handed the ball to Sen. The pacer responded with immediate impact, dismissing Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan in his very first over.
Sen’s hunger for wickets was evident, and he continued his rampage in his second over, dismissing the dangerous Matthew Wade and Abhinav Manohar in quick succession. This potent three-wicket haul reduced GT from a comfortable 64/0 to a precarious 79/3, completely shifting the momentum in RR’s favour.
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The raw emotion in Sen’s celebration after each dismissal, particularly the now-famous “shush” gesture, spoke volumes about his determination to silence his critics. His performance was a testament to his resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities.
Eventually, Gujarat Titans managed to get over the line and win a nail-biting game. Despite being at 109/3 after 14 overs, the visiting team won the game in a last-ball thriller owing to the brilliant performance from Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Shubman GIll, and Shahrukh Khan.