Rajasthan Royals veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels they were 10 runs short after their 20-run win against Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur on Sunday. Ashwin lauded Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag for their fine batting display.

Samson and Parag added a majestic alliance of 93 runs as both batters batted at the top of their game. The RR skipper scored an impressive knock of 82 runs off just 52 balls whereas Parag, who has been in rich form in the domestic circuit, scored 43 runs.

As a result, RR posted a competitive total of 193 runs but Ashwin felt it was under-par.

Ravichandran Ashwin said after the game, “I think it was a wicket of two halves, I thought it stuck in the pitch in the first half, it was a bit tacky, it depends on how much water you put on. Sanju and Riyan batted really well, but I felt we were 10 runs short, with so many impact players coming up in the form of Hetmyer and Jurel. But the pitch holds up well over here. I went for 12 off the first two balls, it needs a different mindset, having come from Test cricket. I’m in a good mental and physical space at the moment thought.”

On the other hand, Ashwin lauded Sandeep Sharma for his fine bowling display. While bowling in the death overs, Sharma conceded 22 runs in the three overs he bowled and also accounted for a well-settled KL Rahul, who was dismissed after scoring 58 runs. Sharma was right on the money and made the most of his experience.

Ashwin added, “The game is built by perceptions, if you look at the way Sandy has bowled, he has been a top-5 bowler (in the IPL) – he’s a character, does the dirty work for us, did a lot to cover for Prasidh in the last season as well. I see him as a fighter – bowlers getting 2 bouncers is the only fillip in this format and the bowlers are looking to use it.”

RR will next take on Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Thursday.