The 15th season of the Indian Premier League is now at its final stop. There are only 5 games left in the league phase. On Tuesday, Sunrisers Hyderabad kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating Mumbai. Rahul Tripathi played a brilliant inning of 76 runs in this match. After this entrance by Rahul, former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri made a big claim on him. Shastri said that this batsman from Maharashtra is not far from becoming a part of Team India.
Tripathi’s brilliant 76 innings came on just 44 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes for a strike rate of 172.73. Shastri said: “Rahul Tripathi is not far from being part of the Indian team. He is a dangerous player at 3 or 4. If he does well season after season, I am sure the coaches will watch him very closely and I will soon give them what belongs to them.”
In this IPL 2022 season, Tripathi has scored 393 runs for Hyderabad at an average of 39.30 and a strike rate of 161.72 with three half centuries. During this, 39 fours and 19 sixes came off his bat. Shastri further praised the fearless batting of Tripathi, who is undeterred by the opposition’s bowling attack.
Shastri said: “Tripathi is a player with a lot of confidence. What I like the most is that he has good shot selection. He hits all bowlers understanding their length. He has the shot so he is an impressive player.”
Against Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, Tripathi came out to bat at number three after Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal in the ninth and scored runs in the field with a reverse sweep and also hit the limits of pacemaker Jasprit Bumrah. Shastri explains why Tripathi is sent to bat at number three.
He said: “Tripathi is doing well season after season, but he’s good by his standards or the best, you decide. Whereas, if a wicket falls early and no scores are taken, then that number comes in three, he scores quickly and provides a strength.