“It Is Bonkers”: R Ashwin Baffled by Karn Sharma’s Final-Over Tactics in RCB’s One-Run Defeat to KKR
While the cricket fraternity rallied behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) following their agonizing one-run defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed visible frustration over Karn Sharma’s situational awareness in the chase’s dying moments.
RCB appeared to have achieved the impossible in the final over, bowled by Mitchell Starc. Chasing 223, Bengaluru needed 21 runs off the final six deliveries. Karn Sharma stunned Eden Gardens by striking three sixes off Starc, bringing the equation down to a highly manageable three runs off two balls. However, on the penultimate delivery, Sharma attempted another boundary rather than securing a single to rotate the strike. He was caught and bowled by Starc, exposing incoming batter Lockie Ferguson to a pressure-cooker final delivery.
Needing three runs to win off the final ball, Ferguson pushed the ball to deep cover but was run out by wicketkeeper Phil Salt while attempting a desperate second run. KKR secured a one-run victory, leaving RCB stranded at the bottom of the table.
Ashwin’s Tactical Breakdown
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin dissected the final-over sequence, highlighting the mathematical logic Sharma ignored by turning down an opportunity to level the scores.
“I am thinking about what could have happened to Lockie Ferguson and Karn Sharma. If I was Karn, I would have pushed the ball to the other end. I cannot understand it. I cannot fathom it. It is just beyond me. It is bonkers,” Ashwin stated.
Ashwin further elaborated on the tactical error of pursuing a boundary when a single would have effectively secured a Super Over. “If you want four runs or six runs, the aggressive approach is right. But you need two runs for a Super Over. What are the odds? You take one run. Lockie will at least get a chance to bat. Even if Lockie gets bowled in a 220-run game, if you reach the Super Over, you have done well. I am not able to wrap my head around it.”
Final Over Summary: RCB vs KKR
To understand the magnitude of the missed opportunity, here is the ball-by-ball breakdown of Mitchell Starc’s 20th over:
| Delivery | Action | Equation |
|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | SIX (Karn Sharma) | 15 runs needed off 5 |
| 19.2 | Dot Ball | 15 runs needed off 4 |
| 19.3 | SIX (Karn Sharma) | 9 runs needed off 3 |
| 19.4 | SIX (Karn Sharma) | 3 runs needed off 2 |
| 19.5 | WICKET (Karn Sharma c & b Starc) | 3 runs needed off 1 |
| 19.6 | WICKET (Lockie Ferguson run out) | KKR wins by 1 run |
The Broader Impact on RCB’s Campaign
While acknowledging the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League, Ashwin argued that a loss of this nature inflicts deep psychological damage on a struggling franchise.
“Mistakes happen with anyone. Everybody makes errors, and I am sure Karn Sharma is feeling absolutely gutted at this point in time. But I am not able to wrap my head around the thinking,” Ashwin noted. “RCB has a strong squad, but if you lose like this, you do two things: you shake the confidence of your own team, and you give a lifeline to the opposition.”
Ashwin concluded by pointing out the standings implications: “If a team like KKR had lost from that position, they would have spent the rest of the tournament second-guessing themselves. Instead, you gave them a lifeline while you remained stuck at two points on the IPL points table.”
The result marked Bengaluru’s seventh loss in eight matches, forcing them into a position where they had to win every remaining fixture to qualify for the playoffs.