Data Shorts: The dearth of good, old-fashioned yorker in RR's sorry bowling display

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put the Rajasthan Royals bowlers to stern test first up in their IPL 2025 opener on Sunday, carrying on from their brilliance last season. While Maheesh Theekshana's false start - a front-foot no-ball first up - put him off track right away, the seamers' three overs in the powerplay were all about wayward lengths and reactive bowling, with Riyan Parag adjusting the two boundary riders multiple times with two left-handers at the crease.

That continued throughout the innings, and rather surprisingly, RR quicks went short 39.56% of deliveries, and a further 38.46% of them were pitched in the slot (half-volley or length) at a venue known for being true to batters. The result? SRH posted 286/6, their seamers collectively going at 14.66 per over.

As batters looked to attack through and through, the most-effective delivery for quicks was the yorker, the nine delivered fetching just 11 runs - 8 off 3 from Ishan Kishan's blade - his two fours coming at a time when he was well-set, one of them being an uncontrolled, mistimed hit.

RR quicks by lengths in Match 2

*runs conceded excludes extras

The yorker was the most efficient delivery for quicks in Hyderabad during IPL 2024, with a scoring rate of just 6.74 across six completed games. For context, the overall run-rate at the venue last year was a whopping 10.54, with six 200-plus totals.

Archer's spell - the most expensive one in the competition's history - makes for an intriguing case, with just three attempted yorkers - one successful - going for a single, then a full-toss smashed for a four and a beamer resulting in four byes.

Historically, the standout quicks in the league's history have used it as one of their most effective weapons (largely in death overs), be it Lasith Malinga (44 wickets, ER: 4.24), Jasprit Bumrah (15 wickets, ER: 5.51) or Dwayne Bravo (14 wickets, ER: 4.90). In his early years for RR (2018 to 2020), the yorker was one of Archer's most effective balls (5/31 off 49 balls, ER: 3.79). His limitations in recent times could also be attributed to the constant injury woes.

Archer's spell vs SRH

*runs conceded excludes extras

Archer for RR in IPL from 2018 to 2020

*runs conceded excludes extras

With a low margin of error, the yorker is perhaps the most difficult deliveries to execute, but RR bowlers didn't seem to try it as often, largely banging in at length or shorter.

It's worth revisiting when the two teams faced off at this venue last year. The thrilling final over then featured a series of attempted yorkers by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Four out of first five were executed successfully, and featured a scoop over short fine-leg for a four as well. The last attempt resulted in a low full-toss, which Rovman Powell missed to be trapped leg-before to cap off a 1-run win.

The SRH quicks on Sunday didn't have the best of outings either, Harshal Patel being the lone notable performer with his variations. They bowled just one yorker in the entire innings. They perhaps didn't need to, the game had already been won in the first half.