KKR Wins With Jaiswal and Chahal

Following a string of defeats in five out of their last six matches, the Royals bounced back triumphantly at Eden Gardens, revitalizing their campaign and keeping their hopes alive.

Rajasthan Royals orchestrated a magnificent resurgence in their IPL journey, casting aside the gloom of a sole victory in their previous six encounters, as they ruthlessly dismantled the Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Eden Gardens.

The spotlight shone brightly on two of their star players: Yuzvendra Chahal, who not only claimed his second consecutive four-wicket haul but also etched his name as the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose scintillating innings on a tricky surface transformed it into a batting paradise, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in IPL history.

After electing to bowl, the Rajasthan Royals displayed exceptional bowling skills to restrict the Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest 149 for 8.

With remarkable efficiency, the Royals effortlessly chased down their target in a mere 13.1 overs, propelling their net run rate to an impressive 0.633.

This outstanding surge in run rate positions them as the second-best in the league, trailing only the table-topping Gujarat Titans.

The significant boost in net run rate bodes well for the Royals, especially in a potential battle for playoff qualification based on this crucial parameter.

Currently occupying the third spot on the table, they have amassed 12 points from 12 matches, surpassing the Mumbai Indians who possess an identical points tally but have played one game fewer.

The Rajasthan Royals’ fielding prowess set the perfect tone for their performance.

After missing out on their heart-wrenching defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Trent Boult made a resounding comeback, immediately leaving his mark by claiming wickets in his opening two overs.

Known for his ability to dismiss top-order batsmen through new-ball swing, this time he found support from his fielders.

Shimron Hetmyer showcased his agility by executing a sprinting, leaping catch at deep square leg, sending Jason Roy back to the pavilion.

Additionally, Sandeep Sharma contributed to the spectacle by taking a remarkable diving catch to his right at mid-off, bringing an end to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s innings.

Venkatesh Iyer’s innings can be described as a tale of two halves. Battling on a pitch where the occasional delivery deceived the batsmen, both Venkatesh and Nitish Rana began their third-wicket alliance with caution.

In the initial phase after Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s departure, KKR managed to add a mere 30 runs from 30 deliveries, with only a solitary boundary to their credit.

Venkatesh, in particular, encountered a challenging phase, laboring to reach 11 runs from 20 balls.

However, from that juncture, Venkatesh Iyer embarked on a spree of finding the boundary with regularity.

It all began in the ninth over when he took on the challenge of R Ashwin, who had conceded a mere eight runs in his initial two overs, smashing him for a pair of sixes, accumulating 18 runs.

In the 13th over, he unleashed his power against Yuzvendra Chahal, dispatching him for two sixes and a four.

Eventually, at the beginning of the 17th over, Venkatesh’s innings concluded, as he departed after scoring a commendable 57 runs off 42 deliveries.

Chahal’s brilliance came to the fore as he dismantled the Kolkata Knight Riders’ batting lineup. Venkatesh’s dismissal was a prime example of Chahal’s mastery in the death overs.

The left-handed batsman was lured into a shot by a flighted delivery angled across him, enticing the big hit.

However, the miscued shot ended up in the hands of a fielder stationed inside the circle, resulting in Venkatesh’s departure.

Prior to that, Yuzvendra Chahal had already made significant inroads by claiming wickets.

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इंडिया नॅशनल क्रिकेट टीम

In the 11th over, he managed to dismiss Nitish Rana, who was caught at deep backward square leg, surpassing Dwayne Bravo’s record and solidifying his position as the leading wicket-taker in the history of the IPL.

During the course of the match, Yuzvendra Chahal added two more wickets to his tally. In the eventful 16th over, Shardul Thakur fell victim to an lbw dismissal while attempting a sweep shot, resulting in a double blow for KKR. Later, in the 19th over, Rinku Singh was caught at long-off, contributing to Chahal’s overall success on the night.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, showcased his prowess by dismantling Nitish Rana’s bowling.

Jaiswal had established a reputation for being a formidable force in the first over of a match, having registered the highest number of fours (13) and sixes (two) in the opening over among all batters in IPL 2023.

Interestingly, Nitish Rana, despite not being a regular bowler this season, took it upon himself to deliver the first over in the Royals’ chase.

Perhaps Nitish believed that his offspin would pose a favorable challenge against Jaiswal’s left-handed batting, or he might have taken a gamble, hoping to claim an early wicket if either of the openers went after him aggressively.

In a remarkable turn of events, Yashasvi Jaiswal unleashed a ferocious assault on Nitish Rana’s bowling, leaving a trail of destruction.

He hammered a sensational sequence of 6, 6, 4, 4, 2, 4 in what turned out to be the second-most expensive first over in the history of the IPL.

Jaiswal’s explosive onslaught fell just one run short of the record set by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, primarily fueled by Chris Gayle, against Mumbai’s Abu Nechim in the 2011 Qualifier 2 match, where they amassed a colossal 27 runs in a single over.

Undeterred by the unfortunate run-out of Jos Buttler in the second over, Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his remarkable batting display with unwavering determination.

He capitalized on a stroke of luck when overthrows resulted in a boundary later in the over.

Displaying his prowess, Jaiswal unleashed a powerful hook shot against Harshit Rana, sending the ball sailing over the ropes for a six.

He then proceeded to dominate Shardul Thakur in the following over, striking three consecutive boundaries with immaculate drives and pulls, effortlessly finding the gaps as if there were no fielders stationed within the 30-yard circle.

With this extraordinary performance, Jaiswal raced to 49 runs off just 12 deliveries.

He sealed his place in history by reaching the fastest fifty in the IPL, surpassing the previous record held jointly by KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, accomplishing the feat in just one ball fewer.

Samson and Jaiswal rush.

Jaiswal’s outstanding timing and placing indicated this pitch may have eased up, but Samson demonstrated it still wasn’t easy to bat on, advancing to 21 off 21 balls when Sunil Narine lost a skied return catch.

Embracing the celebratory atmosphere, Yashasvi Jaiswal elevated his performance by smashing three immaculate, straight sixes off Anukul Roy in the 11th over, signaling the impending conclusion of the match.

The remaining question on everyone’s minds was whether Jaiswal could achieve a remarkable century.

As the 14th over commenced, Jaiswal found himself just six runs shy of the coveted milestone, with the Royals requiring a mere three runs for victory.

While a six would have secured his hundred, Jaiswal’s priority was to clinch the winning runs swiftly, regardless of how they materialized.

With a shuffle across the crease, he expertly connected with a wide full-toss delivered by Shardul Thakur, executing a powerful swipe that sent the ball racing behind square for a boundary.

Jaiswal concluded his extraordinary innings with an impressive 98 runs off 47 deliveries.