NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals batter Yashasvi Jaiswal summed up his opening partnership with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in one short message — “khel bindaas.” It captured the mindset that propelled Rajasthan to a 27-run victory over Mumbai Indians in a rain-affected IPL 2026 encounter in Guwahati on Tuesday. In a chase that never truly settled, Jaiswal’s unbeaten batting display, supported by fearless starts at the top, helped Royals keep their composure and finish strongly in an 11-overs-a-side contest.
Jaiswal, who struck an unbeaten 77 off 32 balls to earn Player of the Match honours, pointed to the constant positivity shared between the two openers as a key factor in unsettling one of the tournament’s toughest bowling units. After the match, he said the discussions before and during the innings were simple: if Sooryavanshi was attacking, Jaiswal kept encouraging him to stay expressive. “The way he has been playing is tremendous. He’s working so hard as well,” Jaiswal remarked. “We keep having these discussions about how we can go about things. And if he’s taking on someone, I just keep giving him positive messages — you can go after him, just play freely and khel bindaas.”
‘Just play your shots’
The clearest signal of Rajasthan’s intent arrived immediately. Sooryavanshi took on Jasprit Bumrah from the first ball he faced and dispatched him for a six, setting the tone in a match that demanded early momentum. For Jaiswal, that early strike removed any hesitation and gave the pair a platform to build from. “First ball, he hit him for a six, and I told him to just keep playing his shots,” Jaiswal said. “Bumrah bhai is one of the legends, so if he’s scoring against him, it’s amazing. It made us feel we can take down the other bowlers as well.”
With Sooryavanshi posting 39 off just 14 deliveries, including daring and well-timed strokeplay, Jaiswal was able to settle into his own rhythm rather than force the tempo. The opening partnership went on to put Rajasthan in a commanding position, with the duo adding a remarkable 80 runs in only 30 balls — a run rate that effectively narrowed Mumbai Indians’ options and pushed the game beyond their reach in the shortened format.
Reflecting on how the stand shaped the innings, Jaiswal explained that the pressure eased once the top order had set the pace. “That took the pressure off me, and then I could take on someone else. It was a good partnership, and we really enjoyed it,” he added.
Powerplay plans in a shortened game
Jaiswal also elaborated on his thought process in the reduced contest, where the powerplay spanned only three overs. He said he had targeted specific bowlers based on match-ups and the limited overs available to make an impact. “I had something in my mind because there were only three overs of powerplay. I was thinking who I can take down,” he said. “When I saw Chahar bhai, I thought I could go after him. Then Bumrah bhai came in, so I felt maybe Vaibhav can take him on while I pick others.”
The left-handed batter further stressed that preparation and flexibility are central to success in T20 cricket, especially when switching between different formats and match conditions. “It’s not easy switching formats, but I try my best every time. I work on different shots and try to understand what works on which wicket. Preparation always helps.”
Not the ‘bade bhaiya’
Despite being the more experienced member of the pair, Jaiswal rejected the idea of adopting a mentoring role. “I don’t think I’m the ‘bade bhaiya’. He’s amazing and understands the game very well. He’s capable to do it himself,” he said, underlining that the partnership was built on mutual respect rather than one-sided guidance.
Ultimately, Jaiswal framed it as a relationship of trust and freedom at the crease. “We both like to play our shots, and we keep passing positive messages to each other.” That shared confidence, he suggested, was at the heart of Rajasthan’s fearless approach as they held their nerve to secure the 27-run win over Mumbai Indians in rain-affected conditions.
