Rajasthan Royals pulled off a brilliant run chase against Punjab Kings, and Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone at the top before praising the impact of opening partner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the match. Chasing a challenging total of 223, Rajasthan got off to a flying start, largely driven by Sooryavanshi’s quickfire 43 off just 16 balls and Jaiswal’s steady 51 off 27. The duo combined for 51 runs in just 3.2 overs, giving their chase early momentum and ultimately paving the way for a six-wicket victory with four balls remaining, with a late surge from Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey.
Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal light up the powerplay
From the beginning, Rajasthan looked committed to taking the game on, and the opening stand delivered exactly that. Sooryavanshi struck at a rapid pace, while Jaiswal anchored the innings with controlled aggression. Their partnership—worth 51 runs in 3.2 overs—shifted the pressure firmly onto Punjab as the chase moved into a rhythm that Rajasthan could sustain.
- Chase target: 223
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 43 off 16 balls
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 51 off 27 balls
- Partnership: 51 runs in 3.2 overs
Jaiswal’s reaction to the partnership
After the win, Jaiswal was full of admiration for Sooryavanshi, describing how enjoyable it was to bat with him and praising the way the youngster was striking the ball. He said it was a great feeling to see the other end going so well and made it clear that he was genuinely impressed with the youngster’s form.
When asked whether being the more experienced batter gave him an advantage in the partnership, Jaiswal downplayed the idea. He acknowledged that while he might be older, Sooryavanshi is also very young, and he didn’t want to frame the partnership in terms of experience levels.
- Jaiswal said he “really enjoyed” batting with Sooryavanshi and praised his striking.
- On experience, Jaiswal replied that he’s still young and didn’t think too much about the gap in age.
Mindset during a steep chase and staying patient
Jaiswal also explained the thought process behind Rajasthan’s approach while chasing a high-scoring total. He pointed to the nature of the ground, stressing the importance of maintaining intent from the start. His message was straightforward: if the ball came into his hitting range, he would go for it—particularly because the team needed to reach beyond the 200-run mark.
Even when the momentum dipped briefly during the middle overs, Jaiswal remained confident about the side’s balance and the environment inside the camp. He highlighted that the players trust one another, that performances don’t arrive on the same day for everyone, and that steady practice and focus on process would pay off at the right time. He also spoke about the strong atmosphere in the group and the excitement around upcoming matches.
On his batting philosophy at the top, Jaiswal added that the key is to enjoy the game in the middle. He reiterated the need to keep intent and look for runs, while also noting that the team’s mindset is spread through the dressing room—if a batter gets a chance, the plan is to attack.
Ferreira and Dubey finish the job as Punjab fall short
With the chase building nicely early, Rajasthan still needed a proper finish, and they got it in the final phase. The victory was ultimately sealed by Donovan Ferreira, who remained unbeaten on 52 off 26 deliveries, and Shubham Dubey, who contributed 31 off 12. Punjab’s bowlers—Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, and Marco Jansen among them—managed an earlier fightback, but they couldn’t stop the late onslaught when Rajasthan needed to close out the contest.
- Winning margin: Rajasthan won by 6 wickets with 4 balls to spare
- Donovan Ferreira: 52* off 26
- Shubham Dubey: 31 off 12
- Punjab bowlers mentioned: Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, plus Yuzvendra Chahal’s wickets during the chase phase
