Yashasvi Jaiswal kept his IPL 2026 momentum rolling with another quickfire half-century as Rajasthan Royals took another step toward establishing themselves as serious contenders. The win also placed him within an exclusive bracket in the franchise’s record books, while Punjab Kings’ late fireworks from Marcus Stoinis set up a chase that ultimately proved beyond Rajasthan at New Chandigarh.
Match 40: Rajasthan opt to field after toss
Rajasthan Royals travelled to Punjab Kings’ home venue in New Chandigarh for Match 40 and, after winning the toss, chose to bowl first.
Punjab Kings made the most of their opportunity, posting 222/4 in their 20 overs. The innings was shaped by a brutal late surge, with Marcus Stoinis smashing 62 off 22 balls not out, while Prabhsimran Singh provided the backbone with a composed 59.
- Punjab Kings: 222/4 in 20 overs
- Marcus Stoinis: 62* off 22
- Prabhsimran Singh: 59
Punjab’s innings: powerplay thrust and a decisive finish
Punjab began aggressively in the powerplay through Priyansh Arya, who attacked with intent before Jofra Archer removed him. From there, Prabhsimran Singh steadied the innings and kept the run flow steady through the middle overs, ultimately notching his fourth fifty of the season.
Rajasthan did manage brief breakthroughs late on, including a small resurgence via Yash Raj Punia, who collected two important wickets. However, Stoinis’ finishing burst—highlighted by a final over that yielded 24 runs—pulled the game away from the visitors.
Jaiswal’s half-century and a franchise milestone
In reply, Rajasthan Royals went after the target with purpose. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened the scoring momentum by smashing 43 off just 16 balls, but he was dismissed early, bringing Jaiswal to the crease.
Jaiswal then took control of the chase, assembling a well-timed half-century before being out on the very next ball. He struck 51 off 27 deliveries, adding yet another display of consistency at the top of the order.
With this knock, Jaiswal reached a major Rajasthan Royals landmark. He became only the third player in the franchise to record 20 or more individual scores of fifty-plus in IPL cricket, joining Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson.
Rajasthan’s most 50-plus scores in the IPL
- 25 — Jos Buttler (82 innings)
- 25 — Sanju Samson (144 innings)
- 20 — Yashasvi Jaiswal (75 innings)
- 19 — Ajinkya Rahane (93 innings)
- 16 — Shane Watson (76 innings)
Jaiswal’s 2026 impact: elite numbers and a lethal opening duo
Yashasvi Jaiswal has continued to serve as a cornerstone for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, repeatedly delivering explosive starts from the top. During a rain-affected encounter against Mumbai Indians, he also reached 100 IPL sixes, becoming only the fourth player in Rajasthan Royals history to touch that milestone.
Alongside him, the franchise’s opening partnership has gained extra bite with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Together, the pair are being viewed as one of the most destructive combinations in the tournament, maintaining an average scoring rate of 11.82 runs per over.
- Opening pair: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Average run rate (tournament): 11.82 per over
- Jaiswal runs in 8 matches: 255
- Jaiswal strike rate in 8 matches: 153.61
