Yashasvi Jaiswal was on fire for Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2023 encounter on Thursday in Kolkata.
There was no doubt about Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliance from the moment he debuted on the Indian cricket stage for the 2020 U-19 World Cup. Jaiswal, a technically proficient batter with a level head, was always expected to produce on the big stage. The 21-year-old, whose journey to the highest echelons of Indian cricket has been well documented after years of terrible effort at the Mumbai maidans, put another indelible sign of his dominance with a historic accomplishment on Thursday. He was on fire for Rajasthan Royals versus Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2023 match in Kolkata, smashing the fastest-ever half-century in the competition’s history.
The 21-year-old opener hit 50 runs in 13 balls, breaking the record KL Rahul and Pat Cummins shared. Both had half-centuries off 14 balls. With RR chasing a 150-run goal against KKR, Jaiswal went all-in from the start, attacking the opposition. Jaiswal scored 26 runs in the opening over of KKR captain Nitish Rana’s innings, the second most in IPL innings, thanks to three fours and two sixes. On the sixth ball, he took a double.
Despite RR losing Jos Buttler in the second over, Jaiswal smashed a four and a six. He didn’t have to wait long to reach the halfway point. Jaiswal blasted three more fours in Shardul Thakur’s third over before achieving his half-century in just 13 balls with a single on the fifth ball of the over.
IPL’s fastest fifties
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) versus KKR, Kolkata, 2023, 13 balls
- KL Rahul (PBKS) versus DC, 14 balls, Mohali, 2018
- Pat Cummins (KKR) versus MI, Pune, 2022, 14 balls
The performance pleased Virat Kohli, who posted on Instagram beside a photo of Jaiswal, “Wow, this is some of the best batting I have seen in a long time.” Yashasvi Jaiswal, what a talent.”
Jaiswal finished undefeated on 98 (47 balls, 5x6s, 13x4s). RR chased down the 150-run mark in 13.1 overs thanks to his brilliant effort.
“I had a good vibe today. I don’t get everything I desire, but I prepare hard and have faith in myself. I’m confident that the results will arrive. “I wanted to finish the game, and winning the game has been my motto,” Jaiswal stated after the triumph.
“I feel blessed and grateful, and I’m doing my best.” (On missing out on a century) “I think the net run rate was the only thing on our minds; me and Sanju were only talking about finishing the game quickly.”
