Credit: @thalor_rj_37
Jaiswal blazes to fastest IPL fifty, Chahal takes wicket-taking crown
On this day, May 11, 2023, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata witnessed a night etched forever in the memory of cricket fans. A young batsman named Yashasvi Jaiswal stole the show, rewriting the history books with a blistering knock. Chasing a target of 150 set by the Kolkata Knight Riders, Jaiswal unleashed an innings of pure carnage, carving his name into the annals of IPL history.
The magnitude of Jaiswal's knock was amplified by the fact that it came at a crucial juncture for the Rajasthan Royals. The team had been stuttering in the tournament, winning just one of their previous six matches.
Opting to bowl first, the Royals got off to a dream start with Trent Boult removing both openers: Jason Roy (10), caught at deep square leg, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (18), dismissed with a diving grab at mid-off.
This brought together Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer, but their third-wicket partnership failed to ignite. The pitch offered surprises, with some deliveries gripping the surface, making stroke-making a challenge. Venkatesh, in particular, struggled initially, reaching a painstaking 11 off 20 balls.
Credit: @Jay_Faxxxx
Iyer gave a fight back
However, the southpaw showed his fighting spirit, finding his rhythm in the later overs. He launched into R. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, smashing two sixes each against the spinners. Just when KKR seemed to be building momentum, Chahal, the wily leg-spinner, weaved his magic.
He got the crucial wicket of Nitish (22), surpassing the legendary Dwayne Bravo to become the IPL's leading wicket-taker. Chahal wasn't done yet, dismissing Venkatesh (57) with a cunning googly and adding two more wickets to his tally, finishing with a stellar 4-25 spell.
Credit: @RavigahIot
The fastest fifty of IPL
Chasing a modest target of 150, the Royals had a slight hiccup as Jos Buttler was run out in a mix-up with Jaiswal. But that dismissal did little to faze the young prodigy. Remember, the first over for any team's chase is Jaiswal's happy hunting ground. This time, Nitish, bowling his occasional off-spin, unwittingly became the prey.
Jaiswal tore into him, taking 22 runs off the over, the second-most expensive first over in IPL history. Fours and sixes rained down as Jaiswal treated the bowlers with disdain. He reached his fifty in just 13 balls, one faster than KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, etching his name in the IPL record books.
150 runs chased down in just 13.1 overs. @rajasthanroyals have won this in a jiffy with Yashasvi Jaiswal smashing an incredible 98* from just 47 balls.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 11, 2023
Scorecard - https://t.co/jOscjlr121 #TATAIPL #KKRvRR #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/2u0TiGPByI
Royals romp home with Samson joining the party
Jaiswal's knock took the stuffing out of the KKR bowling attack. Sanju Samson (48), at the other end, bided his time initially, but once he saw the ease with which Jaiswal was batting, he joined the party. Three thunderous sixes off Anukul Roy in the 11th over sealed the fate of the match. Jaiswal fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved century, but his knock of 98 off 47 balls was enough to take the Royals home in emphatic fashion, with 13.1 overs to spare.
May 11th, 2023, was a night of milestones. Jaiswal's record-breaking fifty showcased his immense talent and fearless approach. Chahal, the wily leg-spinner, finally donned the crown of the IPL's leading wicket-taker. For the Royals, it was a night of redemption, a much-needed victory that reignited their playoff hopes and sent a strong message to the rest of the tournament.
