In a remarkable display of batting prowess, Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opening batter for the Rajasthan Royals, etched his name in IPL history by smashing the fastest half-century against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.
In pursuit of a target of 149 runs, Jaiswal ignited the match with an explosive start, reaching his fifty in a mere 13 balls. Surpassing KL Rahul’s 2018 record of a 14-ball half-century, Jaiswal also outshone Pat Cummins’ 2022 feat. Nitish Rana’s first over bore the brunt of Jaiswal’s onslaught as he struck two sixes and three fours, achieving his milestone with a blazing sequence of three consecutive boundaries off Shardul Thakur.
Displaying unwavering determination, Jaiswal concluded his innings with a staggering 98 runs, sealing the victory for Rajasthan Royals with a boundary and securing a resounding 9-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders. The chase was completed in a mere 13.1 overs.
In a captivating exhibition of fielding skills by Rajasthan Royals, Yuzvendra Chahal claimed the spotlight by becoming the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. The talented spinner’s exceptional four-wicket haul restricted the Kolkata Knight Riders to a below-par total of 149 for eight.
Chahal’s sensational performance included dismissing the top-scorer Venkatesh Iyer (57; 42 balls) and Shardul Thakur (1) in the middle overs, with two wickets falling in three balls. Ultimately, he finished his spell with outstanding figures of 4-0-25-4.
By surpassing Dwayne Bravo’s record of 183 wickets, Chahal now holds the distinction of being the all-time leading wicket-taker in the IPL, with an impressive tally of 187 wickets. He further solidified his position as the leading wicket-taker of the current season, with a total of 21 wickets, as he dismissed the in-form Rinku Singh (16) to cap off his remarkable performance.
