Follow UsRajasthan Royals (RR) Yashasvi Jaiswal had a mediocre Indian Premier League 2024 and has now started the IPL 2025 on an even worse note. The left-handed opener got out for just 1 off 5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a match in which 528 runs were scored.
Uncharacteristically, Jaiswal started on a sedate note against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 26 (Wednesday). Jaiswal didn’t look too comfortable in the middle and scored 29 off 24 at a strike rate of 120.83 - his third-slowest knock in the IPL (at least 20 balls faced).
Rajasthan were 54/1 at the end of six overs on a slightly challenging Guwahati pitch, but that’s when Moeen Ali and Varun Chakaravarthy came into the attack and turned the game entirely in KKR’s favour.
Chakaravarthy dismissed Riyan Parag and Wanindu Hasaranga, finishing with figures of 2/17 in his four overs. Moeen, who was playing in place of Sunil Narine (illness), got rid of Jaiswal and Nitish Rana to break the back of RR’s batting order.
As a result, RR could only manage 151-9 in their 20 overs - the lowest total so far in the IPL 2025.
Moeen (5 off 12) looked entirely out of place as an opener, but Quinton de Kock made sure KKR were always comfortable in the run-chase. The left-handed opener from South Africa scored freely on a surface where almost every other batter struggled to get going.
De Kock slammed 97* off 61 deliveries and got KKR over the line with 2.3 overs to spare. In the process, QdK also brought up his 24th 50-plus score in the IPL as a wicketkeeper - the joint second-most alongside MS Dhoni. KL Rahul (27) has the most 50-plus scores as a wicketkeeper.
0/76 - Jofra Archer registered the most expensive figures in the IPL against SRH and was once again taken to the cleaners against KKR. The paceman from England leaked 33 runs in 2.3 overs without taking a single wicket. His overall figures this season reads - 0/109 in 6.3 overs.