Age is just a number, but for Yashasvi Jaiswal, it’s a number he’s not quite ready to inflate just yet. The scene at Mullanpur was as pleasing as it was historical: afterwards Rajasthan Royals chased down a towering 223 against Punjab Kings on Tuesday, Jaiswal, the established face of the franchise, handed over his orange cap to his 15-year-old opening partner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The mood turned from celebratory to cheeky when the announcer asked Jaiswal, “What’s it like being a senior partner?”
Usually known for his steely focus, the 24-year-old couldn’t help but laugh at his overnight promotion to the higher ranks. IPL 2026, PBKS vs RR Highlights | Scorecard
“I don’t think I’m older. I’m still very young,” he joked, playfully defending his own youth.
Jaiswal struck a more reflective tone, admitting that the age gap is unique territory to navigate.
“But of course, he’s quite young. So, frankly, I don’t know what to say about that,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s amazing. I’ve really enjoyed batting with him and he’s playing amazing. So it’s always, always a pleasure to see him hit the ball from the other end.”
VAIBHAV AND JAISHWAL START WITH THE GLOW
The chase started with a hurricane. 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi immediately took on veteran Arshdeep Singh, racing to 43 off 16 balls with five massive sixes. His aggression allowed Yashasvi Jaiswal to play freely as the duo put on 51 runs in just 3.2 overs.
It was a sensational six-strike show as the 15-year-old pounced on Arshdeep Singh in the very first over to reach the boundary for six and two. He then targeted Lockie Ferguson in the second over and took Arshdeep to the cleaners again in the fourth. Vaibhav, who had hit 5 sixes in the first 20 balls of the chase, looked for another but was caught at long-on as he tried to hit another six against the left-arm pacer.
Jaiswal continued the momentum after the teenager’s departure, anchoring the middle stage with 51 off 27 balls.
Jaiswal shed light on the aggressive opening partnership: “Obviously we knew it was a high-scoring ground. So we have to keep the intention and we have to go whenever we feel like it. So I also thought, well, if it’s in my reach, I’ll hit it. And of course, like we need a good start because we’ve given 20 more, we have to score 20 more than 0.” if he was in our arc, we would have hit the ball.”
Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi were the brothers of destruction in IPL 2026 and topped the partnership charts. They added 451 runs in nine innings for Rajasthan.
The chase intensified in the middle overs as Yuzvendra Chahal (3/36) tore through the RR line-up. However, Donovan Ferreira (52 off 26) and Shubham Dubey (31 off 12) produced a final masterclass. Their unbeaten partnership of 77 runs from just 32 balls turned the required steep pace into a comfortable stroll.
Earlier in the day, batting first, the Kings posted an impressive 222/4, buoyed by Marcus Stoinis’ late-innings carom. While Prabhsimran Singh laid the foundations with a steady 59 off 44, Stoinis unleashed Hulk mode and smashed an unbeaten 62 off just 22 deliveries at a pace of 281.82.
The record chase left Rajasthan in third place with 12 points from nine matches and inching closer to a play-off spot.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
29 Apr 2026 08:29 IST
