KKR vs RR Highlights IPL 2023: Yashasvi, Chahal create records in big Rajasthan win

Kolkata, May 11: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal put up a sensational display with the bat and ball respectively as Rajasthan Royals registered a crushing nine-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders to resurrect their playoffs hopes in IPL 2023.

A match that will be remembered for a long time for RR's dominance in all three departments, Jaiswal continued his dream run by smashing the fastest half-century in the history of the competition after Chahal became the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Chahal became IPL's leading wicket-taker before completing a brilliant 4/25 as RR restricted KKR to a below-par 149/8 at the Eden Gardens. On a day KKR batters struggled to time the ball, 21-year-old Jaiswal showed the way by bringing up the fastest fifty in the history of IPL in just 13 balls.

Yashasvi Jaiswal creates history

The left-handed batter, thus, surpassed the previous record held by KL Rahul and Pat Cummins (14 balls each). The Mumbaikar walked into the middle to make quick work of the modest run chase and wasn't bogged down with the mix-up on the pitch which cost Jos Buttler his wicket.

Making the run chase look a walk in the park, Jaiswal remained two runs shy of a century (98 from 47 balls), a knock studded with 12 fours and five sixes as RR cantered to victory 13.1 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal notches up fifty off 13 deliveries to slam quickest half-century in IPL

While skipper Sanju Samson gave fine support to the southpaw with a 48 not out from 29 balls as the duo shared an unbroken match-winning partnership of 121 runs off just 69 balls. KKR vs RR IPL 2023: Full List of Award Winners, Man of The Match, Post-Match Presentation, Stats and Records

The win with 41 balls to spare also took them to the third spot (12 points from 12 matches), giving a massive boost to their net run-rate (0.0633) as the play-off race heats up. It is all but over for KKR who slipped to seventh place (10 points, 12 matches). Yuzvendra Chahal Becomes Leading Wicket-Taker In IPL History, Breaks Dwayne Bravo's Record

Jaiswal made his intention clear in the first over itself when KKR skipper Nitish Rana made a bold move to bowl himself. Wasting no time, Jaiswal seized on the opportunity and smashed Rana for two sixes and two fours in a row in a 26-run over.

He hit Shardul Thakur with a hat-trick of fours to race to his fifty in the third over itself as RR virtually sealed the issue scoring 78/1 inside the powerplay. To pile on the KKR misery, Sunil Narine dropped an easy catch when Samson was on 16.

Speaking about his poor call which resulted in Buttler's dismissal the Mumbaikar - who was adjudged the player of the match for his stellar knock - said, "It gave me responsibility to do even better. And Sanju bhai came and said to keep playing my game, and not think about that run-out."

The skipper then came on his own when he smoked Jharkhand left-arm spinner Anukul Roy for three sixes in a 20-run over. Showing a bigger heart, the skipper didn't attempt a shot to get to his fifty and gave an opportunity to the youngster to notch up his second ton.

RR cruised home with 41 balls to spare and gave a massive fillip to their net run rate (0.633) and jumped to the third spot in the points table with 12 points in as many games and ended their three-match losing streak in some style.

Chahal too creates IPL history

On a day RR dished out an eye-grabbing fielding display, Chahal (187 wickets) eclipsed Dwayne Bravo (183) to become the all-time leading wicket-taker of the IPL when he struck off his second ball to dismiss KKR skipper Rana (22; 17b) in the 11th over.

Chahal's breakthrough came just when KKR looked to step up after a pathetic start when two astonishing catches of Shimron Hetmyer and Sandeep Sharma set the tone. Both came in Trent Boult's successive overs as the Kiwi left-arm pacer returned with 2/15 from his three overs on his return.

After an expensive second over when he leaked 15 runs, Chahal came back in the death overs and dismissed KKR topscorer Venkatesh Iyer (57; 42b) and Shardul Thakur (1) in four balls.

He ended his spell dismissing the latest KKR sensation Rinku Singh (16) in the penultimate over to also become the leading wicket-taker this season (21). Chahal was the winner of the Purple Cap in the IPL 2022 season and looks in no mood to give it away this year too.

Put in on a dry Eden wicket, KKR frontline batters came a cropper, as Venkatesh held the fort and returned to form with a fighting fifty. From being two off 12 balls, Venkatesh paced his innings well and raced to a 39-ball fifty. But he slashed a wide delivery from Chahal to be brilliantly caught by Boult.

Andre Russell (10) failed to make it big after he was promoted to No 5 and fell to KM Asif (1/34). KKR, who were 58/2 after nine overs, looked to seize the momentum after taking a strategic time out in the 10th over.

Venkatesh finally broke free smashing Ashwin for back-to-back sixes, while Rana ended the over with an elegant four through extra-cover to take them to 76/2 at the midway mark. KKR looked on course for a decent total before Chahal triggered a mid-innings collapse.

(With PTI inputs)