Ravichandran Ashwin, a former India all-rounder, has expressed his confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal as a strong contender for the top spot in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. Jaiswal’s remarkable performance of 77 not out off 32 balls led Rajasthan Royals to a 27-run victory over Mumbai Indians in a rain-shortened match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Jaiswal’s exceptional form at the beginning of the season has positioned him as the leading run-scorer, establishing himself as one of the most impressive batters in the competition. Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, stated, “Yashasvi Jaiswal has a good chance to claim the Orange Cap this time with his impressive strike rate.”
The left-handed batsman has been in sensational form, finishing unbeaten in two out of three innings and accumulating 170 runs at a striking rate exceeding 163. His aggressive batting style at the top order, in partnership with young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has been instrumental in Rajasthan Royals’ perfect record this season, winning all three matches.
Ashwin also mentioned Shubman Gill as a strong contender, but due to Gill missing a game, he believes Jaiswal has a slight edge in the competition.
In the rain-affected 11-over match against Mumbai Indians, Jaiswal displayed his dominance early on, showcasing fearless stroke-making abilities. Rajasthan Royals raced to 58 runs in just 3.2 overs during the powerplay, with Jaiswal leading the charge throughout the innings, guiding his team to a formidable total of 150, which Mumbai Indians failed to chase down.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill, captain of Gujarat Titans, had a quieter start, scoring 39 in their initial defeat against Punjab Kings. Gujarat Titans are scheduled to face Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 8.
End