IPL 2022: Yashasvi Jaiswal Fifty, Shimron Hetmyer Blitz Guides Rajasthan Royals To 6-Wicket Win vs Punjab Kings

Promising opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made a dream comeback with a career-best 68 as Rajasthan Royals well and truly remained in hunt for a play-off berth beating Punjab Kings by six wickets, which also happened to be their first while chasing in this edition of IPL. Drafted in place of Karun Nair, the 20-year-old showed superb game awareness and picked the gaps at ease in a 41-ball 68 (9x4, 2x6) to brilliantly set it up for the Rajasthan Royals in their tall 190-run chase at the Wankhede which was completed with two balls to spare.

With its first successful run-chase, Royals team are now on 14 points from 11 matches in third place and one more win will firmly put them in contention for a a to-four finish.

The win also meant that the five-time champions Mumbai Indians became the first team to be eliminated from the IPL-15 season.

The loss meant a big blow to Punjab playoff hopes as they now have 10 points from 11 matches.

The young gun, who was retained among the three players by the franchise, was playing only in his fourth match this season, came into his element after Orange Cap holder Jos Buttler (30 off 16 balls; 5x4, 1x6) departed inside the powerplay after a flying start.

Skipper Sanju Samson (23) was dismissed cheaply and there was a sense of concern in the Rajasthan camp when Jaiswal showed what he's capable of with his clean hitting all over the park.

He raced to his third IPL fifty, first this season off just 33 balls, toying the Punjab attack with ease.

Be it with his unorthodox reverse sweep to Rahul Chahar or lap-scoop off Rishi Dhawan or the classical drives, Jaiswal looked in total control in a 37-ball 56-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal.

Jaiswal finally departed after miscuing one to Arshdeep Singh