Yashasvi Jaiswal's timely century bolsters India's T20 World Cup squad claim

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal delivered a standout performance in the Indian Premier League with a century against Mumbai Indians. His innings came at a crucial time, as he was vying for a spot in the India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

Before this match, Jaiswal's form was a concern, with a top score of 39 in the first seven IPL matches. This lack of runs had led to discussions about his place in the team.

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Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain, even suggested that Virat Kohli, who was the top scorer in the IPL season, should open the innings with India captain Rohit Sharma at the World Cup.

However, Jaiswal's unbeaten 104 off 60 balls, which included seven sixes and nine fours, proved his worth. This innings helped Rajasthan Royals chase down a target of 180 runs with ease, losing only one wicket and finishing the game with eight balls to spare.

After his match-winning knock, Jaiswal expressed his enjoyment of the game and his focus on playing his shots while watching the ball carefully. He acknowledged the fluctuating nature of form and thanked Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan's director of cricket, and captain Sanju Samson for their support.

Rohit Sharma, who scored only six runs for Mumbai Indians, was quick to congratulate Jaiswal after the game. Despite Mumbai's loss, their fifth in eight games, Rohit's sportsmanship shone through.

1/9:Sandeep Sharma nails fifer as Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians

<p>Sandeep Sharma nails fifer as Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians</p>AFP

2/9:Unbeaten 104

<p>Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 104 led Rajasthan Royals to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, strengthening their position at the top of the IPL table.</p>AFP

3/9:Indian Bowlers shine

<p>Sandeep Sharma's remarkable 5-18 restricted Mumbai Indians to 179-9, supported by Yuzvendra Chahal's milestone achievement of claiming 200 IPL wickets at Rajasthan's home ground.</p>AFP

4/9:Sanju supports the cause

<p>Jaiswal's splendid innings, including nine fours and seven sixes, guided Rajasthan to victory alongside skipper Sanju Samson, who contributed 38 runs.</p>AFP

5/9:Proper cricketing shots

<p>Reflecting on his performance, Jaiswal emphasized the importance of focusing on proper cricketing shots and enjoying the game without overthinking.</p>AFP

6/9:Rampant RR

<p>Rajasthan Royals, one-time IPL champions, have now secured their seventh win in eight matches, building on their legacy established during the inaugural IPL season.</p>AFP

7/9:The Sharma-Chahal show

<p>Sandeep Sharma's five-wicket haul earned him the well-deserved title of man of the match, overshadowing Chahal's milestone as he dismantled Mumbai's batting lineup.</p>AFP

8/9:Chahal—a bit expensive

<p>Chahal's achievement was notable, despite conceding 48 runs in four overs, as he celebrated the milestone with teammates amidst the match's intensity.</p>AFP

9/9:Pandya's 100th IPL match

<p>Hardik Pandya's milestone 100th IPL match for Mumbai ended in disappointment as Rajasthan's strong performance left MI grappling with mistakes.</p>AFP

IPL 2024: Sandeep Sharma nails fifer as Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan Royals, was confident about Jaiswal's talent and believed that a return to form was imminent. He praised Jaiswal's composure during the powerplay and felt reassured seeing him play proper cricketing shots.

Samson, who is also a contender for the wicketkeeper's role in the India squad for the World Cup, expressed his happiness for Jaiswal's success.

(With inputs from Reuters)