Despite failing to qualify for the IPL 2023 playoffs, Rajasthan Royals witnessed some exceptional performances from young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal emerged as RR’s highest run-scorer in the campaign and currently holds the fourth position in the Orange Cap race. In 14 matches, he amassed an impressive 625 runs at an average of 48.08 and a striking strike rate of 163.61. His remarkable season included a century and five half-centuries, with a top score of 124.
As an uncapped player, Jaiswal captured everyone’s attention with his shot selection and ability to find gaps. His impact was so significant that it momentarily overshadowed the out-of-form star opener, Jos Buttler. Former RCB player AB de Villiers expressed his admiration for Jaiswal during an interview with JioCinema, stating that he was his favorite player of IPL 2023.
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As per the quotes in Hindustan Time, AB de Villiers praised, “For me, Yashasvi Jaiswal, by a long margin, is my favorite player. He is a young player with all the shots in the book. His temperament at the crease is calm and composed, and I love his dominance over the bowlers. He always seems to be in control.”
“Shubman is a little bit older, but I think Jaiswal has a long way to go, and he possesses all the qualities to become a great player,” he added.
Rajasthan Royals finished the league phase in fifth place, missing out on the playoffs. They secured 14 points in 14 matches, with seven victories and seven defeats. Jaiswal’s impact was crucial, especially as Buttler struggled after a promising start to the season. The previous year’s Orange Cap winner, Buttler, unfortunately, set an unwanted record in the team’s final league game against Punjab Kings, as he recorded the highest number of ducks in a single season (5).
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Buttler began strongly with scores of 54, 19, 79, and 52 in his first four matches of the season. However, his form declined, and he managed only one more fifty-plus score (96 against Sunrisers Hyderabad). In the following ten matches, he suffered five ducks, resulting in a challenging season for the talented opener.
