IPL 2025: Wasim Jaffer Comments On Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Slow Fifty Against PBKS

April 6, 2025: Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer recently analyzed Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performance during his slowest half-century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which came against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 5. Despite scoring a fifty, Jaffer felt that Jaiswal was not in his best form and seemed to be trying too hard to hit the ball aggressively.

In the match, Jaiswal scored 67 runs off 45 balls, which included five sixes and three fours, but he also faced 12 dot balls. Jaffer pointed out that while Jaiswal’s boundary rate was high, the number of dot balls suggested that he was still working on settling into the IPL 2025 season. He said on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show, “When he [Jaiswal] performs, he will be winning the games, but it was the slowest half-century of Jaiswal’s IPL career, off 40 balls. It didn’t look like he was finding his form, he was still looking to hit the ball really hard.”

Jaiswal’s innings was a bit of a mixed bag. While his boundary rate was impressive, it was evident that he was struggling to find a consistent rhythm. This slow start was unusual for a player who has delivered remarkable performances in past seasons, including his fastest-ever IPL fifty in just 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2023. His strike rate in T20 internationals stands at 164.31, and he had a remarkable 2023 IPL season with 625 runs at a strike rate of 163.

Mark Boucher, also speaking on the Timeout show, agreed with Jaffer but highlighted the positive momentum Jaiswal gained after reaching his half-century. “Getting to fifty, I think he faced close to 40 balls. Then the next five balls after that, he was at an incredible strike rate,” Boucher said. He added that Jaiswal scored 17 runs in the next five balls, including a six, showing his ability to accelerate once he found his rhythm.

Boucher further emphasized that had Jaiswal stayed at the crease for a couple more overs, he could have gone on to play a match-winning knock. “It was at that point where it was the tipping edge for him [to play] a very significant knock,” Boucher explained.

In the end, Rajasthan Royals managed a 50-run win over Punjab Kings, thanks to Jaiswal’s half-century and impressive bowling performances from Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, and Maheesh Theekshana. Jaiswal’s 67-run knock, though not a flawless one, showed glimpses of the explosive player he can be, but he will be keen to build on that momentum for more consistent performances as the season progresses.