Irfan Pathan praises Jaiswal-Suryavanshi partnership post RR vs MI IPL 2026 game

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan heaped praise on the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi after they registered a comprehensive 27-run win against Mumbai Indian in a truncated IPL 2026 match in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first by Hardik Pandya, RR were given a flying start by their openers. Jaiswal smashed Deepak Chahar for 22 runs in the opening over and there was no stopping after that. Suryavanshi then smashed gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for two maximums in the next over.

The left-handed batting duo added 80 runs off just 30 balls with Suryavanshi contributing 39 runs off just 14 balls. Jaiswal went on to score an unbeaten knock of 77 runs off 32 balls with the help of 10 fours and four sixes. Thus, RR were able to post an above par total of 150 runs on the board in 11 overs.

Pathan said the Jaiswal-Suryavanshi partnership is better than SRH’s opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “In these three matches, these two batters are scoring almost 12 runs per over, and in the powerplay, they have not been out even once. This partnership gives Rajasthan immense strength. This season, they are the most exciting team. If you score at 12 runs per over in the powerplay, and both stay not out, then your partnership is better than that of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.

“Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal are more consistent than them. Yashasvi has international experience, Vaibhav does not, yet he shows such consistency and mental sharpness. This is not random hitting,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal and Suryavanshi smashed 59 runs in 3.2 overs of Powerplay and Pathan said RR were able to put themselves in front after the PP overs.

“What these two players (Suryavanshi and Jaiswal) have done today is no easy task. The opposition has bowlers like Deepak Chahar, Hardik Pandya, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, exceptional bowlers. When you face all these bowlers with over 600 league matches among them, including around 500 internationals, and the Mumbai team brings that experience, you make them frustrated. By the end of the powerplay, you nearly set the match in your favor. Yes, it is a short powerplay, just 11 overs, but here is the amazing thing.”

Rajasthan Royals will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday.