Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the MI attack to the cleaners in a rain-hit fixture.
The game was reduced to 11 over-a-side as it started after nearly three hours due to rain at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
MI captain Hardik Pandya opted to bowl, but RR racked up a massive 150/3, driven by Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 77 off 32 balls and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 39 off 14.
Chasing a steep target, MI’s top-order collapsed to 22/3. Despite resistance from Naman Dhir and Sherfane Rutherford (both scoring 25), they finished at 123/9.
After the match, RR skipper Riyan Parag praised his team for maintaining a winning streak and highlighted the strong, young core group despite external doubts. This was the third straight win for the Royals, sending them to the top of the points table.
"(Winning three out of three) Feels great. The way the boys have showed up every game, it's something I can't really ask any more of, but kudos to them," Parag said while speaking at the post-match presentation.
“(How are you viewing the team?) I've always known this team to be a really strong team. Even when we had the auction, I knew we were a really strong team because we have a strong core group and that they're very young as well. Everyone outside didn't really believe in us, but then hopefully we can turn things around and keep on performing like this,” he added.
Parag complimented fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger for their lethal 145-150 kph pace and control, and described the opening combination of Vaibhav and Jaiswal as the best in the IPL, citing their maturity, talent, and ability to assess conditions.
“Jofra's messaging is just go out there and bowl as fast as you can, Nandre as well. On their own days, they're quick, lethal and they're in so much control. So I think someone who bowls 145-150 to be in such control is just crazy. And, Vaibhav and Jaiswal, I don't really have any words to express,” the RR captain stated.
“(Where do they stand among the opening combos in this IPL?) Number one. First of all, they've got age on their side, the talent they possess. Vaibhav, I think he's just incredible. It's not one-way slogging. If you saw him in Ahmedabad, he assessed the conditions and went for it. Jaiswal, he's been doing it for 3-4 years now. So I feel both of their skills combined with the maturity they have at such a young age, I feel the best going on right now,” he further remarked.