Daijiworld Media Network- Lucknow
Lucknow, May 28: In what turned out to be a high-voltage encounter at the Ekana Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) displayed nerves of steel and sheer firepower as they chased down a massive 228-run target to defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by six wickets in Match 70 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, on Tuesday.
Stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma rose to the occasion, smashing a blistering 85 not out of just 33 balls, while veteran batter Virat Kohli continued his fine form with a stylish 54-run knock, helping RCB register the third-highest successful run chase in IPL history. The victory ensured RCB finished second on the points table with 19 points, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash against Punjab Kings.
Earlier in the evening, Rishabh Pant turned back the clock with a breathtaking unbeaten 118 off 61 deliveries, guiding LSG to a commanding total of 227/3 in their 20 overs. The Delhi star, in sublime touch, was well supported by Mitchell Marsh, who chipped in with a valuable 67-run knock.
In response, RCB got off to a flying start with Phil Salt (30 off 19) and Kohli putting on 61 runs for the opening wicket. Salt looked dangerous early on, hitting six boundaries before falling to impact substitute Akash Singh.
The middle overs saw a brief stutter as RCB lost Rajat Patidar (14) and Liam Livingstone (0) in quick succession. Kohli, however, maintained the tempo, reaching his eighth half-century of the season in just 27 balls, peppering the ground with exquisite boundaries. He also crossed the landmark of 9000 IPL runs, further cementing his legendary status. But just as RCB looked to accelerate, Kohli departed with the score at 123/4.
With 90 runs required off the final seven overs, all eyes turned to Jitesh Sharma, who turned the game on its head with fearless strokeplay and calculated aggression. Alongside Mayank Agarwal (41 not out), the duo stitched an unbeaten 107-run partnership, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
The defining moment came when Jitesh blasted 21 runs off Will O’Rourke in the 17th over, including two sixes and two boundaries, dramatically swinging the momentum in RCB’s favour. The winning runs came in emphatic fashion — a towering six off Ayush Badoni, sealing a memorable win for the Bengaluru side.
Brief Scores:
Lucknow Super Giants – 227/3 in 20 overs:
Rishabh Pant 118* (61), Mitchell Marsh 67 (37);
Nuwan Thushara 1/26, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/44
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 230/4 in 18.4 overs:
Jitesh Sharma 85* (33), Virat Kohli 54 (32), Mayank Agarwal 41* (26);
Will O’Rourke 2/74
Result: RCB won by 6 wickets