With a third-highest successful chase in the history of the event, assisted by stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma’s 85 not out off 33 balls, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) swept into Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025.
With eight balls and six wickets remaining, RCB overcame the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who had been pushed to 227 for 3 by Rishabh Pant’s undefeated 118 off 61 balls. They will now play the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who are at the top of the standings, in New Chandigarh on Thursday.
Pant stormed with 118*
LSG, who were already eliminated from the playoffs, made several adjustments. Due to international obligations, Aiden Markram was unable to play, instead, Matthew Breetzke made his IPL batting debut. The South African was dismissed by Nuwan Thushara in the third over, though, unable to leave his impression. At No. 3, LSG captain Rishabh Pant entered and grabbed command right away. Pant anchored the innings before launching an assault alongside the reliable Mitchell Marsh. By the midway point, the pair had pushed LSG to 100/1.
Marsh maintained his incredible form, breaking the 600-run barrier in the IPL 2025 and scoring his eighth fifty-plus this season. Pant started to pick up speed as the RCB bowlers worked hard, and the two of them put up an incredible 152-run partnership, the second-highest in IPL history for LSG.
Marsh was ultimately knocked by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a respectable 67(37), but Pant remained unfazed and scored an incredible century off just 54 deliveries, his first of the season. The LSG skipper celebrated with a somersault after leading his team to a commanding 227/3 with a brilliant 118* off 61 balls to conclude the innings undefeated.
Jitesh led the RCB’s innings
RCB started with 61 runs in 5.4 overs, with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli leading the charge. After four overs, RCB reached 50 without loss. Kohli continued to score runs, including a four off Akash Singh. Will O’Rourke returned to bowl the eighth over, and Kohli scored a four off Rajat Patidar. However, Patidar hit Abdul Samad at the backward point, giving O’Rourke the final laugh. Liam Livingstone took a full delivery the next day, but Kohli collapsed shortly after turning fifty. ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster predicted a 21.07% probability of winning, as they needed 105 runs from 8.4 overs.
Jitesh started the match with a boundary off the opening ball, but Akash only gave up seven runs in the thirteenth over, making it worse for RCB. Jitesh took matters into his own hands in a 17-run over, hitting O’Rourke for a six and a four. He then destroyed Shahbaz in the fifteenth over, bringing the score to 21. Jitesh then smashed two more fours off Avesh and attempted a reverse sweep off Digvesh Rathi, but was caught at backward point. Jitesh then hit a free shot over deep midwicket to reach his fifty from twenty-two balls, his first IPL fifty.
The drama continued as Rathi scored the final over, but the TV umpire declared it not out. Pant withdrew the appeal. In the penultimate over, Jitesh completed the formalities with a six off Ayush Badoni, smashing O’Rourke for two fours and two sixes with 28 needed from the final three overs.
RCB’s decision to bowl Bhuvneshwar Kumar until the fifth over was surprising, as Nuwan Thushara had already shown swing in the opening over and shattered Matthew Breetzke’s off stump with an away swinging, low full toss in the third. This marks the first time since 2015 that Bhuvneshwar did not share the new ball.
Scorecard, LSG vs RCB, 70th Match IPL 2025, Lucknow, May 27, 2025
Lucknow Super Giants 227/3
- Rishabh Pant 118 (61)
- Mitchell Marsh 67 (37)
- Matthew Breetzke 14 (12)
- Will O’Rourke 2/74
- Avesh Khan 1/32
- Akash Singh 1/40
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 230/4
- Jitesh Sharma 85 (33)
- Virat Kohli 50 (34)
- Mayank Agarwal 41 (23)
- Nuwan Thushara 1/26
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/41
- Romario Shepherd 1/51
