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Arpit Sachdeva

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Jitesh Sharma

Three talking points from LSG vs RCB IPL 2025 clash

Jitesh Sharma guides RCB to a six-wicket win over LSG in IPL 2025 (Image Credits: Twitter)

To seal a top-two finish in the IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bangalore faced one last challenge - and it was nothing short of a mountain to climb. They needed to chase down a target of 228 runs against Lucknow Super Giants in the 70th match of the Indian Premier League 2025 on Tuesday. They didn’t have Tim David in the playing XI but RCB didn’t even need Romario Shepherd’s services with the bat in the death to chase down such a mammoth total.

A superb opening partnership between Kohli and Salt, followed by a gem of a knock from Jitesh Sharma was enough to chase down the target in just 18.4 overs. With that win, Royal Challengers Bangalore finished second on the table, which means they will play against Punjab Kings in qualifier 1 on Thursday. Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator on Friday. 

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants’ campaign finished with a defeat, collecting 6 wins in total from 14 games. 

Here’s a look at three talking points from the game: 

  1. Rishabh Pant reminds everyone why he is a crowd-puller 

Prior to this game, Rishabh Pant endured a horrendous run with the bat. In 13 matches, he had scored 153 runs at an average of 13.72. On Tuesday against RCB, he promoted himself to number three. With LSG already out of the playoffs and LSG playing their last game, Pant had nothing to lose and it showed in his batting. He got going right from the word go but ensured that he didn’t play his unorthodox shots behind square.

Most of his hits were in front of the wicket and found the meat of the bat on most occasions. He got going by smashing a powerful six on the leg-side off Yash Dayal in the fourth over and followed it up with two more fours. He then pulled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six before taking the attack to Suyash Sharma in the 10th over. Pant smashed Suyash down the ground for a six, then played the cut and pull for two more fours to bring up his fifty in just 29 balls. One of the best bowlers for RCB, Suyash Sharma received a special hammering from the left-hander.

The LSG skipper showed his range by smashing Romario Shepherd inside out over covers for a six and then one more straight down the ground. He went on to bring up his first century off just 54 balls- his first ton in seven years in IPL. Pant was unbeaten throughout the innings as his 118 off 61 powered his team to a formidable score of 227. 

2. Stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma helps RCB record their highest run chase in IPL history 

Both Virat Kohli and Phil Salt came out all guns blazing, eyeing no less than a top-two finish. Kohli hit a hat-trick of fours to an in-form Will ORourke, helping RCB race to 31 in just two overs. Runs came from both ends as LSG failed to stop the onslaught. After five overs, RCB had scored 60 for no loss. Akash Singh finally broke the partnership, sending the dangerous Phil Salt (30 off 19) back in the last over of the powerplay. Virat Kohli, however, ensured RCB continued to score at a brisk pace. 

Will ORourke tried to redeem himself after he sent Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone in back-to-back deliveries in the 8th over. RCB were 90 for 3 at the end of eight overs. Kohli and Mayank Agarwal then steadied the ship and added 33 runs for the fourth wicket. But Virat Kohli’s wicket in the 12th over had the crowd silenced, allowing LSG to come back in the game. But what followed was some serious hitting from Jitesh Sharma. The stand-in captain took apart LSG’s bowling unit, hitting eight fours and six sixes en route to a match-winning knock of 85 off 33. 

Mayank Agarwal also showed why he was a perfect replacement for Padikkal as he produced an invaluable knock of 41 off 23. An unbeaten 107-run partnership between them meant RCB chased down the score in just 18.3 overs. 

3. Bowling proving to be a concern for RCB 

Ever since Josh Hazlewood has missed out from the playing XI, RCB’s bowling has missed that crucial edge of control and experience. His ability to deliver tight lines in the powerplay and execute precision in death overs has been sorely lacking.

Nuwan Thusara bowled well against LSG but the Indian attack was feeding too many bad balls. Jitesh Sharma was guilty of not giving two more overs to Krunal, but the likes of Suyash, Bhuvneshwar, and Yash Dayal need to up their game if RCB ought to win the title. 

RCB is bound to need a fully fit Josh Hazlewood as they enter the playoffs. 

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