IPL 2025: Jitesh Sharma’s gorgeous onslaught places Rishabh Pant’s ton in shade as RCB seal top-two spot with win over LSG | Ipl Information

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Jitesh Sharma’s unbeaten 85 off 33 balls overshadows Rishabh Pant’s hundred as RCB set Qualifier I date with Punjab Kings.

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru conceded 227/3 towards Lucknow Tremendous Giants, a top-two end appeared out of attain. On most likely an important night time of their marketing campaign, which might decide whether or not they had two photographs at making the ultimate or confronted Mumbai Indians within the Eliminator, they have been all over within the discipline. However via their batting unit that has landed loads of punches via this season, they managed to get again on their toes with Jitesh Sharma carrying them into Qualifier I in Mullanpur, the place Punjab Kings await them.

Play Daring

After a horrid present from their bowlers which set them a goal of 228, RCB got here out for the chase with intent. With nothing to lose, they appeared liberated and by no means confirmed indicators of slowing down. They saved tempo with the required run charge earlier than sealing the sport in fashion. Chasing large totals, previous RCB groups could have erred in permitting one of many high three – particularly Virat Kohli – to bat via the innings, with others taking part in round him. However it is a completely different RCB outfit that really embraces their tag #PlayBold.

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Needing a powerful begin, Kohli mixed with Phil Salt to offer one with a 61-run stand that got here contained in the Powerplay. Regardless of a steep whole to beat, towards this Lucknow assault, all RCB needed to do on the night time was to take calculated dangers. And that’s what RCB did, by no means letting the asking charge exit of hand and ending the league stage in fashion with their stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma hitting an unbeaten 85 off 33 deliveries.

When Jitesh walked in, RCB have been drifting away however he launched a shocking assault between the 14th and 18th overs which noticed them rating 81 in 30 balls and alter the course of the sport.

Like Pant, Jitesh hasn’t had a fruitful season with the bat and standing in for Rajat Patidar, his bowling decisions on the night time had come beneath extreme scrutiny. However he redeemed himself with a knock that obtained them over the road with a lot to spare. The unbroken 107-run stand off 45 balls between Jitesh and Mayank Agarwal is the place Lucknow misplaced the sport.

Pantastic knock

Simply how a lot RCB want Josh Hazlewood within the play-offs? The reply was supplied by Lucknow, particularly Mitchell Marsh and Pant who decimated their assault with a 152-run stand for the second wicket that got here off simply 78 deliveries. It might positively be a worrying concern for RCB going into the play-offs.

Capitalising on Hazlewood’s absence was Marsh, who cantered to 67 off 37 deliveries with 4 boundaries and 5 sixes. However placing him within the shade was his captain.

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Within the last league sport of the season, Pant ensured this IPL wasn’t going to finish with out a present from probably the most adventurous of Indian batsmen. Proper via the season, the left-hander has remained completely off-colour, maybe the Rs 27 crore price ticket was weighing on his shoulders. On Tuesday, he walked out at No.3, within the third over, and owned the night time with a 61-ball unbeaten 118 – his first IPL century since 2018.

From the second he picked up a slower supply from Yash Dayal and deposited it over mid-wicket off the fourth ball he confronted, there was one thing inevitable about Pant. From there on, he backed his instincts and went about executing what he supposed to in his attribute method. A flat-batted shot down the bottom, a disdainful pull, sweeps and slog-sweeps towards spinners between mid-wicket and the straight boundary, and fast fingers enabling a fierce reduce, have been all on show as he outscored the Australian.

As soon as Pant crossed his second fifty of the season, out got here the extra adventurous, breathtaking strokes and even a tumble after a failed try to chop Krunal Pandya. There was the slice over extra-cover, a one-handed shot, and glimpses of his brutal energy down the bottom. Reaching out to a full supply exterior off and lofting it over extra-cover with only one leg rooted to the bottom earlier than tumbling to the bottom, he introduced up his hundred. He would stand up, take away the gloves and rejoice with a somersault. However Pant wasn’t celebrating on the finish of the sport.

Temporary scores: Lucknow Tremendous Giants 27/3 in 20 overs (Pant 118 not out, March 67) misplaced to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 230/4 in 18.4 overs (Jitesh 85 not out, Kohli 54, Mayank Agarwal 41 not out) by 6 wickets



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