Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | May 27, 2025
The 70th and final league match of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow delivered an absolute spectacle, serving as a fitting climax to a thrilling league stage.
In a high-octane encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off an incredible run-chase, overhauling a mammoth target of 228 set by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to clinch a decisive 6-wicket victory.
This breathtaking win not only sealed RCB‘s place in Qualifier 1 but also etched their name in the record books for their highest successful chase in IPL history and an unprecedented seven away wins in a single season.
LSG’s Batting Blitz: Pant’s Power, Marsh’s Mettle
Having won the toss, RCB opted to bowl first, a decision that seemed questionable early on as the Lucknow Super Giants unleashed a batting onslaught. LSG, playing their final game with playoff hopes dashed, brought in debutant Matthew Breetzke in place of the unavailable Aiden Markram.
The LSG innings was anchored by a captain’s knock of Rishabh Pant, who showcased why he remains one of the most explosive talents in world cricket. Coming in at No. 3 after Matthew Breetzke (14 off 12) was dismissed early by Nuwan Thushara (1/26), Pant took control of the innings.
He found a magnificent partner in Mitchell Marsh, who continued his phenomenal form this season. The duo stitched together a colossal 152-run partnership, LSG’s second-highest ever in IPL history.
Marsh, who breached the 600-run mark for the season, played a blistering knock of 67 runs off just 37 deliveries, studded with 4 boundaries and 5 towering sixes, before falling to the veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/46). However, Pant was unstoppable. He brought up a sensational century, his first of the season, off just 54 balls, celebrating with his trademark somersault.
He remained unbeaten on a scintillating 118 runs off 61 balls*, an innings laced with 11 fours and 8 sixes, propelling LSG to a daunting total of 227/3 in their 20 overs. Nicholas Pooran also chipped in with a quickfire 13 off 10 balls.
RCB’s bowlers toiled hard on a batting-friendly surface. Apart from Nuwan Thushara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Romario Shepherd (1/51), no other bowler picked up a wicket. Will O’Rourke had a particularly expensive outing, conceding 74 runs from his 4 overs, while Yash Dayal (0/44) and Suyash Sharma (0/39) also went for plenty.
RCB’s Epic Chase: Jitesh Sharma’s Unforgettable Knock
Chasing 228, Royal Challengers Bengaluru knew they needed a historic effort. Openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli provided a fiery start, smashing 31 runs in the first two overs. Salt (30 off 19) departed in the final over of the powerplay, with RCB still in a strong position at 66/1.
However, LSG fought back in the middle overs. Will O’Rourke, despite his earlier struggles, struck twice in the 8th over, removing Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone off consecutive deliveries, leaving RCB reeling at 90/3. Virat Kohli continued to be the pillar of the chase, crafting a fluent 54 runs off 30 balls.
Which included 4 fours and 3 sixes, and achieving his third consecutive season with over 600 runs. His dismissal by Avesh Khan (1/32) in the 12th over, with the score at 132/4, left RCB with a mountain to climb, the required rate soaring.
But then, the stage was set for a new hero. Stepping up as the stand-in captain, Jitesh Sharma played the innings of his life. Alongside a composed Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh orchestrated a magnificent partnership that turned the tide.
The turning point of the chase came in the 16th over when Digvesh Singh appeared to dismiss Jitesh at 49, only for it to be ruled a no-ball. Jitesh capitalized on the reprieve, smashing a six on the free-hit to bring up his maiden IPL half-century in just 22 balls.
From that moment, there was no looking back. Jitesh went ballistic, taking 21 runs off O’Rourke’s next over. He was simply unstoppable, finding boundaries at will and keeping RCB’s hopes alive. Mayank Agarwal provided crucial support, playing the perfect foil with a composed 41 runs off 23 balls*.
With just 7 runs needed off the last 12 balls, Jitesh Sharma, with a towering six in the 19th over, fittingly sealed the six-wicket victory for RCB. He remained unbeaten on an astonishing 85 runs off just 33 balls*, an innings embellished with 8 fours and 6 sixes. The entire RCB dugout erupted in celebration, knowing they had pulled off something truly special.
Post-Match Musings and Playoff Implications
Jitesh Sharma was deservingly awarded the Player of the Match for his sensational, match-winning knock. He expressed his disbelief and joy, crediting his guru Dinesh Karthik’s advice to “take the game deep.” He also highlighted the team’s unwavering belief and the remarkable record of winning all their away games this season.
For LSG, Rishabh Pant’s magnificent century ultimately went in vain. Despite their impressive total, their bowling unit, particularly Will O’Rourke and Shahbaz Ahamad (0/39), conceded too many runs at crucial junctures, and sloppy fielding didn’t help their cause. While they finished their season with a high-scoring encounter, they will reflect on missed opportunities that prevented them from making the playoffs.
This stunning victory propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to second place on the points table with 19 points from 14 games. They now head into Qualifier 1, where they will face table-toppers Punjab Kings on Thursday, May 29, at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, having secured two chances to reach the Grand Finale. What a way to end the league stage for RCB! The ‘Ee Saala Cup Namde’ chants will surely be echoing louder than ever.
Also Read: https://indiatadkha.com/19976-2-england-women-vs-west-indies-women/
| Last updated: [28/05/2025]
Sourashis Chanda brings readers their unique perspective on Business, Economy, Health and Fitness. With a background in Health and Physical Fitness of 2years, I am dedicated to exploring [what they aim to achieve with their writing, on the sustainable Economy of the country, various pro tips about business, latest goverment news, with some tips in health are and Fitness.
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
- Sourashis Chandahttps://indiatadkha.com/author/sourashis/
