In a thrilling encounter at the Ekana Cricket Stadium yesterday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off a spectacular run-chase against Lucknow Super Giants, securing a six-wicket victory and remarkably sealing a spot in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. The match, a final league stage outing for both teams, was a high-scoring affair that saw a sensational century from LSG captain Rishabh Pant, only to be overshadowed by the audacious hitting of RCB’s Jitesh Sharma.
Electing to bowl first, RCB found themselves up against a resurgent Lucknow batting lineup. Rishabh Pant, who has endured a patchy season, turned back the clock with a magnificent century. He smashed an unbeaten 118 runs off just 61 deliveries, adorned with 11 fours and 8 sixes, striking at an impressive 193.44. Pant shared a formidable 152-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh, who contributed a quickfire 67 off 37 balls. Their explosive batting propelled LSG to a daunting total of 227 for 3 in their 20 overs.
The chase for RCB began with a strong start, with Virat Kohli providing a fluent 54 off 30 balls. However, despite the early impetus, wickets fell in the middle overs, leaving RCB in a tricky situation. It was then that Jitesh Sharma, the stand-in captain, stepped up with an innings of a lifetime.
Sharma launched an incredible assault on the LSG bowlers, remaining unbeaten on a blistering 85 runs off just 33 balls. His knock was characterized by fearless hitting and smart placement, and he found an able partner in Mayank Agarwal, who played a crucial supporting role with an unbeaten 41 off 23 balls. Together, they forged an unbroken 107-run partnership for the fifth wicket, turning the tide decisively in RCB’s favor.
The duo’s heroics saw RCB successfully chase down the massive target, finishing on 230 for 4 with eight balls to spare. This sensational chase marked RCB’s highest successful run-chase in IPL history and the third-highest ever in the tournament’s history.
While the loss meant LSG bowed out of playoff contention, Pant’s individual brilliance was a highlight. In a season that had largely been a struggle for form, Rishabh Pant, captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), reminded everyone of his extraordinary talent with a blistering century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in his team’s final IPL 2025 league match yesterday. While LSG’s playoff hopes were already dashed, Pant’s magnificent innings was a resounding statement, leaving fans and critics alike in awe. Coming in at number three, Pant unleashed a spectacular display of power-hitting, reaching his century in just 54 balls. He went on to remain unbeaten on 118 runs off just 61 deliveries, an innings laced with 11 fours and 8 towering sixes, striking at an astonishing rate close to 200. This was Pant’s second IPL century, with his previous one coming way back in 2018. His innings was particularly significant given his struggles throughout the 2025 season. Before this knock, Pant had managed only 151 runs in 13 matches with an average of 13 and a strike rate just over 107, and only one fifty-plus score.
However, the night belonged to RCB, who not only pulled off an extraordinary chase but also became the first team in IPL history to win all their away matches in a season following the home-and-away format.
With this crucial win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have secured a top-two finish in the league standings, setting up a thrilling Qualifier 1 clash against Punjab Kings. The stage is now set for the playoffs, and yesterday’s high-octane encounter in Lucknow has certainly whetted the appetite for more thrilling cricketing action.
