Jitesh Sharma’s whirlwind knock flattens Lucknow as RCB storm into Qualifier 1

Jitesh Sharma delivered an innings for the ages as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off an astonishing chase to topple Lucknow Super Giants and storm into the top two of the IPL 2025 standings In what turned out to be an instant classic RCB hunted down a colossal 228run target their highest successful runchase in IPL history on the final day of the league stage ensuring a direct ticket to Qualifier 1 against Punjab KingsThe match had all the makings of a blockbuster and RCB delivered under pressure in style Earlier Rishabh Pant had lit up the venue with a dazzling unbeaten 118 off 61 balls guiding LSG to an imposing 2273 Mitchell Marsh had played a key role with a fluent 67 off 37 but RCBrsquos chase would later render even Pantrsquos brilliance insufficientFaced with a daunting total RCB approached the chase with calculated aggression The openers provided a brisk start but it was the middleorder fireworks led by Jitesh Sharma that turned the tide Coming in with the asking rate hovering above 11 Sharma unfurled a breathtaking array of shots effortless pulls inventive scoops and fearless slog sweeps demoralising the LSG bowlers in real timeSharmarsquos knock was a masterclass in powerhitting under pressure With each passing over he dismantled the oppositionrsquos plans and silenced the crowd with crisp clinical execution His ability to find boundaries at will allowed RCB to stay ahead of the required rate and the momentum never truly shifted back to LSG after the halfway markWhile LSG tried to claw back through Marshrsquos medium pace and a few clever slower balls RCBrsquos batting depth came to the fore Every player who walked in contributed to the tempo with the lower order ensuring there were no nerves in the final overs Sharma fittingly finished unbeaten as RCB crossed the line with balls to spareThis remarkable chase not only secured two crucial points but also lifted RCB to second place on the points table After an inconsistent start to the season the Bengaluru outfit timed their resurgence to perfection stringing together wins at the right junctureAs they now look ahead to Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings RCB will draw confidence from the composure and firepower they displayed in this nervewracking contest Their dream of lifting a maiden IPL trophy is very much alive and on the evidence of this performance they might just be peaking at the perfect momentatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params