A valiant effort from Royal Challengers Bengaluru set a fighting 191-run target for Punjab Kings in the title clash of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
In doing so, the RCB side led by Rajat Patidar reached the final of the IPL for the first time in nine years. Interestingly, nine years ago, in 2016, was also the last time the RCB finished in the top two during the league stage.
RCB and PBKS, two franchises who have not lifted the IPL gold in their entire existence, will be aiming to book a direct spot in the final when they lock horns in the Qualifier one at Mullanpur on Thursday. Even if either of them lose, they will get a shot at redemption when they play eit
Jitesh Sharma's unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls may only rank 23rd on the list of highest individual scores in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, but for Tom Moody, it was the innings of the season.
Walking in during the 12th over after Virat Kohli's dismissal, Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Jitesh led from the front with a blistering 85 not out off just 33 deliveries, peppered with eight boundaries and six towering sixes. On the other end, Mayank played the perfect foil, finishing unbeaten on 41 from 23 balls, striking five boundaries and keeping the pressure on the LSG bowlers
They consciously decided not to dwell on these setbacks and instead focused on playing good cricket and finding ways to win matches, a process everyone was committed to.
Stand-in RCB captain Jitesh Sharma arguably played the knock of his life and lifted Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a handsome victory as they overcame Lucknow Super Giants with a six-wicket triumph in the final group stage game of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
As it was his team's third offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Rishabh Pant was fined INR 30 Lakh. The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 12 Lakh or 50 per cent
Stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma conjured up a rollicking unbeaten 85 to propel Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to an unprecedented feat that no team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has accomplished before.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma, who couldn't believe he executed a match-winning knock, revealed the message of his "mentor and guru" Dinesh Karthik, which allowed him to finish off a record-shattering chase against Lucknow Super Giants in the final group stage
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Mayank Agarwal struggled to find words to describe the bewitching heroics of stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma, who left Lucknow Super Giants gobsmacked in the final group stage fixture of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Ekana Stadium
Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma arguably played the knock of his life and lifted Royal Challengers Bengaluru by trouncing Lucknow Super Giants with a six-wicket triumph in the final group stage game of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).