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 against Lucknow Super Giants, a top-two finish looked out of reach. On probably the most important night of their campaign, which would determine whether they had two shots at making the final or faced Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator, they were all over the place in the field. But through their batting unit that has landed plenty of punches through this season, they managed to get back on their feet with Jitesh Sharma carrying them into Qualifier I in Mullanpur, where Punjab Kings await them.
Play Bold
After a horrid show from their bowlers which set them a target of 228, RCB came out for the chase with intent. With nothing to lose, they appeared liberated and never showed signs of slowing down. They kept pace with the required run rate before sealing the game in style. Chasing big totals, past RCB teams may have erred in allowing one of the top three – in particular Virat Kohli – to bat through the innings, with others playing around him. But this is a different RCB outfit that truly embraces their tag #PlayBold.
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Needing a strong start, Kohli combined with Phil Salt to provide one with a 61-run stand that came inside the Powerplay. Despite a steep total to overcome, against this Lucknow attack, all RCB had to do on the night was to take calculated risks. And that is what RCB did, never letting the asking rate go out of hand and ending the league stage in style with their stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma hitting an unbeaten 85 off 33 deliveries.
𝙅𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙮 𝙅𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙝 😎
An absolute masterclass 👏#RCB fans, a word for your captain 👇
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When Jitesh walked in, RCB were drifting away but he launched a stunning assault between the 14th and 18th overs which saw them score 81 in 30 balls and change the course of the game.
Like Pant, Jitesh hasn’t had a fruitful season with the bat and standing in for Rajat Patidar, his bowling choices on the night had come under severe scrutiny. But he redeemed himself with a knock that got them over the line with plenty to spare. The unbroken 107-run stand off 45 balls between Jitesh and Mayank Agarwal is where Lucknow lost the game.
Pantastic knock
Just how much RCB need Josh Hazlewood in the play-offs? The answer was provided by Lucknow, in particular Mitchell Marsh and Pant who decimated their attack with a 152-run stand for the second wicket that came off just 78 deliveries. It would definitely 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 four boundaries and five sixes. But putting him in the shade was his captain.
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In the final league game of the season, Pant ensured this IPL wasn’t going to end without a show from the most adventurous of Indian batsmen. Right through the season, the left-hander has remained totally off-colour, perhaps the Rs 27 crore price tag was weighing on his shoulders. On Tuesday, he walked out at No.3, in the third over, and owned the night with a 61-ball unbeaten 118 – his first IPL century since 2018.
Form is temporary but Pant doing Pantastic things is permanent 🫡
Click below to relive #LSG skipper’s breathtaking 118*(61) 🔽 | #TATAIPL | #LSGvRCB
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From the moment he picked up a slower delivery from Yash Dayal and deposited it over mid-wicket off the fourth ball he faced, there was something inevitable about Pant. From there on, he backed his instincts and went about executing what he intended to in his characteristic manner. A flat-batted shot down the ground, a disdainful pull, sweeps and slog-sweeps against spinners between mid-wicket and the straight boundary, and quick hands enabling a fierce cut, were all on display as he outscored the Australian.
Once Pant crossed his second fifty of the season, out came the more adventurous, breathtaking strokes and even a tumble after a failed attempt to cut Krunal Pandya. There was the slice over extra-cover, a one-handed shot, and glimpses of his brutal power down the ground. Reaching out to a full delivery outside off and lofting it over extra-cover with just one leg rooted to the ground before tumbling to the ground, he brought up his hundred. He would get up, remove the gloves and celebrate with a somersault. But Pant wasn’t celebrating at the end of the game.
Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 27/3 in 20 overs (Pant 118 not out, March 67) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 230/4 in 18.4 overs (Jitesh 85 not out, Kohli 54, Mayank Agarwal 41 not out) by 6 wickets
