Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma delivered a staggering performance that left both fans and commentators in awe, as he steered his team to a remarkable six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. Chasing a mammoth target of 228, Jitesh unleashed an explosive unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls, ensuring RCB crossed the finish line in 18.4 overs and booked a top-two finish in the league.
Throughout his innings, Jitesh showcased an extraordinary mix of power and precision, smashing eight fours and six sixes. His knock not only turned the match on its head but also earned him the Player of the Match award. Overwhelmed and almost speechless after his match-winning effort, Jitesh reflected on the surreal experience. “I won’t be able to express my thoughts. I still cannot believe that I played such an innings. I was trying to stay in the moment and watch the ball as closely as possible,” he said during the post-match presentation.
The chase began with promise as Virat Kohli and Mayank Agarwal gave RCB a solid platform. Kohli’s dismissal for 54 in the 12th over left the visitors needing 105 more runs, a situation that demanded composure and firepower. Jitesh rose to the occasion, entering the crease and choosing to stick to wise words shared by a trusted mentor. “I wasn’t thinking of anything at that time. When Virat Kohli got out, I decided to take the game deep. Like my mentor, guru Dinesh Karthik Anna told me, ‘Any situation, you have to take the game deep, and you have the caliber that you can finish the game anytime,’” he recalled.
There was a brief moment of drama when Jitesh, on 49, was caught—only to be reprieved by a backfoot no-ball from Digvesh Rathi. In the same over, Rathi also attempted a run-out at the non-striker’s end, but the third umpire ruled in Jitesh’s favor. Making the most of these lucky breaks, Jitesh continued his assault and powered RCB to victory.
The thrilling chase has now set up a high-stakes Qualifier 1 against table-toppers Punjab Kings, with Jitesh Sharma emerging as an unexpected hero at just the right moment.
