Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Mayank Agarwal was left in awe of stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma, whose match-winning blitzkrieg in the final group stage match of IPL 2025 propelled RCB into the top two with a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.
Jitesh’s unbeaten 85 off 33 balls, peppered with power and poise, left fans stunned and Mayank speechless.
🗣️ “There are no words to describe what he did,” said Mayank post-match. “It was a wicketkeeper’s game. Jitesh put up a show, and he was simply outstanding.”
🔥 Turning the Tide After a Collapse
RCB’s chase of 228, the third-highest in IPL history, was not without drama. After losing Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone to back-to-back deliveries, Mayank joined Jitesh at the crease in the eighth over.
Despite the pressure, the duo forged a 107-run unbeaten stand to take RCB over the line with eight balls to spare.
🧠 Tactical Brilliance on a Batting-Friendly Track
Mayank shed light on their strategy during the partnership:
💬 “We were just calculating. The wicket was good enough to target the fast bowlers. The plan was to build a partnership. We knew the wicket was good enough,” he said.
While Mayank played the anchor with 41 off 23*, Jitesh dazzled with audacious strokeplay, even surviving a narrow run-out call and capitalizing with a hat-trick of sixes to seal the deal.
🏏 RCB’s Rollercoaster Path to the Playoffs
- Rishabh Pant’s heroic 118 powered LSG to 227/3
- Virat Kohli and Phil Salt gave RCB a flying start
- Jitesh-Mayank duo took charge after a mid-innings wobble
- RCB now set to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday
Mayank reflected on the turnaround after a shaky start to the season:
✨ “It builds a lot of confidence, momentum and belief. We could not do it last game, but we made amends. The captain led from the front.”
With form, belief, and momentum on their side, RCB now have a golden opportunity to push for their maiden IPL title as they gear up to clash with the table-toppers Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 1 showdown.