Jitesh Sharma once again came to rescue his team, this time with NECO Master Blaster. They need 5 runs in the very last ball of the Semifinal 1 of the Vidharbha Pro T20 league against Bharat Rangers, and Blasters did it with the help of Sharma, who, earlier this month, won the IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and is now only a few inches away from lifting another trophy. 

Batting first in the Semifinal 1, Rangers was looking dangerous from the beginning of the innings. Their skipper and opener, Atharva Taide, remained not out but missed a ton, only scoring 6 runs. Taide's 53-ball, unbeaten 94 innings was decorated with seven fours and five sixes. Blaster got 204 in the 20-over limit only for 3 wickets. In the middle overs of the first innings, Taide stitched together a couple of important partnerships to put his team in a comfortable position. Neel Athaley and Varun Bisht scored 39 and 50 not out, respectively. 

Master Blasters chose to drive with top gear to overtake the massive target within the over limit. They stepped onto the field in the second inning with an inch-perfect blueprint. From the opening wicket, they were in the mood to deal with only fours and sixes. Vedant Dighade (35) and Adhyayan Daga (66) formed an 84-run partnership, facing only 42 balls, and offered their team the boost they needed to compete against such a competitive total. 

Read More: Hazlewood-Cummins-Starc trio better than McGrath-Gillespie-Lee: Matthew Hayden

A captain's knock in the Semifinal

After the first wicket stand, the team, led by Jitesh Sharma, counted two more fifty-plus partnerships in the second and third wicket stands also. So far, the match was looking within the grip of Master Blaster. Sanjay's dismissal only for individual 1 troubled the team during the decisive moments of the match. 

When the team felt the pressure most, Jitesh came to the rescue. With over a 200 strike rate, he scored an unbeaten 46 by thrashing six 6s and one 4. The 6th over-boundary of his innings came for a winning cause in the semifinal. 

Watch Jitesh Sharma's match winning innings here

Last ball Winning six by Jitesh Sharma in Semi Final of Vidarbha Pro T20 League Today
Watch his innings of 46(22)* pic.twitter.com/GEvsGGsWFw

— Abhishek (@79off201) June 13, 2025

The Vidarbha Pro T20 League (VPL) Match 13 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium was enlivened by RCB chants as Jitesh Sharma, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL, batted for NECO Master Blaster (NMB) against Pagariya Strikers (PAS). The RCB chants will be heard from the stands, highlighting Sharma’s growing popularity and the fervent RCB fan base, even in a domestic league. Sharma finished with a quick-fire 21 off 12 balls, including a four and two sixes, yet NMB lost the game by 8 runs, making 157/6 off their 20 overs to PAS's 165/10.

Sharma's innings, although not sufficient for NMB's win, was the center of attraction during the RCB shouts. His 21 runs were off an 18-run over off Dipesh Parwani, and Sharma had been showing his intent, but NMB could not achieve the 166-run mark. The RCB chants, which were recorded in a viral video, spoke volumes of the emotional bond between Sharma and fans, a reflection of RCB's huge fan base, which has more than 21 million Instagram followers, the most followed cricket franchise on the platform. Sharma's affiliation with RCB, joining after their momentous IPL title victory, placed him amongst the fans, showing just how popular he has become!

Watch the video here

RCB RCB Chants in Vidarbha Pro T20 League Match pic.twitter.com/andlUP0jZN

— Abhi (@79off201) June 11, 2025

Also Read: VPL 2025, Match 13: Pagariya Strikers vs NECO Master Blaster Full Match Highlights

RCB's Fan Base Influence

The RCB chants that resounded throughout Sharma's stint at bat signified the reach of the franchise's supporters beyond the confines of the IPL. This was a display of the very power of domestic leagues to be venues for broader fan expression. In the 2025 IPL season, Sharma scored 261 off of 11 innings with a strike rate of 176.35, doing his part in contributing to RCB's campaign. His performance in Nagpur, although not an overall view like in the IPL, carried the feeling of his IPL batting, leaving RCB supporters engaged in the VPL.

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally ended its wait for an IPL trophy after 18 years. The franchise has witnessed some of the best players in their dugout every season, but has failed to win the trophy. The 2025 season was a special one for RCB, and the team produced a collective effort. Every player stepped up during demanding situations, whether it was the experience of Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood or Jitesh Sharma's aggressive batting and Krunal Pandya's clever off-spin.

New skipper Jitesh Sharma showcased tremendous calmness under pressure and made clever bowling changes depending on the batting team's strengths. In this piece, we discuss five players who played a big role in helping the team win the IPL trophy for the first time. We discuss these five players in detail:

1. Virat Kohli

'King Kohli' was again the core of the RCB batting line-up, showcasing aggression in his batting. The 36-year-old scored 657 runs in 15 IPL games during the 2025 season, scoring 8 half-centuries with a strike rate of 144.71. The former India skipper played an influential role while chasing big totals. The right-hander used his experience of playing in different situations. Kohli built his innings cleverly and accelerated when needed.

2. Josh Hazlewood

The Australian pacer used his experience in judging the conditions and wickets to good effect. The 34-year-old didn't allow the opposition batters to score easily. Hazlewood managed to claim crucial wickets during the run of play with his clever swing and seam movements.

His leg cutters troubled the batters on slow wickets, and he used his slower ones smartly. He claimed 22 wickets in 12 IPL games during the entire season with best bowling figures of 4/33.

See Also: 4 players who have scored 5,000-plus runs in both the IPL and Test cricket

3. Phil Salt

Phil Salt was crucial in providing acceleration as an opener. His destructive hitting destroyed the opposition's morale. The 28-year-old smashed the opposition bowlers out of the park.

The England opener read the wickets well and attacked the spinners at will. The right-hander was aggressive against pacers when they bowled short of length or when he was offered width. The England wicket-keeper batter scored 403 runs in 13 IPL games with a strike rate of 175.98 by registering 4 half-centuries.

4. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya was the core of the RCB bowling lineup in the entire season. The left-arm off-spinner mixed his deliveries cleverly. The 34-year-old caused problems for the batters with his length and bowled quicker through the air to surprise the batters. Pandya claimed 17 wickets in 15 IPL games with best bowling figures of 4/25. Krunal Pandya's inclusion added penetration in the RCB bowling lineup.

5. Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma's inclusion made the RCB batting lineup robust. The 32-year-old was bought for a sum of INR 11 crore by RCB, and the wicket-keeper batter turned out to be valuable with his powerful hitting abilities. The right-hander stepped up when needed, scoring 261 runs in 15 IPL games with a strike rate of 176.35. Jitesh Sharma can play match-winning innings, and that is exactly what he did this season.

Jitesh Sharma's cameo played a crucial role for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the closing moment of the first innings. During the stormy innings, Sharma has played one of the most unorthodox shots in the final of the Indian Premier League.

The batter played a 24-run innings with a 240.00 strike rate, facing only 10 balls, before being bowled out by Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Vyshak Vijay Kumar. Jitesh came into the crease after Virat Kohli laid a foundation for a respectable fighting total to counter PBKS.

The keeper, in a red and black jersey, without wasting any time, started to drive his innings at top gear. Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer asked Kyle Jamieson to bowl the 17th over of the innings.

Read More: WATCH: Rajat Patidar smashes huge six off Yuzvendra Chahal in RCB vs PBKS finale clash

Jamieson was up against Jitesh Sharma. The tall bowler hit the deck hard with some extra bounce towards the middle and off, close to the right-handed batter's body, and it was a decent delivery in the dying moment of the match. Jitesh stunned all the cricket fans with his unorthodox shots over the keeper's head.

He allowed the ball to come close and then shifted weight on the back foot to swing that bat like a scoop. Without watching the shot live or through video clips, cricket fans may refuse to imagine how he executed the shot. In the same over, Sharma hoisted a huge six with a handsome-looking straight bat. 

Watch the unthinkable shot here 

ONE OF THE CRAZIEST SHOTS IN IPL 2025 - JITESH 🥶 pic.twitter.com/iFmBPwM6eb

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 3, 2025

In a thrilling finish to the First innings of IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Chandigarh, Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had delivered a memorable performance, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma had played an integral role. Hazlewood effectively ended the Punjab Kings (PBKS) innings at just 101 after dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai at 14.1 overs. Hazlewood bowled a length seam-up delivery over-the-wicket line on the fourth stump, and it held seam in and moved in a little as Omarzai stepped down to slog-sweep across the line, offering a thick outside edge that flew to Jitesh's right. Jitesh leapt athletically for a stunning one-handed catch, igniting wild celebrations and stamping RCB's position in this crunch playoff match.

RCB's disciplined bowling, by Hazlewood, with three wickets including Omarzai's with their final wicket, helped dissolve PBKS's batting lineup when support came from three from Suyash Sharma and two from Yash Dayal. RCB maximized the bounce and movement of the surface, and PBKS struggled to build an innings or partnerships, with Hazlewood's wicket capping the PBKS innings, and Jitesh's sensationally acrobatic catch also showed RCB's fielding had been sharp in supporting their bowling. The early dismissals and consistent pressure from RCB’s attack ensured PBKS could only muster 101, with just two batters reaching double figures, setting RCB a straightforward chase for a spot in the IPL 2025 final.

Watch the video here

Look this unbelievable catch by jitesh sharma❤️ #IPL2025 #Qualifier1 #JiteshSharma #rcb #rcbfans #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/XJYJvGJU3p

— Aditya kumar (@adityagupta_418) May 29, 2025

Also Read: [WATCH] Qualifier 1: Shreyas Iyer dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in PBKS vs RCB clash in IPL 2025

Current Match Situation: PBKS vs RCB 

PBKS were bowled out for 101 runs in 14.1 overs, and RCB only needed 102 runs to qualify for the final of IPL 2025. Jitesh Sharma took an outstanding one-handed catch off the bowling of Hazlewood to dismiss Omarzai, and in our opinion it concluded an impressive bowling performance. Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma each took three wickets, and Yash Dayal took two wickets; consequently, there is an opportunity for RCB's bowlers to pull off a commanding chase in this important Qualifier match, aided by Jitesh's brilliant fielding.

That could've been a match-turning moment for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), but it ended in a no-ball and extra delivery. Digvesh Rathi pulled out his trademark 'notebook celebration,' but it was the field umpire who asked Royal Challengers Bengaluru's stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma to wait.

After examining the backfoot of Rathi, the umpire declared it a no ball. Thus, Sharma revived, and RCB got a huge boost to tilt the match momentum towards them. When Rathi was in the mood to celebrate Sharma's wicket, LSG captain Rishabh Pant tried to normalize the bowler; perhaps from a keeper's view right from behind the stumps, Pant possibly noticed the back foot of Digvesh.

The moment was caught on camera when Pant asked Rathi to hold his nerves for a while. The incident took place at the first ball of the 17th over. Jitesh chose to counter the LSG spinner with a reverse sweep but timed it wrong, and Ayush Badoni dove forward and took a low catch.

Read More: WATCH: Relive winning moments of historic win for RCB against LSG in IPL 2025

The match suddenly spiced-up for a backfoot no ball 

The stand-in captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru was on fire, and his wicket meant a lot for Digvesh; Sharma was ready to take a long walk towards the dugout. At this crucial moment, the umpire's decision changed the whole complexion of the scenario.

Rathi ended up bowling a back-foot no-ball; the umpire signaled it for a free hit. Jitesh utilized the chance with open arms, lofting the ball for a maximum. RCB successfully chased down LSG's 227, and Sharma was awarded the man of the match award for his unbeaten 85-run innings. 

Watch the match turning moment here

 

 

 

 

 

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In an exciting IPL 2025 fixture with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) facing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Ekana Cricket Stadium, there was drama in the 17th over of RCB's chase of a target of 228 via a ball that LSG spinner Digvesh Rathi was bowling, when he attempted a Mankad run-out of RCB's stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma, who was backing up too far at the non-striker's end. Rathi stopped mid-delivery and removed the bails before appealing with Jitesh well out of his crease when replays were shown.

The drama escalated as the decision went to the third umpire, But LSG captain Rishabh Pant decided to withdraw the appeal, which would have led to a major turning point in the match by possibly achieving a precarious wicket. Pant's actions drew the praise of some but reignited the discussions surrounding the ethics of Mankading, which is considered a legal action under the laws of cricket but often not seen in the spirit of the game. Jitesh, obviously relieved, ran to Pant to hug him in appreciation, and the crowd at Ekana Stadium showed their appreciation for the spirit of the game.

Jitesh took full advantage of the reprieve and made a match-defining innings that changed the match in favor of RCB. His blazing 85 runs off just 33 balls, with eight fours and six sixes, carried RCB to a six-wicket win, chasing 228 in 18.4 overs for their highest IPL chase ever.

Jitesh Shines as RCB Secure Qualifier 1 Spot 

With that win, RCB earned a place among the top two, qualifying them for Qualifier 1 against the Punjab Kings. Meanwhile, Jitesh’s explosive knock was the icing on the cake and made Pant’s gallant knock of 118* off 61 balls for LSG feel quite insignificant to keep the RCB train rolling into the playoffs.

Watch the video here

This Digvesh Rathi not only issues challans... but is also a fraud...

"Digvesh Rathi" #RCBvsLSG "Jitesh Sharma" "Digvesh Rathi" #RCBvsLSG "Rishabh Pant" Render Digvesh "Jitesh Sharma" "And Putin" #IPL25@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/2C1Rr4P1qU

— Sahil Khanna (@SahilKh83593460) May 27, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 70: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Match Highlights

This match is remembered for Jitesh’s fireworks; it will also be remembered for the camaraderie that descended into a controversial situation, providing a great balance of cricket both in terms of rules and ethics.

In IPL 2025 Match no 70, played between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) . Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finished their league stage of IPL 2025 on a strong note with a thrilling six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 70. With this win, RCB moved to second place on the points table and fixed a spot in the playoffs.

LSG were asked to bat first and lost Matthew Breetzke early for 14 runs. But Rishabh Pant came in and changed the tempo right away, smashing 18 runs in one over off Yash Dayal. Pant continued his attacking approach and brought up his second fifty of the season. At the halfway stage, LSG were cruising at 100 for 1.

Pant found great support from Mitchell Marsh, who scored a quick 67 off just 37 balls. The duo added 152 runs for the second wicket before Marsh got out in the 16th over. Pant, however, carried on and remained unbeaten on a brilliant 118 off 61 balls. It was one of the best knocks of the season. For RCB, Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara, playing his first game of the season, bowled well and picked up 1 for 26 in his four overs.

Chasing a big target, RCB got off to a fast start but lost Phil Salt for 30 in the first over of the powerplay. Then, Will O’Rourke struck twice in the same over to dismiss Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone, putting RCB under pressure.

Virat Kohli steadied the innings with a well-made 54 off 30 balls, but once he got out, RCB still needed a strong finish. That’s when Jitesh Sharma rose to the occasion. He smashed an unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls his highest IPL score and got great support from Mayank Agarwal, who stayed not out on 41 from 23 balls. The pair guided RCB home with a few balls to spare in what became the third-highest run chase in IPL history. With this win, RCB head into the playoffs with momentum and high confidence.

ALSO READ: Team India retains key backroom star ahead of ENG vs IND series

Twitter reactions after RCB wins 70th match of IPL 2025

RCB Won! ❤️‍🩹
I’m giving ₹1000 to everyone who likes and retweets this tweet!
Let’s celebrate together! 🤗#LSGvsRCB #LSGvRCB #RCBvsLSG #Jiteshsharma pic.twitter.com/jUkuZ8Ips2

— HINDUTVA 🇮🇳 (@cryptoHolder09) May 27, 2025

He said it, he did it THAT'S THE TWEET.. #RCBvsLSG pic.twitter.com/E7SNI2nMnM

— Abhi (@CRICKET81700202) May 27, 2025

Biggest joker of the IPL😂🤡🤡

#RCBvsLSG pic.twitter.com/a0bPolGyzE

— Anjali Shilpa (@AnjaliGoud_) May 27, 2025

RCB Win!
I’m giving FOLLOW BACK to everyone who likes and retweets this tweet!
Let’s celebrate together! 🤗#LSGvsRCB #RCBvsLSG #Jiteshsharma

pic.twitter.com/uJsjZQtOcL

— मीनाक्षी 🇮🇳 (@__JayHind) May 27, 2025

Joker of the day who?
One & only Digvesh Rathee 🤡#RCBvsLSG pic.twitter.com/UnS13kiXBa

— 𝑺𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒚𝒂 🇮🇳 (@Simplyy__Me) May 27, 2025

#LSGvsRCB
Jitesh Sharma made a mistake in giving the team. But he made a request, and LSG showed the spirit of the game. LSG did a great job; they may not win the trophy, but they surely won hearts. pic.twitter.com/A6VcCm03zZ

— PC 6 OG (@ForFun351001) May 27, 2025

pic.twitter.com/brRzMdEOdE

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 27, 2025

Krunal Pandya 😂 pic.twitter.com/Kz3DJaY1y1

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 27, 2025

Ashwin to Digvesh Rathi pic.twitter.com/tvgPsNsWDY

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 27, 2025

pic.twitter.com/yL1Y5eplaa

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 27, 2025

In IPL 2025, Match 70, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 6 wickets. LSG batted first and created a formidable score of 227/3 in 20 overs, but RCB chased brilliantly, making 230/4 in 18.4 overs to win the match with 8 balls remaining.

Lucknow Super Giants Innings

LSG put on a humongous total of 227/3 in 20 overs. Their captain, Rishabh Pant, played a spectacular unbeaten 118 off 61 balls*, leading the innings with aggressive stroke-play. Supporting him was Mitchell Marsh, who crushed 67 off 37, while Matthew Breetzke joined him with 14 off 12. RCB's bowlers were under pressure throughout, with Nuwan Thushara having the best figures with 1/26 in 4 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/46) and Romario Shepherd (1/51) both had a wicket. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings

RCB chased down the huge total comfortably in 18.4 overs for 230/4. Jitesh Sharma led the way with 85 off 33 balls*, with support from the experienced Virat Kohli with 54 off 30. Mayank Agarwal gave them vital support, contributing 41 off 23 balls* to guide them home. Even with a mountain of totals, these LSG bowlers couldn't defend it, with Will O’Rourke 2/74 in 4 overs, Avesh Khan 1/32 in 3, and Akash Singh 1/40 in 4 all taking wickets.

LSG vs RCB: Post Match Reactions

Jitesh Sharma (RCB Stand-in Captain & POTM): Jitesh Sharma was very emotional after scoring an unbeaten 85, calling it 'unbelievable.' He credited mentor Dinesh Karthik for teaching him to finish strong and take games deep. After Virat Kohli got out, Jitesh focused on holding the innings and keeping calm under pressure. He was cramping but said he knew he had the responsibility and felt privileged to be playing alongside such greats as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat, and Krunal. He praised Rajat Patidar and said Hazlewood was fit for the playoffs. He said Liam and Bhuvi weren't at their best and feels confident in the depth and spirit of the group.

Mayank Agarwal (RCB): Mayank Agarwal praised Jitesh’s innings and said his job was only to rotate strike and let Jitesh have fun. They were calculating along the chase, targeting particular bowlers, and it worked as they planned. He said this win gave the team belief at the time; recent pursuit of exactly the same target did not go well for them. His partnership with Virat helped stabilize the situation before Jitesh just went off the charts. Mayank was happy they executed a chase on a good batting pitch.

Rishabh Pant (LSG Captain): Rishabh Pant reiterated the need for a full 40 overs of good cricket. He was delighted with his score of 118 not out and wanted to keep things simple and consistent. He said the team could not deal with the injuries all season. Even with young bowlers like Digvesh and Akash being positives for us, Pant felt his LSG team just could not apply pressure for long enough. He now looks forward to some time off before the England series.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Why was Jitesh Sharma not given out for Mankading in LSG vs. RCB?

Super Giants Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Match Scorecard

Lucknow Super Giants (20 Overs)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (18.4 Overs)

In the 2025 IPL clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a moment involving Jitesh Sharma has sparked widespread discussion. While Sharma was backing up too far as he stood at the non-striker's end before the ball was delivered, which raised eyebrows among fans and experts. Many felt that Sharma should have been run out by being Mankaded, but it did not lead to confusion with the ruling. 

According to Law 41.16 of the MCC Laws of Cricket, a bowler may only attempt to run out a non-striker at the non-striker's end if the non-striker had abandoned his crease before the bowler completed his delivery stride. Although Sharma abandoned the crease early, the bowler had already entered the delivery stride and was releasing the ball. The non-striker was no longer entitled to run out, meaning it would not have been legal to perform a Mankading dismissal in regard to the delivery.

The umpires applied the relevant laws appropriately in this instance. Jitesh may have left the crease early, but since the bowler's attempt was after the league delivery stride, the appeal subsequently failed. In the end, this is a timely reminder about the precise nature of cricket's laws and a little something to reinforce why Mankading is one of the most contested dismissals in the game.

The Match Outcome and Aftermath

RCB won the match by 6 wickets, chasing down LSG’s total of 227/3. LSG’s innings was powered by a blistering knock from Jitesh Sharma, who smashed 85 runs off just 33 balls, lighting up the stadium with boundaries. However, RCB responded strongly, reaching 230/4 in 18.4 overs.

Also Read: WATCH: Rishabh Pant's acrobatic celebration after brilliant century in LSG vs RCB game in IPL 2025

Although the Mankading did not influence the result, it did instigate some discussions in cricket circles. What it does reflect is the need for bowlers to understand the timing rules should they wish to execute a non-striker run-out within the laws of the game.