LSG vs RCB, IPL 2025, Match 70 – Ball-by-Ball Commentary.6:00 PM IST: Good evening, cricket fans! Welcome to the final league match of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It’s a high-stakes clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). LSG, already out of playoff contention, are playing for pride, led by their dynamic captain Rishabh Pant.
RCB, on the other hand, are gunning for a top-two finish to secure a spot in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. A win here will see them finish with 19 points and maintain their perfect away record—six wins in six away games so far this season. The toss is moments away, and the atmosphere is electric at Ekana!
6:10 PM IST – Toss Update: RCB stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma wins the toss and elects to bowl first. Jitesh confirms that Rajat Patidar will likely be used as the Impact Player, with Liam Livingstone and Nuwan Thushara replacing Tim David and Lungi Ngidi in the XI. For LSG, Rishabh Pant announces that Matthew Breetzke replaces Aiden Markram, who’s on national duty, and Digvesh Singh Rathi returns after a one-match suspension. The stage is set for a blockbuster!
LSG Playing XI: Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, William O’Rourke.
6:10 PM IST – Toss Update: RCB stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma wins the toss and elects to bowl first. Jitesh confirms that Rajat Patidar will likely be used as the Impact Player, with Liam Livingstone and Nuwan Thushara replacing Tim David and Lungi Ngidi in the XI. For LSG, Rishabh Pant announces that Matthew Breetzke replaces Aiden Markram, who’s on national duty, and Digvesh Singh Rathi returns after a one-match suspension. The stage is set for a blockbuster!
LSG Playing XI: Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, William O’Rourke.
Impact Subs: Yuvraj Chaudhary, Arshin Kulkarni, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi.RCB Playing XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (c/wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma.
Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh.
6:30 PM IST – LSG Innings Begin
0.1 – Nuwan Thushara to Matthew Breetzke: Here we go! Thushara starts with a full-length ball outside off, swinging away. Breetzke leans into a cover drive but misses. A tentative start for the debutant.
0.2 – Thushara to Breetzke: Short and quick, Breetzke is beaten by pace, and the ball thuds into Jitesh Sharma’s gloves. Thushara’s slingy action is causing early trouble!
0.3 – Thushara to Breetzke: FOUR! Breetzke gets off the mark! Full on the pads, and he flicks it elegantly through midwicket for a boundary. LSG are underway.
0.4 – Thushara to Breetzke: Dot ball. Good length outside off, Breetzke defends solidly to point.
0.3 – Thushara to Breetzke: FOUR! Breetzke gets off the mark! Full on the pads, and he flicks it elegantly through midwicket for a boundary. LSG are underway.
0.4 – Thushara to Breetzke: Dot ball. Good length outside off, Breetzke defends solidly to point.
0.5 – Thushara to Breetzke: FOUR LEG BYES! Oh, that’s unlucky for Thushara! A sharp yorker on leg, Breetzke misses the flick, but it clips his pads and races to fine leg.
0.6 – Thushara to Breetzke: OUT! Cleaned up! What a start for RCB! Thushara delivers a pinpoint yorker, swinging in late, and it uproots Breetzke’s off stump. The debutant is gone for 14 off 12. LSG 8/1 after 1 over.
1.1 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Marsh: Bhuvi starts with a good-length ball outside off. Marsh defends watchfully to cover.
1.2 – Bhuvi to Marsh: FOUR! Marsh opens his account in style! Full on middle, and he drives it straight down the ground, beating mid-on.
1.3 – Bhuvi to Marsh: Dot. Length ball, Marsh pushes to mid-off.
1.4 – Bhuvi to Marsh: SIX! That’s massive! Marsh picks up the slower ball early, lofts it high over long-on, and it sails into the stands. What a shot!
1.5 – Bhuvi to Marsh: Dot. Good comeback by Bhuvi, angling it across Marsh, who misses the cut.
1.6 – Bhuvi to Marsh: FOUR! Marsh is on fire! Full outside off, and he smashes it through extra cover. LSG 22/1 after 2 overs.
2.1 – Yash Dayal to Rishabh Pant: Pant, the LSG captain, walks in. Dayal starts with a full ball on off, Pant defends to mid-off.
2.2 – Dayal to Pant: FOUR! Pant gets going! Short and wide, Pant cuts it fiercely over point, and it races to the boundary.
2.3 – Dayal to Pant: Dot. Good-length ball, Pant defends back to the bowler.
2.4 – Dayal to Pant: SIX! Oh, Pant is in the mood! Full on middle, and he lofts it effortlessly over long-on. The Ekana crowd roars!
2.5 – Dayal to Pant: Dot. Yorker on off, Pant digs it out to cover.
2.6 – Dayal to Pant: FOUR! Pant ends the over with a boundary! Full on the pads, flicked away through square leg. LSG 36/1 after 3 overs.
Powerplay (Overs 1-6): LSG race to 61/1. Marsh (25* off 15) and Pant (18* off 12) are setting a solid platform. RCB’s bowlers, especially Thushara (1/18) and Bhuvi, have been expensive, but they’ll hope Suyash Sharma’s spin can slow things down.
6.1 – Suyash Sharma to Marsh: SIX! Marsh welcomes the spinner with a huge six over deep midwicket! That’s his second of the innings.
6.2 – Suyash to Marsh: Dot. Googly, Marsh defends cautiously.
6.3 – Suyash to Marsh: FOUR! Swept hard through square leg! Marsh is dominating the spinners.
6.4 – Suyash to Marsh: SIX! Another one! Marsh dances down the track and lofts it over long-off. LSG are flying!
6.5 – Suyash to Marsh: Dot. Full toss, Marsh mistimes to midwicket.
6.6 – Suyash to Marsh: FOUR! Marsh ends the over with a boundary through cover. LSG 89/1 after 7 overs.
10.1 – Krunal Pandya to Pant: SIX! Pant goes big! Full toss, and he smashes it over deep midwicket. The LSG captain is finding his rhythm.
10.2 – Krunal to Pant: FOUR! Swept fine, and it races to the boundary. Pant is playing a gem here!
10.3 – Krunal to Pant: Dot. Fired in quick, Pant defends.
10.4 – Krunal to Pant: SIX! Another maximum! Pant lofts this over long-on with ease. He’s turning it on!
10.5 – Krunal to Pant: FOUR! Cut late, and it beats short third man. Pant is unstoppable!
10.6 – Krunal to Pant: Dot. Good yorker, Pant digs it out. LSG 121/1 after 10 overs.
Mid-Innings Update: LSG are in a commanding position at 121/1 at the halfway mark. Pant (48* off 30) and Marsh (45* off 30) have forged a 113-run partnership for the second wicket, scoring 109 runs between overs 7-15 without losing a wicket. RCB need quick wickets to stem the flow.
15.1 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Marsh: OUT! Breakthrough for RCB! Bhuvi bowls a slower ball, Marsh miscues the lofted cover drive, and Yash Dayal takes a simple catch at long-off. Marsh departs for 67 off 37 (6 fours, 3 sixes). LSG 152/2.15.2 – Bhuvi to Nicholas Pooran: Dot. Good-length ball, Pooran defends.
15.3 – Bhuvi to Pooran: FOUR! Pooran gets off the mark with a lofted cover drive. Classy shot!
15.4 – Bhuvi to Pooran: SIX! Pooran goes big! Full on middle, and he launches it over long-on.
15.5 – Bhuvi to Pooran: Dot. Yorker, well dug out by Pooran.
15.6 – Bhuvi to Pooran: FOUR! Slashed over point, and it races away. LSG 166/2 after 16 overs.
19.1 – Yash Dayal to Pant: SIX! Pant brings up his century! A full toss on middle, and he smashes it over deep midwicket. What a knock from the LSG skipper! 100 off 58 balls.
19.2 – Dayal to Pant: FOUR! Pant scoops this over short fine leg. He’s toying with the bowlers now!
19.3 – Dayal to Pant: SIX! Another one! Pant goes downtown, clearing long-off with ease.
19.4 – Dayal to Pant: Dot. Yorker, Pant can’t get under it.
19.5 – Dayal to Pant: FOUR! Full outside off, Pant slices it over point.
19.6 – Dayal to Pant: SIX! Pant finishes in style! Full on middle, and he lofts it over long-on. LSG end on 227/3 after 20 overs.
Innings Break: LSG post a daunting 227/3, powered by Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 118 off 61 (12 fours, 6 sixes) and Mitchell Marsh’s 67 off 37. Their 152-run second-wicket partnership set the tone, while Pooran’s quick 18* off 10 added late impetus. RCB face their highest-ever IPL chase, needing 228 to secure a top-two finish. Can Virat Kohli and co. pull off a miracle?
7:30 PM IST – RCB Innings Begin
0.1 – Avesh Khan to Phil Salt: FOUR! Salt starts with a bang! Full outside off, and he drives it through cover.
0.2 – Avesh to Salt: Dot. Good-length ball, Salt defends to point.
0.3 – Avesh to Salt: FOUR! Salt goes aerial! Full on middle, lofted over mid-on.
0.4 – Avesh to Salt: Dot. Bouncer, Salt ducks under it.
0.5 – Avesh to Salt: FOUR! Slashed over point! Salt is taking the attack to LSG.
0.6 – Avesh to Salt: Dot. Good comeback, yorker on off, Salt digs it out. RCB 12/0 after 1 over.
1.1 – William O’Rourke to Virat Kohli: Dot. Full outside off, Kohli drives to cover.
1.2 – O’Rourke to Kohli: FOUR! Kohli gets going! Full on the pads, flicked through midwicket.
1.3 – O’Rourke to Kohli: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Kohli drives this through extra cover. Pure timing!
1.4 – O’Rourke to Kohli: Dot. Good-length ball, Kohli defends.
1.5 – O’Rourke to Kohli: FOUR! Kohli is in the zone! Full outside off, driven through cover-point.
1.6 – O’Rourke to Kohli: Dot. Yorker, well played by Kohli. RCB 24/0 after 2 overs.
Powerplay (Overs 1-6): RCB race to 61/1. Phil Salt falls for 30 off 19 (6 fours), caught by Digvesh Singh off Akash Singh. Virat Kohli (25* off 17) is looking ominous, and Mayank Agarwal has joined him. LSG’s pacers, especially O’Rourke, have been expensive, conceding 2/74 in his 4 overs.
6.1 – Akash Singh to Kohli: FOUR! Kohli cuts this late, beating short third man. He’s timing the ball beautifully!
6.2 – Akash to Kohli: Dot. Full on off, driven to mid-off.
6.3 – Akash to Kohli: SIX! Kohli goes big! Full toss, and he lofts it over long-on.
6.4 – Akash to Kohli: FOUR! Slashed over point! Kohli is tearing into the bowling.
6.5 – Akash to Kohli: Dot. Yorker, Kohli digs it out.
6.6 – Akash to Kohli: FOUR! Kohli brings up his fifty! A crisp cover drive for his eighth half-century of IPL 2025. RCB 88/1 after 7 overs.
10.1 – William O’Rourke to Kohli: OUT! Huge blow for RCB! Kohli (54 off 30, 10 fours) miscues a lofted cover drive, and Ayush Badoni takes a simple catch at long-off. RCB 115/3 after 10 overs.
10.2 – O’Rourke to Jitesh Sharma: Dot. Full on off, Jitesh defends.
10.3 – O’Rourke to Jitesh: FOUR! Jitesh gets off the mark with a lofted cover drive.
10.4 – O’Rourke to Jitesh: SIX! Jitesh goes big! Short ball, and he upper-cuts it over third man.
10.5 – O’Rourke to Jitesh: Dot. Yorker, Jitesh digs it out.
10.6 – O’Rourke to Jitesh: FOUR! Slashed over point! Jitesh is taking the attack to O’Rourke. RCB 129/3 after 11 overs.
Mid-Innings Update: RCB are 129/3 at the halfway mark, needing 99 off 60 balls. Jitesh Sharma (14* off 6) and Mayank Agarwal (10* off 8) have a massive task ahead. LSG’s bowlers, led by O’Rourke (2/74), have pulled things back after a fiery Powerplay from RCB.
15.1 – Shahbaz Ahmed to Jitesh: SIX! Jitesh smashes this over deep midwicket! He’s keeping RCB in the hunt.
15.2 – Shahbaz to Jitesh: FOUR! Swept fine, and it races to the boundary.
15.3 – Shahbaz to Jitesh: Dot. Fired in quick, Jitesh defends.
15.4 – Shahbaz to Jitesh: SIX! Jitesh goes straight! Full on middle, lofted over long-off.
15.5 – Shahbaz to Jitesh: FOUR! Cut late, beating short third man. Jitesh is on fire!
15.6 – Shahbaz to Jitesh: Dot. Yorker, well played. RCB 189/4 after 16 overs.
16.1 – Digvesh Singh to Jitesh: NO BALL! Drama! Jitesh is caught at deep midwicket, but it’s a no-ball for overstepping! Free hit coming up!
16.2 – Digvesh to Jitesh (Free Hit): SIX! Jitesh makes LSG pay! Full toss, and he smashes it over long-on.
16.3 – Digvesh to Jitesh: FOUR! Slashed over point! Jitesh is playing a blinder.
16.4 – Digvesh to Jitesh: Dot. Yorker, Jitesh digs it out.
16.5 – Digvesh to Jitesh: FOUR! Jitesh upper-cuts this over short third man.
16.6 – Digvesh to Jitesh: SIX! Jitesh goes big again! Full on middle, lofted over long-off. RCB 209/4 after 17 overs.
18.1 – Ayush Badoni to Jitesh: Dot. Full toss, Jitesh mistimes to midwicket.
18.2 – Badoni to Jitesh: FOUR! Jitesh smacks this over cover! What a shot!
18.3 – Badoni to Jitesh: SIX! Jitesh goes straight! Full on middle, and he clears long-off. RCB need 9 off 10 balls!
18.4 – Badoni to Jitesh: SIX! RCB have done it! Jitesh smashes this over deep midwicket, and RCB complete their highest-ever IPL chase! 230/4 in 18.4 overs. Jitesh Sharma finishes unbeaten on 85 off 33 (8 fours, 5 sixes), and Mayank Agarwal is 41* off 23. What a chase!
Post-Match Summary: Royal Challengers Bengaluru pull off a stunning six-wicket victory, chasing 228 with 8 balls to spare, securing a top-two finish and a spot in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. Jitesh Sharma’s match-winning 85* off 33 earns him the Player of the Match award, while Virat Kohli’s 54 off 30 and Mayank Agarwal’s 41* off 23 played crucial roles. LSG’s Rishabh Pant scored a brilliant 118* off 61, but it wasn’t enough as their bowlers, especially William O’Rourke (2/74), struggled. RCB’s perfect away record (7 wins in 7) and this historic chase make them serious title contenders. What a way to end the league stage!
Player of the Match: Jitesh Sharma (RCB) – 85* off 33 balls.
Final Score: LSG 227/3 (20 overs), RCB 230/4 (18.4 overs). RCB win by 6 wickets.
11:57 PM IST – Rishabh Pant’s Reflections: Pant reflects on LSG’s loss, emphasizing the need to play quality cricket across both innings. He admits injuries hurt their campaign but praises his own century and the efforts of Digvesh Singh, Avesh Khan, and Akash Singh. Pant plans to take a break before preparing for India’s England series.
11:58 PM IST – Mayank Agarwal’s Thoughts: Mayank credits Jitesh’s brilliance, saying there was little to discuss as Jitesh took charge. He highlights their strategy to target specific bowlers and take 10 runs off Digvesh’s over. Mayank is thrilled with the team’s belief and confidence in chasing 230.
12:00 AM IST – Jitesh Sharma’s Speech: The RCB skipper, named Player of the Match, is ecstatic. “I can’t believe I played that knock,” he says, crediting Dinesh Karthik’s advice to take the game deep. Despite cramps, Jitesh leaned on his teammates’ support and praises Rajat Patidar for maintaining RCB’s away record.
12:12 AM IST – League Standings: Punjab Kings top the table, with RCB second on net run rate. They’ll face off in Qualifier 1 on May 30 in Mullanpur. Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians will clash in the Eliminator. What a thrilling end to the league phase! Stay tuned for the playoffs.
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