JITESH Sharma’s captain as a hit of the captain of IPL 2025 at 1 PBKS vs RCB 1

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs are set! After Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have beaten the Lucknow Super Giants in the last group stage match of the tournament, the order of the four top teams is confirmed.

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) are on top and will face RCB in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in Mullanpur. Gujarat Titans will take on the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator, a day later at the same venue.

Impossible chase

The match looked out of RCB’s grasp. After Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 118-run knock, it seemed that LSG would run away with the game. RCB had failed to chase 232 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow just 4 days ago. This time, the total was 228.

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt gave RCB a rollicking start. After the powerplay, they were 66/1. Salt had departed after a quick-fire 31-run knock. The game seemed balanced. By the end of the 8th over, Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone had departed. Now RCB needed 138 runs in 12 overs and had 7 wickets in hand.

Made possible by Jitesh Sharma

It was tough but Kohli was there, the chase master. But his dismissal in the 12th over changed the momentum. Jitesh Sharma entered with 105 runs needed in 52 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter and interim captain then went berserk. He faced 33 of these balls and scored 85 runs.

As a result, RCB chased the seemingly impossible target of 228 with 8 balls to spare. To overshadow Pant’s knock didn’t seem possible but Jitesh did just that and also ensured RCB reached Qualifier 1 as well. A captain’s knock, if ever there was one.