Watch: Aakash Chopra hails Rishabh Pant for allowing Jitesh Sharma to change playing XI after blunder ahead of LSG vs RCB

Former cricketer and commentator heaped praise on Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant for showing the sportsman spirit towards Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2025 clash between both the teams at Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 27. Notably, Jitesh Sharma, who came as RCB’s stand-in captain against LSG, made a big blunder during the toss. Ahead of the toss, Jitesh mistakenly submitted RCB’s bowling first playing XI sheet to the match referee which included Rajat Patidar in it. However, Patidar was picked as an impact substitute and RCB opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

Apart from that, RCB spinner Suyash Sharma who was supposed to be in the playing XI as RCB were bowling first, wasn’t included in the team and was a substitute in the sheet submitted by Jitesh Sharma. However, after the RCB management asked LSG management Rishabh Pant to change their team sheet, Pant didn’t find any issue in giving them another chance. As per the rule, the captain cannot change the team sheet once it is submitted to the match referee, until the rival team’s captain allows them.

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RCB fans should send greeting cards to Rishabh Pant: Aakash Chopra

Reacting to Rishabh Pant’s gesture, Aakash Chopra hailed LSG wicketkeeper and asked RCb fans to thank him by sending him the greeting cards. Eventually, LSG ended up losing the game against RCB by six wickets. Pant scored 118*(61) runs but his efofrts went in vain as Jitesh Sharma came out to be a match winner for RCB with his unbeaten 85*(33) runs. RCB won the last league match of the season and ended up at the second position in the points table.

“RCB fans should send greeting cards to Rishabh Pant. It could be of Diwali or Christmas. They gave the wrong team sheet which would have forced injured Rajat Patidar to field with Suyash Sharma sitting on the bench. Even match referee doesn’t have the power to accept the change. The power is only with the rival captain and Rishabh Pant allowed RCB to correct their mistake,” Chopra was quoted as saying by CricToday.