Credit: IPL
In the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, when the former’s opener Virat Kohli departed after scoring 43 off 35, Jitesh Sharma walked into the middle and played a rapid knock from his bat. The stumper-batter’s responsibility was to deliver a brisk innings to his team as a lower-middle-order batter and he did that efficiently. Allying with Liam Livingstone, he took Punjab’s bowling attack to the cleaners and stitched a 36-run stand off just 12 balls.
Jitesh went back to the pavilion after scoring 24 off just 10 and his innings included four boundaries (two fours and two maximums). During his spunky innings, he attacked Punjab’s premier pacers Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson. In the 16th over, he smashed two fours against Arshdeep while in the next over, when Jamieson came to bowl his final over, the 31-year-old clobbered a couple of maximums. His onslaught also emboldened Livingstone, who smashed the Kiwi for a maximum before getting dismissed. Jitesh’s innings came to an end in the 18th over when he got cleaned up against Vijaykumar Vyshak.
PBKS tasked to chase 191 to clinch their maiden trophy
PBKS have to chase down 191 to bag their first IPL trophy. During the innings, their bowling unit did a brilliant job. Their speedsters Jamieson and Arshdeep took three wickets apiece while Azmatullah Omarzai delivered an economical spell of 1/35. Vyshak also put up a fine bowling show and claimed 1/30 figures in his four overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal utilised his vast experience and grabbed the crucial scalp of Mayank Agarwal, who was looking to settle at the crease. For RCB, Kohli emerged as the highest scorer in the match with his 43 off 35.
