Jitesh Sharma's Stellar Performance Leads RCB to Historic IPL Chase
RCB's Thrilling Victory Against Lucknow Super Giants
In a remarkable display of skill, Jitesh Sharma, the stand-in captain for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, expressed disbelief over his match-winning performance against Lucknow Super Giants during the final group stage match of IPL's 18th season.
Facing a daunting target of 228 runs, RCB found themselves in a precarious position at 123/4 after losing their star player, Virat Kohli, in the 12th over. Jitesh stepped onto the field and teamed up with Mayank Agarwal to devise a strategy for a successful chase.
Jitesh captivated the audience with an explosive innings, scoring an unbeaten 85 runs off just 33 balls, achieving a strike rate of 257.58, which marked his personal best in the IPL. Together with Mayank, he formed a crucial 107-run partnership, overcoming cramps and vowing to maintain their momentum for the upcoming match.
"Words can't describe my feelings! I never imagined I would play such an innings. After Virat bhai's dismissal, my focus was on taking the game deep. As my mentor Dinesh Karthik always advises, just take it deep," Jitesh shared during the post-match interview.
Luck was on Jitesh's side during the 17th over when he nearly got out twice. His first shot was caught by Badoni, but a no-ball saved him. He then hit a six to celebrate his first fifty in the IPL.
The pivotal moment occurred on the last ball of the over when Jitesh was nearly run out at the non-striker's end. The bails fell just before his bat crossed the crease, but Lucknow's captain Rishabh Pant chose to withdraw the appeal, leaving Jitesh not out.
"I was cramping up since I was carrying the load! Playing alongside Virat bhai, Krunal bhai, and Bhuvi bhai is thrilling. We want to savor this moment, but we also need to recover well and carry this momentum into the next match," he added.
RCB's record-setting chase maintained their perfect away record, securing a top-two finish for the first time since 2016. They have won all seven away matches, making history in the tournament.
As they prepare for their upcoming match against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday, Jitesh mentioned that Josh Hazlewood is likely to return after recovering from a shoulder issue.
"The credit goes to Rajat. I was focused on upholding his record. Hazlewood is expected to play in the knockout stages. We have a strong belief in our team, filled with match-winners. Just look at our playing XI," he concluded.