Fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar delivered an outstanding four-wicket performance (4/24) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru dominated with a comprehensive display to secure a five-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants in Wednesday’s IPL encounter. Asked to bat first, LSG struggled to build any rhythm throughout their innings, with only Mitchell Marsh (40) and Ayush Badoni (38) making meaningful contributions as they were dismissed for 146 – their season’s lowest score. Beyond Rasikh’s heroics, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) and Krunal Pandya (2/38) contributed vital breakthroughs, while Josh Hazlewood claimed one scalp. Chasing the modest target, opener Virat Kohli steered the pursuit with an elegant 49, supported by captain Rajat Patidar (27) and wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma (23) who added brisk runs as RCB reached their target, ending on 149/5 in just 15.1 overs. RCB Bowlers Showed No Mercy Against LSG And RCB reached Top Of The Table .
TOSS
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bowl first
PLAYING XI
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI):
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI):
Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar
LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
LSG started brightly as Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram showed proper caution against Bhuvneshwar and especially Hazlewood. Several maximums flowed from their willow before Markram edged a Rasikh full delivery aimed at his pads straight to cover. Rishabh Pant withdrew hurt just three deliveries into his stay, disrupting LSG’s plans as they managed only 35/1 during the Powerplay. Soon after, Nicholas Pooran pulled a bouncer directly onto his wickets off Hazlewood, continuing his dismal run with the blade.
Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary rebuilt the innings with scores exceeding 30, both displaying aggressive strokeplay during their partnership. However, LSG collapsed during the death overs, surrendering six wickets for merely 34 runs as RCB’s relentless bowling unit dismantled them effortlessly, aided by some spectacular boundary catches.
The bowling unit maximized a sluggish pitch offering irregular bounce to restrict LSG consistently. Josh Hazlewood maintained his usual accuracy, but Rasikh Salam Dar emerged as the standout performer, employing his change-ups expertly on a surface that rewarded pace variations. The Jammu & Kashmir bowler achieved career-best figures of 4/24, cleaning up the lower order with perfectly-executed yorkers, learning from Bhuvneshwar Kumar who claimed three dismissals himself. Though Suyash Sharma remained wicketless, he generated considerable spin to trouble the batsmen while Krunal Pandya secured two wickets, reaching his IPL century of scalps.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU
Being a run chase, Virat Kohli naturally became the focal point. After sustaining an injury during the previous Mumbai Indians encounter, Kohli missed fielding duties and entered as an impact player for the chase. He immediately stamped his authority with a boundary barrage, initially targeting Mohammed Shami before unleashing four consecutive boundaries against Prince Yadav in the fourth over – a backfoot slash over cover being particularly spectacular. Kohli raced to 35 off 15 balls – his fastest start through 15 deliveries in IPL history, ensuring Phil Salt’s early departure became irrelevant.
Kohli hoisted a full Avesh delivery to the long-on boundary fielder, departing for 49 after claiming the Orange Cap, while Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma contributed handy knocks that proved decisive. Prince and Avesh Khan shared RCB’s five fallen wickets, though these provided little comfort during an otherwise disappointing night for the Super Giants.
Brief Scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 146 in 20 overs [Mitchell Marsh 40 (32), Mukul Choudhary 39 (28), Ayush Badoni 38 (24); Rasikh Salam Dar 4-24, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-27] lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 149/5 in 15.1 overs [Virat Kohli 49 (34), Rajat Patidar 27 (13); Prince Yadav 3-32, Avesh Khan 2-23] by 5 wickets.
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