Jitesh Sharma’s remarkable 85 not out off just 33 balls was the key performance in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) crucial victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite not being among the highest scores in this year’s Indian Premier League, Tom Moody described it as the standout innings of the season on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out.
When Sharma took to the crease in the 12th over, RCB’s chances were pegged at a mere 21.09%, according to predictions. Partnered with Mayank Agarwal, he smashed six sixes and eight fours, ensuring the team reached their target with eight balls remaining.
“The innings is, for me, the innings of the IPL this season by a stretch,” Moody commented post-match. “We’ve seen some great knocks from young and old, but this one, wow, quite remarkable!” He highlighted how Sharma effectively navigated field placements set by LSG captain Rishabh Pant, effortlessly finding gaps for boundaries. “The team was totally against it – backs against the wall, Kohli in the sheds, [Phil] Salt in the sheds. There was significant headwind, but he just ignored it all and just took the game apart,” Moody added.
In addition to his batting prowess, Sharma benefitted from a slice of luck. He narrowly avoided a run-out, received a second life after a no-ball call, and dodged another run-out at the non-striker’s end. Analyst Abhinav Mukund noted on Time Out that while fortune favoured Sharma, he also learned from RCB’s previous loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where a promising start ended in defeat.
Abhinav shared, “They were 172 for 3 in the last game, chasing 232, they got 189 all out. I know the wickets fell before him, but the pressure increased in the last game right after the timeout. I feared the same when he got out of that no-ball, but luck is a beautiful thing there. You get a reprieve and then you say, ‘okay, this time I’m not making a mistake again.'”
Jitesh’s performance was not just about runs but also about demonstrating the calibre expected of middle-order batsmen. “I’m very, very happy for Jitesh,” Mukund continued, “but this is exactly what you’re paying the big bucks for as a mid-order batter.”
With Pant also scoring a century and drawing attention, Jitesh’s innings still stood out for its impact and efficiency, making it a memorable highlight in this IPL season for RCB and their fans.
