Find out how RCB is captained by Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma.
Jitesh Sharma led RCB to a stunning win over LSG in the IPL 2025 match today in Lucknow, but not before a series of confusing moments before the toss and in the first innings.
The designated captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Rajat Patidar, succumbed to a finger injury before the Indian Premier League (IPL) suspension. The 20-day break, unprecedented in its duration, helped Patidar nurse his injury. However, in RCB’s last clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Patidar was unfit to play a full game. He was added to the playing 11 as an Impact Player while wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma led the team. This continued against LSG in the match today as Patidar remained impact sub (according to Jitesh at the toss).
But when the playing XI showed up, it was Patidar in the XI despite RCB bowling and Suyash Sharma as impact sub. It turned out to be a broadcast error, though, as Jitesh led RCB in the field in the first innings as LSG racked up a total of 227. The RCB stand-in skipper copped flak from the fans as his bizarre bowling changes went awry when Rishabh Pant smashed LSG to a powerful total.
But Jitesh Sharma went on to have a massive impact later in the game, smashing an unbeaten 33-ball 85 and combining in a century stand with Mayank Agarwal to drive RCB to Qualifier 1 by chasing down 228 vs LSG.
Jitesh Sharma’s outrageous knock turned the game on its head and helped RCB secure a stunning victory in the absence of Tim David and Josh Hazlewood. This win guaranteed RCB a top-two finish in the points table and confirmed their spot in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings.
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Ahead of the coin toss for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs RCB game, Jitesh walked out with the team sheets. The toss representatives and spectators must’ve assumed that Patidar is still unfit and will be one of the Impact Players. The team sheet later show Patidar in the XI although it turned out to be a broadcast error.
This error left RCB fans confused ahead of the all-important fixture. The LSG vs RCB clash was a must-win for the visitors at the Ekana Stadium, and Jitesh drove RCB to a win with a POTM performance.
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, William O’Rourke.
Impact Subs – Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshin Kulkarni, Yuvraj Chaudhary.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma.
Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh.
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