Royal Challengers Bengaluru Secure Qualifier 1 Spot with Six-Wicket Win Over Lucknow

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a thrilling six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by chasing down a daunting target of 228 in the IPL 2025 league, sealing their place in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. LSG posted 227/3, powered by captain Rishabh Pant's scintillating 118 off 61 balls and Mitchell Marsh's 67, setting a formidable total. In response, RCB's Virat Kohli laid the foundation with a fluent 54, while Jitesh Sharma starred with an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls, supported by Mayank Agarwal's 41 not out, combining for a match-winning 107-run partnership. The win marked RCB as the first team to win all their away games in a single IPL season and secured a top-two finish on the points table. The match also featured a rare moment when LSG's captain withdrew an appeal for a Mankad dismissal against Jitesh Sharma, allowing him to continue his innings. RCB will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, keeping their hopes alive for the IPL final.