Royal Challengers Bengaluru read the conditions better and executed with clarity to bundle Lucknow Super Giants out for 146. On a pitch that offered little pace, the seamers relied on discipline rather than variation. Rasikh Salam led the effort with 4 for 24, his best in the IPL, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s control brought him 3 for 27.
RCB bowlers set it up on a slow Chinnaswamy surface
LSG never found momentum. Aiden Markram fell early, and the powerplay ended at 35 for 1. Rishabh Pant’s injury only made things worse. He was struck on the elbow and had to retire hurt, leaving the innings without direction. Nicholas Pooran followed cheaply, and though Mitchell Marsh made 40, it came without fluency.
Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary added some resistance, but the lack of intent and regular wickets meant LSG were always behind. Four wickets in the final two overs summed up their innings. On this surface, 146 was never likely to be enough.
Kohli anchors, others finish as RCB cruise
Virat Kohli walked in as an Impact Sub and played with control despite not being fully fit. He absorbed pressure early, then shifted gears once set. His 49 shaped the chase and ensured there were no surprises.
The platform allowed others to play freely. Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David attacked the loose balls, while Romario Shepherd added quick runs to finish things off. RCB reached 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs, winning with 29 balls to spare.
This was not a typical high-scoring Bengaluru pitch, but RCB adapted quicker. Their bowlers created the opportunity, and the batters made sure it was not wasted. With this win, they move to the top of the table and continue to build momentum at home.
Where do LSG go from here?
The concern for LSG is not just the loss, but how it unfolded. The batting once again failed to put up a competitive total, even after getting through 20 overs. On a difficult pitch, better awareness was needed, but too many dismissals came from poor decisions.
Pant’s fitness adds another layer of uncertainty. He did return briefly but could not make an impact and did not take the field later. If he is unavailable, who leads and stabilises this batting unit?
LSG’s bowlers have often kept them in games, but can they continue to defend below-par totals every time? Unless the batting finds answers quickly, the pressure on the rest of the side will only grow.