Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a spot in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 on Tuesday with a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. The visitors (RCB) had won the toss and opted to field first, but the hosts posted a total of 227/3 on the back of knocks from Rishabh Pant (118) and Mitchell Marsh (67).
Phil Salt (30) and Virat Kohli (54) forged a 61-run stand for the first wicket during the run chase but Rajat Patidar (14) and Liam Livingstone (0) failed to capitalise. Despite this, Mayank Agarwal (41) and Jitesh Sharma (85) forged an unbeaten 107-run stand for the fifth wicket to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) to a memorable win. The three-time finalists will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur on Thursday (May 29).
Aakash Chopra analyzes RCB’s batting & bowling line up
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra noted a glaring mistake that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had made ahead of their final league match of IPL 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Tuesday.
There was some confusion after Royal Challengers Bengaluru submitted the wrong team sheet at the toss. Aakash said that neither the umpires nor the referee would have been able to help RCB. Regular skipper Rajat Patidar’s name was initially displayed in the RCB playing XI but was later added to the Impact Player substitutes list. Jitesh Sharma was RCB’s stand-in skipper on Tuesday.
“RCB made a mistake when Jitesh Sharma went for the toss as Rajat Patidar is still injured and is coming as an impact player. You have two team sheets now, one for batting first and the other for bowling first. Rajat Patidar’s name was there in the bowling first team sheet. At least there or four people verify that sheet, but a mistake was made,” Aakash said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
“Suyash Sharma’s name was among the impact player substitutes. Once the toss is done, and you have given the sheet, you cannot change. You might request or plead, but neither the umpires nor the referee can help you. Only one person on the entire ground can allow you to change. That’s the opposing team’s captain,” added the 47-year-old.
Aakash Chopra stated that RCB had then approached LSG skipper Rishabh Pant if they could change the playing XI and the 27-year-old agreed to it. It as to be noted that Rajat Patidar had suffered a finger injury during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s game against Chennai Super Kings on May 3. Jitesh Sharma was also RCB’s captain for their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad last week, which they lost by 42 runs. Going forward Aakash Chopra discussed the potential threats for RCB in their upcoming match vs PBKS in Qualifier 1.
Aakash Chopra points out the weakness of RCB
Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) do not have any significant weaknesses heading into their IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). However, he noted that the franchise could have an issue if Jitesh Sharma continues to lead the side.
RCB will face PBKS in the first playoff game of IPL 2025 in Mullanpur on Thursday, May 29. Jitesh has captained the side in their last few league games because Rajat Patidar has played as an impact player due to a finger injury.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener reckoned that RCB could have an issue in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 if Patidar doesn’t return as skipper.
“Does this team have any weaknesses? There is no legit weakness, but I am missing one thing, and that is Rajat Patidar’s captaincy. Jitesh Sharma, as good as he is, the way he batted in the last match, his best IPL innings, maybe the best innings of this edition of the tournament, but shortcomings are being seen in captaincy,” he said
Chopra pointed out that Jitesh failed to use his bowling resources effectively in RCB’s last league game against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
“He bowled Krunal Pandya one over, and then he forgot him. Then he bowled him one more over, and forgot him totally after that. He conceded just 14 runs in two overs, but why did he bowl only two overs? That question should be asked. He didn’t give the new ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Nuwan Thushara was given three, and then only one was left. The captaincy is looking slightly weak to me,” he elaborated.
RCB allowed LSG to post a mammoth 227/3 in the final league game of IPL 2025 in Lucknow on May 27. However, the visitors achieved the target with six wickets and eight deliveries to spare to book their berth in Qualifier 1.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru could face death-bowling issues in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 if Josh Hazlewood isn’t fit and available.
“We are assuming that Josh Hazlewood will come and everything will fall into place. However, if he doesn’t come, you might see a little weakness in death bowling, and for that, you will have to manage Nuwan Thushara better,” he said
While observing that Nuwan Thushara and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will have to be utilized better if Hazlewood doesn’t play, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that RCB’s perceived spin-bowling weakness doesn’t seem to be an issue any longer.
“You will also have to use Bhuvneshwar Kumar better. You will have to give him the new ball. So start thinking along those lines. We used to talk about spin as a weakness, but the way the spinners have bowled thus far, it doesn’t seem like too many difficulties would come,” Chopra noted.
With 15 scalps at an economy rate of 8.58 in 13 innings, Krunal Pandya is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2025. Although Suyash Sharma has picked up only five wickets in 12 games, he has an acceptable economy rate of 9.02. RCB have all the arsenal to win the Qualifier 1 vs resurgent PBKS but for that they have to show an all round show in all the departments in Qualifier 1.
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