Rishabh Pant and Marsh’s explosive partnership dismantles RCB’s attack, setting up a record target at the Ekana Stadium.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 27 – Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant produced a breathtaking innings of 118* off just 61 deliveries to lift his team to a formidable 227/3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their final group-stage match of IPL 2025 on Tuesday at the Ekana Stadium.
Batting first after losing the toss, LSG lost Matthew Breetzke early, bowled by Nuwan Thushara’s full toss for 14 in the third over. But Pant, promoting himself up the order, joined forces with Mitchell Marsh to steady the innings and then unleash a brutal assault on the RCB bowlers.
By the end of the powerplay, LSG had reached 55/1, laying the platform for the fireworks to come. Marsh flexed his muscles, hammering a flat six over square leg in the eighth over, while Pant showcased his clean hitting with a flurry of boundaries against Suyash Sharma to bring up his fifty before the 10-over mark.
Marsh complemented Pant’s aggression with his own half-century, his seventh of the season, punctuated by towering sixes over deep mid-wicket. Together, they forged a stunning 152-run partnership that left the RCB bowlers rattled.
The partnership was finally broken when Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s guile earned him Marsh’s wicket, the Australian departing after a well-made 67. But Pant was undeterred. He celebrated his century, his first of the season, with a flamboyant somersault, much to the delight of his teammates and the Lucknow crowd.
Pant’s final tally of 118* included 11 fours and nine towering sixes, boasting a strike rate of 193.44. He was supported by a brief cameo from Nicholas Pooran, who chipped in with a quick 13 off 10 balls before falling in the final over.
Despite some late breakthroughs, RCB’s attack had no answers to Pant’s dominance. The final over saw Pooran and Pant continue their aggressive approach, with Abdul Samad sneaking a single off the last ball to finish at 227/3.
For RCB, it’s a daunting chase ahead. Though they have chased down 200+ totals twice in IPL history, no team has surpassed the 207-run mark at the Ekana Stadium, making this pursuit a tall order.