Published: May 28, 2025, 04:39 PM (IST)
Edited: May 28, 2025, 04:39 PM (IST)
Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody prasied Jitesh Sharma’s outstanding innings against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, calling it the standout performance of the 2025 IPL season. Stand-in skipper, Jitesh delivered a spectacular unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru into Qualifier 1.
Jitesh walked in after Virat Kohli’s dismissal, with RCB still needing 105 runs from 52 balls in a massive 228-run chase. Remarkably, this was Jitesh’s first-ever IPL fifty and he made it count in grand fashion, playing an innings that will be remembered for a long time.
He smashed six towering sixes and eight boundaries during his impressive knock. “The innings is, for me, the innings of the IPL this season by a stretch. We’ve seen some great knocks from young and old, but this one, wow, quite remarkable,” Moody told Cricinfo.
“The team was totally against it backs against the wall, Kohli in the sheds, (Phil) Salt in the sheds. There was significant headwind, but he just ignored it all and just took the game apart. He not only took the game apart, he played smartly, just the way he went about it was like he’d been there and done it before many, many times,” the Australian said.
Jitesh and Mayank Agarwal put together an unbeaten 107-run stand for the fifth wicket, helping RCB to a remarkable win. Jitesh’s knock overpowered LSG captain Rishabh Pant’s brilliant 118 off 61 balls, which had took the home side to a commanding total of 227 for three.
