LSG vs RCB highlights, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Lucknow Super Giants, to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1

Akash Singh to Phil Salt, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! CAUGHT! The slower one does the trick for Akash Singh and LSG get their first wicket! Akash Singh dishes out a slower bouncer, angling across the off stump, and climbing on the batter around the shoulder height. Phil Salt hops in the air, but has to really reach at it, and is also way too early in the shot. The ball, hence, goes off the toe end of the bat and lobs straight toward Digvesh Singh at cover. He takes a simple, straightforward catch. A massive blow for RCB this as Salt departs on 30 (19). RCB are 61/1.

Akash Singh to Phil Salt, Just short! Gets away with it, does Akash! Slips in a low full toss, tailing just a tad bit into the batter, Phil Salt backs away to open the off side, swings through the line, but miscues it and slices it from the bottom end, a bit in the air. It lands just short of Digvesh Singh at cover.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, At just 108.3 kph, full and outside leg, Virat Kohli clips it along the turf to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, Akash Singh is back on. Bowls a slower one, across off, on a length, Virat Kohli swings and misses.

Avesh Khan to Phil Salt, A dot to end the over but RCB are 60/0 after just 5 overs. This is bowled fuller and in towards the pads, flicked away to backward square leg.

Avesh Khan to Phil Salt, FOUR! Nice adjustment from Salt! Back of a length and angled in towards the batter. Phil Salt manages to back away enough and forces it flat to the right of mid off for a boundary.

Avesh Khan to Phil Salt, Banged in well short now and angles it wide outside off as well, Salt reaches for it but it flies past the bat.

Avesh Khan to Phil Salt, Goes full and straight, gets it into the blockhole, Salt digs it out to mid off.

Avesh Khan to Virat Kohli, Banged in on a hard length and outside off, slapped away firmly to deep point for just a single.

Avesh Khan to Virat Kohli, FOUR! A slower short ball, outside off, Virat Kohli gets on top of the bounce and uses the wrists to angle the pull in front of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. This brings up 9000 runs for Virat Kohli in the T20s alone! Astonishing from the chase master!

Avesh Khan to Virat Kohli, Wide! Begins with a loosener! Full and angled down leg, Kohli misses the flick and a wide is called.

Fifth bowler in the fifth over for LSG! Here's Avesh Khan replacing Digvesh Singh.

Shahbaz Ahamad to Phil Salt, FOUR! Through the gap this time! Marginally short and just outside off, sits up nicely. Phil Salt backs away and slaps it in front of square on the off side for a boundary. The 50 is up for RCB in no real time!

Shahbaz Ahamad to Virat Kohli, Tossed up, a bit full and on leg, Kohli makes room and eases it in front of covers for one more.

Shahbaz Ahamad to Phil Salt, Length ball, angled into leg stump, Salt backs away and punches it wide of mid off for a single.

Shahbaz Ahamad to Phil Salt, Drags the length a bit, bowling it slower on off and middle, Salt taps it down to covers.

Shahbaz Ahamad to Phil Salt, FOUR! Fired in on middle and leg, in the slot, Salt clears the front leg and swings it flat down to the left of mid on for a boundary. RCB are off to a real flier here.

Shahbaz Ahamad to Virat Kohli, Starts from around the wicket, bowling it full onto middle, Kohli eases it through extra cover for one.

Digvesh Singh to Phil Salt, Quicker delivery, on a length around off and middle, Salt cuts it in front of point but can't get it through the gap.

Digvesh Singh to Phil Salt, Length ball on off, curving away, Salt stays back and swats it across to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs as there is a slight fumble in the deep from Ravi Bishnoi. The bowler isn't happy with it.

Digvesh Singh to Phil Salt, FOUR! Begging to be hit! Well short and down leg, Phil Salt rocks back and pulls it down to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Digvesh Singh to Phil Salt, Quick and flat on off, Salt backs away before jamming it firmly into covers.

Digvesh Singh to Virat Kohli, Floated up on a length and on the pads, clipped away through backward square leg for one more.

Digvesh Singh to Phil Salt, Length ball on middle and leg, sits up, Salt pushes it from the crease and through mid on for a single.

Will O'Rourke to Virat Kohli, FOUR! That is a fine shot and 22 runs come off it. This is bowled well short and over middle, Virat Kohli gets on top of the bounce and pulls it just in front of square leg for yet another boundary.

Will O'Rourke to Virat Kohli, Wide! Kohli is early to charge down the track but Will O'Rourke spears it wide outside off and for a wide.

Will O'Rourke to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Make that a hat-trick of boundaries! Short of a length and over off, Kohli swivels back and pulls it down in front of square and into the fence.

Will O'Rourke to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Up and away! Fractionally short and outside off, Virat Kohli slashes the ball away over backward point and picks up yet another boundary.

Will O'Rourke to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Erring in line! Floated up, full and just down leg, Kohli flicks it really fine and the ball rolls away into the fence.

Will O'Rourke to Phil Salt, Length again, this time on the pads, heaved away on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Will O'Rourke to Phil Salt, FOUR! Nicely timed! Good-length ball, not too wide either, Salt just waits a touch before caressing it on the up and through the gap at covers for a boundary.

The tall, lanky Kiwi, Will O'Rourke to operate from the far end.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, FOUR! Classic Kohli! Similar line and length around middle, Virat Kohli steps inside the line and whips it away over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, Three dots on the trot! Pitched-up delivery on middle, Kohli strides in to drive and hits it straight to mid on again.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, Floats this one up on off,trying to swing it back in, Kohli shows the full face of the bat and pushes it to mid on.

Akash Singh to Virat Kohli, Nagging length on off, holding its line, Virat Kohli defends it under his eyes.

Akash Singh to Phil Salt, Oh, misfield! Length ball on the pads, nudged away to short fine leg where Matthew Breetzke gets a bad bounce and the batters are able to pick up a single.

Akash Singh to Phil Salt, FOUR! Up and running in style! Full and straight to begin with, Phil Salt smacks it back into the deck and gets it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Welcome back to RCB's response with the bat. The umpires and players have made their way to the middle. Now then, out walk Virat Kohli and Phil Salt to open for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The players of Lucknow Super Giants spread out to the field as well. The umpire signals for the substitution for LSG, as Mitchell Marsh makes way for the left-arm seamer, Akash Singh. He will rightaway begin the proceedings with the new ball. Off we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Okay then, 228 is the magic number for Royal Challengers Bengaluru to claim a spot in the top two and punch their tickets for Qualifier 1. The job looks a bit steep, especially when RCB is over-dependent on their openers. The middle order has not fired up to the expectations and with Tim David's absence down the order, the challenge level has elevated further. Hence, a strong start from chase master Virat Kohli and Phil Salt remains a non-negotiable. However, true stars sparkle when it's dark. Can RCB turn this to their favor? Stick around as the run chase is up next in a bit.

LSG's Matthew Breetzke is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He says that, it was a great privilege to debut in the IPL, but it didn't go the way he wanted to but it was awesome to play in front of a crowd like that. Adds that his head seems fine at the moment and he'll see for the next couple of hours. Shares that it was a pretty good wicket but only challenge was swinging balls from Nuwan Thushara. Mentions that Nuwan Thushara was bowling well at the start and he was all over him and Mitch. says that any game of cricket there will always be nerves, but he felt confident as he was training for the last two months. Concludes that Pant has been very honest, although his batting hasn't gone his way, but his captaincy has been amazing.

With the playoffs approaching, RCB's bowling woes and fielding lapses could prove costly in high-pressure games. The absence of Josh Hazlewood has left their attack vulnerable, and back-to-back struggles suggest a lack of control. If they want to make a deep run, tightening their discipline and finding consistency will be crucial, because in knockout cricket, these mistakes can have huge consequences.

Rishabh Pant was in his element, and Marsh followed suit as LSG unleashed a stunning 109-run assault between overs 7 and 15. Bhuvi eventually broke their commanding 152-run stand, but with plenty of batting firepower still in reserve, the bowlers struggled to regain control. Pant saved the best for the last and smashed a century off just 54 balls, reminding that he is still there and marked his territory at home against a star-studded RCB unit, helping his side to get 227 on the board.

LSG, though, got a much-needed lift as skipper Rishabh Pant stepped in with intent, taking the attacking route and giving Marsh the space to settle in. After a tough season, these innings could be the spark Pant needed to regain his rhythm. Together, the duo stitched a fifty-plus stand, steadying the innings and nicely navigating the middle overs with exactly 100 on the board at the halfway mark.

RCB and LSG traded early blows, but debutant Matthew Breetzke’s promising start was cut short by a fiery Thushara yorker. That wicket, combined with Thushara’s slingy pace and Bhuvi’s sharp control, slowed LSG’s charge. They finished the powerplay at 55/1, but with 44 runs coming in the first four overs, RCB took command in the latter half, giving just 11 in the last two of the restrictions.

An inning worth remembering from Rishabh Pant. On the back of his scintillating century, the Super Giants have posted their highest total at Ekana. Pant led the charge with a blistering display, smashing 8 of the 14 sixes as he dismantled RCB’s bowling attack piece by piece. For Bengaluru, warning signs are flashing bright as this marks the second straight game at this venue where they’ve leaked over 220 runs, raising serious concerns about their bowling depth.

Romario Shepherd to Abdul Samad, Full and wide, jammed out towards extra cover for just a single by Abdul Samad and Romario Shepherd manages to close things out decently for RCB. Lucknow Super Giants finish with 227/3 on the board!

The onfield umpires have sent the decision upstairs for a fair catch check. Yash Dayal almost misjudges the catch but manages to gobble it in the end. The replay shows that he has done it cleanly with his fingers underneath the ball. The third umpire is satisfied as well.

Romario Shepherd to Nicholas Pooran, OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, Yash Dayal almost made a mess of that one! Romario Shepherd with another bumper, bowls it into the pitch and gets the line and height right as well. Nicholas Pooran tries to pull it from around the helmet but ends up getting a top edge down to deep backward sauare leg where Dayal takes a low catch and manages to keep his fingers underneath the ball.