On a Chinnaswamy track that was noticeably slower than usual, Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a controlled, high-impact performance to defeat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets on Wednesday, April 15. The result propelled the defending champions to the summit of the points table, marking their fourth win in just five matches and their first triumph over LSG at home, reinforcing RCB’s position as one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides.
The match in phases
Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants made 146 runs in 20 overs. Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 40 off 32, Mukul Choudhary struck 39 off 28, and Ayush Badoni contributed 38 off 24. For RCB, Rasikh Salam Dar led the attack with figures of 4/24, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3/27. Lucknow’s innings ended as they were bowled out/finished at 146, and they fell short of the chase as Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached 149/5 in 15.1 overs. Virat Kohli played a pivotal knock of 49 off 34, and Rajat Patidar added 27 off 13. Prince Yadav finished with 3/32 and Avesh Khan claimed 2/23 as RCB closed out the game with five wickets to spare.
Who helped RCB take control?
Bengaluru’s bowlers maximised the conditions, using the slow surface and the slightly irregular bounce to restrict Lucknow throughout the innings. Josh Hazlewood kept things tight in his usual precise manner, but it was Rasikh Salam Dar who stood out, generating sharp impact with slower deliveries that complemented a track offering pace variations. The Jammu and Kashmir pacer produced his best return in franchise cricket, registering career-best bowling figures of 4/24, finishing the tail with well-placed yorkers—an approach that echoed Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s own success, as the veteran also collected three wickets. Suyash Sharma went wicketless but still managed to extract meaningful turn, while Krunal Pandya chipped in with two breakthroughs and reached the 100-wicket milestone in IPL history.
How did LSG lose momentum with the bat?
Lucknow started with intent, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram showing respect to Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood early on. Boundaries eventually arrived, including a few sixes, before Markram was struck by a leading edge off a Rasikh full toss that landed on the pads. A major turning point came when Rishabh Pant retired hurt just three balls into his spell at the crease, disrupting Lucknow’s rhythm as they were pinned to 35/1 during the Powerplay. Moments later, Nicholas Pooran suffered further trouble when he dragged a short ball onto his stumps off Hazlewood, extending his difficult run with the bat. Ayush Badoni and Mukul Choudhary steadied the innings with scores above 30, each finding enterprising ways to keep the scoreboard moving. However, LSG faltered in the slog overs, losing six wickets for 34 runs as RCB’s attack tightened the screws without ever looking like they were under pressure. Brilliant fielding on the outfield also played its part in stopping any late surge.
What happened to Rishabh Pant?
Pant looked visibly uncomfortable against Hazlewood’s short-pitched deliveries. He was hurried by the third such ball and took a blow on his left elbow, immediately wincing in pain. Unable to continue, he was forced to retire hurt, and even a burst of treatment did not bring him back until Lucknow had already lost their fifth wicket. Pant managed only a single run during his brief return before Phil Salt ended his stay with a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket. Pant did not take the field again; with Pooran stepping in as captain, Choudhary took over the wicketkeeping duties. Elsewhere in the innings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also spent time off the field after suffering a blow to his left finger while attempting to stop the ball from his own bowling, though it did not disrupt his later bowling rhythm. Even so, he acknowledged that fielding with the injury felt difficult.
How did RCB chase the target?
Because the game was a chase, Virat Kohli had to be central to the plan. Kohli had picked up a knock in the previous match against Mumbai Indians, so he did not field in this contest and was introduced into the chase as an impact substitute. He made an immediate statement, striking boundaries off Mohammed Shami early and then punishing Prince Yadav with four hits in the fourth over. One of the standout moments was a back-foot cut/sweep-style stroke over cover that underlined Kohli’s control. Kohli was already on 35 off 15, and his presence meant Phil Salt’s early dismissal no longer mattered as much. Kohli then lofted a full delivery from Avesh Khan to long on and fell for 49 shortly after adding the Orange Cap to his season haul. Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma also contributed useful cameo impacts, helping RCB maintain momentum. Prince and Avesh Khan combined to take wickets as the five RCB dismissals arrived, but those breakthroughs offered little more than a consolation in an otherwise disappointing evening for Lucknow.
Where do the teams go next?
RCB will remain at home next, taking on Delhi Capitals in an afternoon match on Saturday, April 18. Lucknow, meanwhile, travel to face Punjab Kings on April 19, with the fixture set to be played in New Chandigarh.
