Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 was played between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
In this high-voltage match, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first and bundled out PBKS for just 101 runs. But the biggest moment of this match was Jitesh Sharma’s brilliant catch, which ended the PBKS innings in just 14.1 overs.
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At the start of the match, RCB bowlers devastated the PBKS batting line-up. Yash Dayal dismissed Priyansh Arya for 7 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent the impressive Prabhsimran Singh (18) to the pavilion.
Josh Hazlewood put PBKS on the backfoot by dismissing captain Shreyas Iyer (2) and Josh Inglis (4) in quick succession.
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Suyash Sharma also showed amazing performance and took three wickets including Marcus Stoinis (26). PBKS’s score was 50/5 in 7 overs, and then the exciting moment started.
Azmatullah Omarzai (18), trying to handle the PBKS innings, tried to play a big shot on Hazelwood’s ball. The ball was on the off stump, and Omarzai removed the front leg and hit a powerful shot.
PBKS vs RCB Qualifier1: Jitesh Sharma’s Epic Catch
But the ball took the outside edge of the bat and flew fast towards wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh jumped in the air and caught the ball with his right glove. The ball stuck to his hand, even though the elbow hit the ground.
This catch was so great that the fans and commentators present in the stadium were stunned. With this catch, PBKS’s innings ended at 101 runs.
Jitesh Sharma, who was also the stand-in captain of RCB, not only showed amazing wicketkeeping in this match, but also won everyone’s heart with his fielding. His catch made it easy for RCB to reach the final.
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Hazelwood thrashed PBKS with figures of 3/21, Suyash 3/17 and Yash Dayal 2/26.
Marcus Stoinis (26) and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) were able to score runs to some extent for PBKS, but the rest of the batsmen looked helpless in front of RCB’s bowling.
Now RCB has an easy target of 102 runs, and their batsmen Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Mayank Agarwal are ready to capitalize on this opportunity.
Will RCB secure a place in the final with this win? Now this is eagerly awaited.
