Watch: Jitesh Sharma hugs Rishabh Pant after LSG captain withdraws run out enchantment

Rishabh Pant stole the highlight with a strong act of sportsmanship throughout a high-intensity IPL 2025 match on the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The Lucknow Tremendous Giants captain withdrew a run-out enchantment in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma, turning a second of controversy into one in every of mutual respect.

Within the seventeenth over of RCB’s chase of 228, LSG spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi stopped in his supply stride and eliminated the bails on the non-striker’s finish. He caught Jitesh Sharma exterior his crease and instantly appealed. The on-field umpires despatched the choice upstairs. The replays confirmed what the group already suspected – Jitesh was in need of his floor.

LSG vs RCB: Updates | Full Scorecard

Simply because the stadium held its breath for the umpire’s “OUT” sign, the massive display as an alternative lit up with “NOT OUT.” Rishabh Pant had withdrawn the enchantment. Although fully inside his rights to assert the dismissal, he selected the trail of sportsmanship over benefit. The choice caught the group off guard. In a strong second, Jitesh walked over and embraced Pant.

On the time, Jitesh and Mayank Agarwal have been constructing an important partnership that had tilted the sport in RCB’s favour. If the enchantment had stood, it might have shifted the momentum again to LSG. Pant’s choice to not pursue the run-out reignited the controversy surrounding the ‘Mankad’ – a mode of dismissal that continues to be authorized however typically attracts criticism for going in opposition to the spirit of the sport.

The scenario gained additional complexity when the third umpire additionally reviewed whether or not Rathi had accomplished his bowling motion earlier than making an attempt the run-out. The legal guidelines of the sport require the bowler to behave earlier than ending his supply stride. Whereas the footage prompt Rathi adopted the principles, Pant’s choice to withdraw the enchantment made the technicality irrelevant.

From the dugout, Virat Kohli regarded visibly annoyed. He gestured to his teammates on the sector, clearly sad with how the scenario had performed out and anxious in regards to the affect on RCB’s momentum.

Regardless of the disruption, RCB rapidly regained management. Jitesh, stepping in as captain for the injured Faf du Plessis, performed the innings of his life. He smashed 85 off simply 33 balls, main his group to their highest-ever profitable run chase in IPL historical past. RCB chased down 228 with composure and confidence, sealing their spot within the playoffs and ending a nine-year wait to complete within the prime two.

With that consequence, RCB grew to become the primary group in IPL historical past to win all seven of their away matches in a single season. RCB will tackle table-toppers Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday in Mullanpur. RCB will now have two pictures at reaching the ultimate.