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The 24th match of the IPL 2025 season saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Delhi Capitals at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10. A contest brimming with potential turned into a high-octane showdown filled with flying catches, explosive batting, and dramatic shifts in momentum. While KL Rahul’s commanding 93* grabbed the headlines, Jitesh Sharma made his mark early with two gravity-defying catches behind the stumps that shook Delhi’s top order.
RCB’s off day with the bat: A stumble despite a blistering start
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Royal Challengers Bengaluru began with fireworks. Phil Salt blazed away with a 17-ball 37, sending the crowd into raptures as RCB rocketed to 50 runs within the first 3 overs. However, the momentum was short-lived.
Virat Kohli (22 off 14) looked promising before falling to a mistimed shot, while Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma failed to stabilize the middle order. Kuldeep Yadav’s crafty spin choked the scoring rate, picking up crucial wickets and ending with economical figures of 2/17. Despite a late surge from Tim David (37* off 20), RCB could only manage 163/7 — a below-par total on the small Bengaluru ground. The lack of partnerships and consistent middle-order collapses meant RCB ended their innings with more questions than answers.
Jitesh Sharma plucks two screamers in a row
The Delhi chase began shakily, and it was Jitesh who brought the early drama behind the stumps — not with the bat, but with his gloves. In just the second over of the innings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a back-of-a-length ball outside off stump. Jake Fraser-McGurk went for an audacious heave across the line, only to top-edge the ball into orbit. The ball soared high, disappearing into the Bengaluru night sky. Jitesh tracked it calmly despite a slight bobble and held on to a stunning catch under pressure. It was a moment that summed up the early collapse Delhi was facing. Fraser-McGurk departed for 7 runs, leaving DC at 10/2.
Barely two overs later, Abhishek Porel attempted a similar across-the-line swipe to a Bhuvneshwar short ball. This one went off the toe-end and once again, it was Jitesh who sprinted and claimed another sky-high effort with ease. Two almost identical dismissals, two big blows for Delhi — and both safely pouched by Jitesh’s sure hands. Porel’s dismissal for 7 runs reduced DC to 30/3, putting RCB in a commanding position early in the match.
Here’s the video:
𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦. 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦
🎥 Jitesh Sharma's exceptional glove work as he holds onto two splendid catches 💪#DC are 42/3 after 7 overs.#TATAIPL | #RCBvDC | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/kqWPaGyde8
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2025
Also READ: Fans go wild as KL Rahul demolishes RCB to extend DC’s unbeaten streak in the IPL 2025
KL Rahul’s masterclass in the chase
Despite being rocked early at 30/3, Delhi Capitals had an ace up their sleeve. Rahul played one of the finest innings of the season. With a mixture of elegant strokeplay, brutal lofted drives, and smart running between the wickets, he single-handedly turned the tide.
He brought up his half-century in just 37 balls and then shifted gears with ruthless efficiency. Tristan Stubbs (38* off 23) played the perfect supporting act, but it was Rahul’s command over the chase that stood out. His unbeaten 93 off 53 balls included 7 fours and 6 sixes, and ensured DC crossed the line with 13 balls to spare.
While Rahul’s stellar innings rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award, Jitesh’s acrobatic catches were equally instrumental in shaping the game’s narrative. His efforts behind the stumps not only provided early breakthroughs but also energized the RCB side. Despite RCB’s eventual loss, Jitesh’s performance stood out as a testament to the impact of exceptional fielding in the shortest format of the game.
