Mayank Agarwal, a batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), emphasized the significance of a strong start during the power play when pursuing a substantial target. He acknowledged the vital contributions of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli in setting the pace, not only in this match but also in their previous encounter.

In a standout performance, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma led RCB to a convincing six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in the final group stage match of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"The way we initiated our innings during the power play instilled confidence in our dugout. When aiming for a large target, a solid start is essential, and both Phil and Virat excelled in this regard, as they did in the last match. We needed to remain composed, strategize effectively, and finish strong. As everyone witnessed, Jitesh's performance was nothing short of spectacular," Agarwal stated during the post-match press conference.

Kohli and Salt provided RCB with an explosive beginning while chasing a daunting target of 228 runs. The pair accumulated 61 runs in just 34 balls before Akash Maharaj Singh broke through by dismissing Salt, who scored 30 runs off 19 balls, in the final over of the power play.

Agarwal also commended the RCB bowlers, saying, "This was a crucial match for us. The pitch was favorable, and our bowlers performed admirably. A bit more luck could have gone our way with a few edges." RCB secured the second position in the standings, while Punjab remained at the top. RCB is set to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday, while Gujarat Titans, who fell to third place, will take on Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on Friday.

Bengaluru achieved the third-highest successful run chase in IPL history, thanks to an unbeaten partnership of 107 runs between Mayank Agarwal and Jitesh Sharma. Remarkably, this marks only the third instance where RCB has successfully chased down a target exceeding 200 runs. Their six-wicket victory represents the highest total chased in Lucknow.