Former Australian captain Michael Clarke heaped praise on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after their remarkable run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the final league match of IPL 2025. Chasing a massive target of 228, RCB pulled off a thrilling six-wicket win at the Ekana Stadium to book their place in Qualifier 1.

Michael Clarke was particularly impressed with the belief the RCB unit showed under pressure, especially when the match seemed to be slipping away at one point. Speaking on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, Clarke highlighted the mental strength of the batting group.

“What we saw with this RCB batting unit is that they believe they can win from any situation. They didn’t even have Tim David, who’s been key at the back end. But they just believe. The way they played their shots and kept the intent even after Virat got out was amazing,” he remarked.

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RCB’s successful chase of 228 not only marked their highest in IPL history but also became the third-highest run chase in the tournament’s record books. Leading the charge was stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma, whose unbeaten 85 off 33 balls sealed the match. Clarke also lauded Mayank Agarwal for his calm presence, staying unbeaten on 41 off 23 and stitching key partnerships with both Virat Kohli and Jitesh.

Virat, who opened the innings, laid the foundation with a fluent 54 off 30, playing a pivotal role in the powerplay. Despite missing a key finisher like Tim David, RCB’s depth and belief stood out in this high-pressure game.

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RCB will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on May 29 at Mullanpur—RCB’s designated home venue for the playoffs. Both teams have momentum, making it a blockbuster clash. Interestingly, RCB remains unbeaten in away matches this season, adding an extra edge to their campaign.