Rishabh Pant hits late-season purple patch with 54-ball ton as LSG post 227

Rishabh Pant produced a scintillating display of power-hitting as the Lucknow Super Giants captain smashed an unbeaten century, propelling his team to a formidable 227 for three against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league match of the IPL 2025, played on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, LSG made the most of the opportunity, thanks to a dynamic partnership between Pant and Mitchell Marsh. The Australian all-rounder laid the foundation with a fluent 67 off just 37 balls, setting the tempo early in the innings. However, it was Pant who stole the spotlight with his breathtaking innings, demonstrating his trademark flair, audacity, and maturity at the crease.

Pant brought up his second IPL century in style, reaching the three-figure mark in just 54 deliveries. His knock was a perfect blend of calculated aggression and fearless strokeplay, filled with audacious scoops, powerful pulls, and elegant drives that kept the RCB bowlers under pressure from the outset. The skipper remained unbeaten on 118, anchoring the innings right till the end with complete command.

This remarkable effort marks Pant’s second IPL century, his first having come back in the 2018 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he was part of the Delhi Capitals setup. On this occasion, wearing LSG colours, he displayed the same hunger and intensity that had defined his early years in the tournament.

The RCB bowlers found themselves on the receiving end throughout the innings, unable to break the rhythm of Pant and Marsh during their prolific stand. The duo stitched together a vital partnership that not only accelerated the scoring rate but also broke the back of the opposition’s bowling strategy. Their dominance ensured that LSG kept the scoreboard ticking at over 11 runs per over for most of the innings.

Despite a couple of breakthroughs in the latter half, including the dismissal of Marsh, RCB’s attack failed to regain control. The final overs saw Pant shift gears once more, launching a flurry of boundaries and sixes to push LSG past the 220-mark.

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants: 227/3 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 118 off 61, Mitchell Marsh 67 off 37)*

This article first appeared on Mid Day