IPL 2025: Livingstone, Jitesh, and David Propel RCB to 169/8 Despite Siraj's Three-Wicket Haul

Bengaluru, April 2 (NationPress) Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Tim David contributed significant innings to aid the resurgence of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as the home team managed to score 169/8 in their allotted 20 overs against Gujarat Titans during match 14 of IPL 2025 held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

The pitch, featuring a layer of grass covering around the good length area and not utilized in the previous season, allowed the ball to seam effectively. The GT fast bowlers capitalized on this by targeting the good and back of the length regions, which reduced RCB to 42/4.

Jitesh initiated RCB's recovery with a brisk 33 runs, followed by Livingstone showcasing his power hitting with 54 runs off 40 balls, while David added a quick-fire 32 off just 18 balls. For GT, Mohammed Siraj made a remarkable comeback to the Chinnaswamy, taking 3-19, while R Sai Kishore continued his impressive performance with 2-22.

The match commenced with excitement for GT as Virat Kohli executed a stunning cover drive off Mohammed Siraj for four runs, followed by Phil Salt being dropped by Jos Buttler in the opening over. However, Arshad Khan restored cheer in the GT camp by restricting Kohli on the pull shot, leading to his dismissal at deep square leg.

Bengaluru local Devdutt Padikkal made an impressive start with a cover drive for four off Siraj. Nevertheless, the pacer ultimately claimed his wicket with a delivery that sneaked past Padikkal to hit the top of the off-stump. After surviving a run-out chance, Salt launched a massive 105m six over the mid-wicket roof off Siraj.

Yet, Siraj quickly responded with a well-executed scrambled seam delivery, resulting in Salt's dismissal as he failed to connect while charging down the pitch. Rajat Patidar attempted to stabilize RCB’s innings with a run-a-ball 12, only to be trapped lbw by a cross-seam delivery from Ishant Sharma.

Jitesh played aggressively, hitting three fours and a six off Ishant, while also claiming boundaries from Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan. Livingstone, meanwhile, managed a four and a six while benefiting from a drop by Rahul Tewatia at long-on, who later redeemed himself by taking Jitesh's catch off Sai Kishore's bowling.

After Kishore caught Krunal Pandya off his carrom ball, Livingstone and Tim David found their rhythm by hitting Rashid Khan for a six and a four, respectively. Following a six off Kishore, Livingstone punished Rashid with three sixes, the last of which brought him his fifty in 39 balls, while the leg-spinner conceded over 50 runs for the fourth time in IPL history.

However, shortly after attaining his fifty, Livingstone attempted to slash at a short and wide delivery from Siraj but ended up nicking it to Buttler. Despite his dismissal, RCB crossed the 160-mark, as David launched two fours and a six off Krishna in the final over before being bowled out by a precise yorker from the pacer.

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 169/8 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 54, Jitesh Sharma 33; Mohammed Siraj 3-19, R Sai Kishore 2-22) against Gujarat Titans