Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
In a surprising mix-up ahead of the IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27, RCB found themselves in a peculiar situation. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma submitted a team sheet that included Rajat Patidar in the starting XI, despite the batter being unfit to take the field due to a lingering finger injury.
This raised immediate questions as to the accuracy and implications of the lineup, especially given the strategic importance of the match. Jitesh Sharma later clarified the confusion, explaining that Patidar would play only as an Impact Player and not take the field at the start. With the regular skipper sidelined, Sharma took over the captaincy responsibilities for the game.
Rishabh Pant and Mitch Marsh drive LSG to good start against RCB
The incident highlighted a broader concern with the relatively new Impact Player rule, which, though intended to add tactical flexibility, also leaves room for administrative mishaps and miscommunication during high-pressure moments like the toss. The inclusion of Patidar in the starting XI despite his unavailability led to confusion not just among commentators and fans but potentially among match officials as well. Questions lingered about whether the listing was an honest oversight or a deliberate move to leverage the Impact Player rule to its maximum potential.
At the toss, RCB won and elected to bowl first. LSG, batting first, got off to a good start on a pitch offering some movement. At the time of writing, Lucknow had posted 149/1 in 14 overs, with Mithcell Marsh and skipper Rishabh Pant at the crease. Both of them have got their half-centuries with Pant putting behind a string of poor performances to finally deliver a good performance.
