Skipper Jitesh Sharma produced a sensational unbeaten 85 while Virat Kohli contributed a composed 54 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched a thrilling six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. The result propelled RCB into second place on the points table, setting up a marquee clash with table-toppers Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday.

Chasing a daunting 228 in their final league fixture, Bengaluru showcased both flair and composure to become the first team in IPL history to win all seven of their away matches in a single season. This remarkable achievement also secured their first top-two finish since 2016. With Gujarat Titans dropping to third, they will now face Mumbai Indians in the eliminator, while the loser of Qualifier 1 will get another shot at the final in Qualifier 2.

Despite the momentum from their record-breaking chase, RCB enter the playoffs with two most important concerns they need to address to sustain their title ambitions.