Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a commanding eight-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday during the IPL 2025 season at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. As a result, PBKS climbed to second place in the points table, while LSG slipped to sixth.
LSG Struggles After Early Setbacks
Earlier, PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl first. Right from the beginning, LSG faced setbacks. Arshdeep Singh struck in the first over, dismissing an in-form Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck. As a result, LSG was reduced to 1/1 in just 0.4 overs.
Despite the early blow, Aiden Markram counterattacked. In the third over, he smashed three fours off Arshdeep. Then, he continued his aggressive approach, hitting a four and a six against Lockie Ferguson. However, an inswinging delivery soon crashed into his stumps, ending his innings at 28 off 18 balls. Consequently, LSG stumbled to 32/2 in 3.5 overs.
Adding to their woes, captain Rishabh Pant failed to anchor the innings. He managed only two runs before Glenn Maxwell dismissed him. Yuzvendra Chahal took a sharp catch at short fine leg, leaving LSG at 35/3 in the fifth over.
Pooran and Badoni Rebuild LSG’s Innings
Despite the early collapse, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni attempted to rebuild the innings. By the end of the powerplay, LSG reached 39/3, though the scoring rate remained low.
In the following overs, Pooran played with intent. He struck a few boundaries off Maxwell and a six against Marcus Stoinis. As a result, LSG crossed the 50-run mark in the seventh over.
Then, in the 10th over, Pooran took on Chahal, smashing two fours and a six to bring up 15 runs in a single over. His partnership with Badoni flourished, as the duo completed a 50-run stand in 37 balls. However, just when Pooran looked dangerous, Maxwell pulled off a brilliant catch off Chahal’s bowling. Thus, Pooran’s aggressive innings ended at 44 off 30 balls, and LSG stood at 89/4 in 11.3 overs.
Nevertheless, Badoni continued to fight back. He brought up LSG’s 100 in the 13th over with a powerful six over extra cover. Shortly after, he formed a brief partnership with David Miller, who scored 19 off 18 balls. Unfortunately, Marco Jansen dismissed Miller in the 16th over, reducing LSG to 119/5.
LSG Falls Short Despite Late Flourish
In the 18th over, Badoni and Abdul Samad launched an aggressive counterattack. They took 20 runs off Arshdeep, including three fours and a six. Consequently, LSG crossed the 150-run mark in 17.4 overs.
However, PBKS bowlers remained disciplined. Jansen gave away only eight runs in the 19th over, applying pressure. Then, in the final over, Badoni perished after scoring 41 off 33 balls, caught by Maxwell. Meanwhile, Samad also fell shortly after, managing 27 off 12 balls. As a result, LSG finished at 171/7 in 20 overs, with Shardul Thakur (3*) and Avesh Khan (0*) remaining unbeaten.
PBKS Bowlers Shine
Throughout the innings, PBKS bowlers delivered a disciplined performance. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with 3/43. Additionally, Lockie Ferguson, Chahal, Maxwell, and Jansen picked up a wicket each. Their efforts kept LSG in check and prevented them from setting a bigger total.
Prabhsimran and Iyer Anchor PBKS’ Chase
Chasing a target of 172, PBKS got off to an aggressive start. Opener Prabhsimran Singh played a match-winning knock, scoring 69 off just 34 balls. Meanwhile, his partner Priyansh Arya contributed 8 off 9 balls. The duo built a 26-run stand in 17 balls before Arya departed in the third over.
After Arya’s dismissal, skipper Shreyas Iyer joined Prabhsimran at the crease. Soon after, PBKS reached the 50-run mark in the sixth over, with Prabhsimran smashing a boundary off Ravi Bishnoi. Moreover, he completed his half-century in the seventh over, taking a single off M. Siddharth.
As the innings progressed, PBKS maintained their dominance. They crossed 100 runs in the 10th over when Iyer took a single off Shardul Thakur. However, at 110 runs, Prabhsimran lost his wicket after a spectacular innings featuring nine fours and three sixes.
Subsequently, Nehal Wadhera entered as an impact player and partnered with Iyer. Together, they played with composure and ensured PBKS reached the target comfortably. Ultimately, they sealed the victory in the 17th over with eight wickets in hand.
On the bowling front, LSG’s Digvesh Singh Rathi was the only effective bowler. He picked up two wickets for 30 runs in his four-over spell.
Brief Scores
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): 171/7 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Ayush Badoni 41, Arshdeep Singh 3/43)
Punjab Kings (PBKS): 177/2 in 16.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 69, Shreyas Iyer 52, Digvesh Singh Rathi 2/30)
Overall, PBKS dominated the match from start to finish. With this emphatic victory, they strengthened their position in the tournament.