Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings:Punjab Kings (PBKS) continued their dominant start to IPL 2025 with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a well-contested encounter. Punjab’s decision to bowl first on a tricky, two-paced red-soil pitch proved to be the right one as they made early inroads into the LSG batting lineup, restricting them to 171 for 7. In reply, Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive 69 and Shreyas Iyer’s composed unbeaten 52 saw PBKS chase down the target with ease, making it two wins in two games for them this season.
PBKS Strike Early to Put LSG on the Backfoot
Opting to bowl first, Punjab Kings made an immediate impact as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh removed LSG’s star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh with the very first ball of the match. The ball stopped on Marsh, who could only manage a mistimed shot straight into the hands of Marco Jansen at short third. Marsh, who had hit fifties in his first two innings of the season, departed for a golden duck, setting the tone for PBKS.
PBKS’ bowling strategy was evident from the start, with Lockie Ferguson taking the new ball alongside Arshdeep instead of Jansen. Ferguson, usually known for his effectiveness with the older ball, was given a specific role—targeting Nicholas Pooran, whom he had dismissed four times in just 17 deliveries across various T20 competitions. However, despite his past success against Pooran, Ferguson bowled only three balls to him on this occasion.
Aiden Markram, who had been promoted up the order, briefly counter-attacked with some crisp boundaries but was dismissed for 28 off 18 balls, inside-edging a delivery from Ferguson onto his stumps. The introduction of Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin proved effective against LSG’s left-handers, as he got rid of Rishabh Pant cheaply for just 17. Pant, the most expensive player in IPL history at INR 27 crore, has had a poor start to the season, managing just 17 runs in three innings at a meager strike rate of 65.38.
Pooran, Badoni, and Samad Provide Resistance
Despite the early setbacks, Nicholas Pooran played a counter-attacking knock, taking on Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal. He struck two boundaries in quick succession against Maxwell before engaging in an intriguing battle with Chahal. The veteran leg-spinner looked to deceive Pooran with wrong’uns, but Pooran initially picked them well, dispatching two of them for boundaries. However, Chahal had the last laugh, luring Pooran into a mistimed shot, leading to his dismissal for 44 off 30 balls.
LSG’s situation worsened when Marco Jansen dismissed David Miller for 19 off 16 balls, reducing them to 119 for 5 in the 16th over. With their backs against the wall, Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad provided some late fireworks, stitching together a 47-run stand off just 21 balls. Samad impressed with his fearless strokeplay, launching a six off his very first ball and executing a stunning reverse scoop off Arshdeep in the 18th over, which went for 20 runs.
However, Arshdeep struck back in the final over, dismissing both Badoni and Samad as LSG failed to push past the 180-run mark. They ended at 171 for 7—a total that Nicholas Pooran initially felt was competitive, but Prabhsimran and Iyer would soon prove otherwise.
Prabhsimran Singh’s Blazing Knock Sets the Tone
Chasing 172, Punjab Kings got off to a flying start, courtesy of an electrifying innings from Prabhsimran Singh. Known for his aggressive approach against pace, Prabhsimran wasted no time in dismantling the LSG bowlers. He ramped Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan for early boundaries before taking the attack to Ravi Bishnoi in the final over of the powerplay. His confident strokeplay saw him register a breathtaking 23-ball fifty, with 45 of the 62 powerplay runs coming from his bat.
LSG’s captain, Rishabh Pant, attempted to halt PBKS’ momentum by introducing mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi early on. Rathi almost had Prabhsimran dismissed when Mitchell Marsh spilled a tough overhead catch at slip. However, the drop only cost LSG one run, as Rathi dismissed Priyansh Arya soon after for 8.
Prabhsimran continued to dominate, attacking the spinners and unfazed by their variations. He eventually fell for a well-made 69 off 34 balls, holing out to a spectacular boundary-line catch from Badoni and Bishnoi. By the time he departed, PBKS needed just 62 runs off 59 balls—a straightforward task for the middle order.
Iyer Anchors PBKS to a Comfortable Victory
With the game firmly in Punjab’s control, Shreyas Iyer took over the responsibility of guiding them home. He played a calm and composed innings, mixing calculated aggression with sensible shot selection. Iyer found an able partner in Nehal Wadhera, Punjab’s Impact Player for the game. The duo added 67 unbeaten runs off just 37 deliveries, ensuring there were no late hiccups in the chase.
Iyer completed his half-century in style, smashing a four through extra cover, and finished with an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls. PBKS sealed the victory with more than three overs to spare, firmly establishing themselves as one of the top contenders in the early phase of IPL 2025.
With this win, Punjab Kings join Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) as the only teams with two victories from two matches. Meanwhile, LSG, with two losses in three games, will need to regroup quickly to stay in the playoff race.
As PBKS celebrate another emphatic win, their balanced squad and aggressive batting approach continue to make them a formidable force in this year’s IPL.
