Punjab Kings put up a clinical display in both bowling and batting as they outclassed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by eight wickets with 22 balls to spare in Match 13 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. It was a commanding performance from the visitors, who asserted their dominance in all departments to register their second consecutive victory in the tournament.

The contest began with Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision that paid rich dividends as his bowlers executed their plans to perfection.

LSG Struggle After Early Blows

Arshdeep Singh made an instant impact, striking in the very first over to dismiss the dangerous Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck. His early breakthrough set the tone for Punjab’s disciplined bowling performance. Lockie Ferguson, playing his first game for PBKS, also made his presence felt, removing Aiden Markram for a quickfire 28 off 18 deliveries.

With the top order faltering, LSG relied on Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran to rebuild the innings. However, Shreyas Iyer’s tactical masterstroke of introducing Glenn Maxwell into the attack proved decisive. Maxwell, who had previously dismissed Pant twice in the tournament, repeated the feat by forcing the LSG skipper into an ill-advised shot, leading to his early exit.

Middle-Order Resistance and Late Flourish

Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni attempted to stabilize the innings with a 54-run stand for the fourth wicket. Pooran looked in sublime form, scoring 44 off 30 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. However, Yuzvendra Chahal provided Punjab with a crucial breakthrough, enticing Pooran into a big shot that was safely taken by Maxwell at long-off.

Badoni, playing a calculated innings, found an aggressive partner in Abdul Samad. The duo injected some momentum into the innings, taking 20 runs off an over from Arshdeep Singh. Samad wasted no time, launching his very first ball for a maximum and smashing 27 off just 12 balls, including three sixes and a boundary.

Despite their efforts, Punjab's bowlers ensured LSG couldn’t fully capitalize. Marco Jansen’s disciplined penultimate over, conceding just eight runs, kept things in check before Arshdeep wrapped up the innings in the final over by dismissing both Badoni (41) and Samad. LSG finished at a competitive 171/7, with Arshdeep leading the bowling attack with figures of 3-43. Ferguson, Maxwell, Chahal, and Jansen each chipped in with a wicket.

Punjab’s Dominant Chase

Chasing 172, Punjab Kings came out with an aggressive intent. Although Priyansh Arya fell early to Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prabhsimran Singh ensured there were no further hiccups. The dynamic opener unleashed a blistering 69 off just 34 balls, smashing eight boundaries and four sixes to propel Punjab to 84/2 in no time.

Shreyas Iyer and Wadhera Steer Punjab Home

Shreyas Iyer, leading from the front, played the anchor role to perfection while ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking. Nehal Wadhera, introduced as the impact player, made an immediate impact with a quickfire 43 off 25 balls, including three fours and four sixes. The duo’s attacking stroke play left LSG bowlers without answers, as Shardul Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi bore the brunt of their aggression.

With Punjab on the brink of victory, Iyer fittingly finished the match in grand fashion, smashing a six to bring up his second consecutive fifty. His unbeaten 52 off 30 balls was a captain’s knock in every sense, sealing Punjab’s emphatic win in just 16.2 overs.

For Lucknow, Digvesh Singh Rathi was the lone bright spot in the bowling attack, claiming both wickets and finishing with 2-30 in his four-over spell. However, the rest of the bowlers struggled as Punjab chased down the target with ease.

Brief Scores:Lucknow Super Giants 171/7 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Ayush Badoni 41; Arshdeep Singh 3-43, Marco Jansen 1-28) lost to Punjab Kings 177/2 in 16.2 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 69, Shreyas Iyer 52 not out; Digvesh Singh Rathi 2-30) by eight wickets.