Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 7 wickets on their home ground in the 68th match of IPL 2026. Played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on May 23, 2026, this do-or-die encounter saw PBKS deliver a spectacular performance. LSG batted first and set a massive target of 196 runs. However, powered by an explosive, unbeaten century (101*) from the in-form Shreyas Iyer and a brilliant half-century from Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS chased down the target in just 18 overs.
This victory keeps Punjab Kings’ playoff hopes alive.
Match Summary
| Match Details | |
|---|---|
| Match | LSG vs PBKS, 68th Match, IPL 2026 |
| Venue | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Toss | PBKS won, elected to bowl first |
| LSG Score | 196/6 (20 Overs) |
| PBKS Score | 200/3 (18 Overs) |
| Result | PBKS won by 7 wickets (with 12 balls remaining) |
| Top Scorer | Shreyas Iyer (101* runs) |
LSG’s Batting: Josh Inglis and Ayush Badoni Shine
LSG lost the toss and batted first. They started strongly and posted 196 runs on the board in their 20 overs. Key highlights of their innings include:
- Josh Inglis’s Superb Knock: Inglis pressured the PBKS bowlers right from the start. He played a fantastic innings, scoring 72 runs off 44 balls, which included 9 boundaries and 2 sixes.
- Ayush Badoni in AB Mode: Ayush Badoni batted explosively in the death overs. He hammered 43 runs off just 18 balls at a massive strike rate of 238.89. Badoni hit 5 boundaries and 3 sixes during his short but impactful cameo.
- Abdul Samad’s Contribution: Abdul Samad showed great intent in the middle order, adding 37 runs off 20 deliveries to help LSG reach a formidable total.
For Punjab Kings, experienced pacer Mohammed Shami made the most impact. Shami took 2 crucial wickets while conceding 45 runs in his 4 overs.
PBKS’s Run Chase: Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Explode
- Shreyas Iyer’s Match-Winning Century: Star batsman Shreyas Iyer took full responsibility. He played a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 101 runs off just 51 balls. Iyer hit shots all over the park, smashing 11 boundaries and 5 huge sixes during his blistering innings.
- Prabhsimran Singh’s Brilliant Half-Century: Prabhsimran Singh provided perfect support from the other end. He scored 69 runs off 39 balls, hitting 7 boundaries and 2 sixes. Together, these two batters completely crushed LSG’s hopes of winning the match.
The Lucknow Super Giants bowlers looked completely helpless against this massive partnership. Arjun Tendulkar bowled reasonably well, taking Prabhsimran’s wicket while conceding 36 runs in his 4 overs, but he could not save his team from defeat.
Playoff Hopes Alive
Winning this match was absolutely crucial for Punjab Kings. After 6 consecutive losses, this massive victory breathes new life into the team. With this win and a significant boost to their net run rate, PBKS remains in the playoff race and will keep a close eye on the results of the upcoming matches.
| # | TEAMS | P | W | L | NR | PTS | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB (Q) | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | +0.783 |
| 2 | GT (Q) | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | +0.695 |
| 3 | SRH (Q) | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | +0.524 |
| 4 | PBKS | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 15 | +0.309 |
| 5 | RR | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 14 | +0.083 |
| 6 | KKR | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | +0.011 |
| 7 | CSK (E) | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 | -0.345 |
| 8 | DC (E) | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.871 |
| 9 | MI (E) | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 8 | -0.510 |
| 10 | LSG (E) | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 | -0.740 |
About the author
Khushter Gerami
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