On April 1, 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) delivered a commanding 8-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025 Match 13 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Chasing 172, PBKS rode on Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive 69 and Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 52 to seal their second consecutive win, climbing to second on the points table. LSG’s second loss in three games exposed their batting frailties, leaving Rishabh Pant’s side scrambling for answers. Here’s how it all went down.
Table of Contents
Toss and Lineups
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl, expecting dew to ease the chase on Ekana’s tricky red-soil pitch. LSG fielded an unchanged XI from their SRH win: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi. PBKS stuck with their victorious GT lineup, introducing Lockie Ferguson on debut alongside Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arshdeep Singh.
LSG’s Innings: Pooran Fights, Top Order Flops
LSG’s batting crumbled early against PBKS’s fiery powerplay attack. Arshdeep Singh (3/43) struck twice, dismissing Marsh (0) and Markram cheaply, while Jansen’s outswinger got Miller (19), leaving LSG at 39/3 after 6 overs. Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30, 4 fours, 1 six) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33) stitched a vital 54-run stand, with Abdul Samad (17) adding late impetus. Maxwell’s offspin snared Pant for just 2—his third single-digit score this season (0, 15, 2)—as LSG limped to 171/7 in 20 overs. PBKS’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep’s three-wicket haul, kept the hosts in check on a two-paced surface.
PBKS’s Chase: Prabhsimran and Iyer Dominate
Needing 172, PBKS lost Priyansh Arya early to Digvesh Rathi (2/30), but Prabhsimran Singh unleashed a 34-ball 69 (7 fours, 4 sixes), clattering 45 of the 62 powerplay runs. Shreyas Iyer joined the party with an unbeaten 52 off 30 (5 fours, 2 sixes), their 84-run stand in 44 balls breaking LSG’s resolve. Rathi dismissed Prabhsimran at 125/2, but Nehal Wadhera’s unbeaten 43 off 25 (impact sub) sealed the deal, guiding PBKS to 177/2 in 16.2 overs with 22 balls to spare. LSG’s bowlers—Ravi Bishnoi (0/34), Shardul Thakur (0/38)—had no answers as PBKS cruised home.
Pitch and Conditions: Ekana’s Two-Faced Tale
Ekana’s red-soil pitch started slow, aiding PBKS’s early breakthroughs (LSG 39/3 in 6), but flattened out under lights with minimal dew, favoring the chase. Historically, 8 of 14 IPL wins here have gone to chasing teams, and PBKS exploited this trend. The night game (7:30 PM IST, 26-30°C, 20-25% humidity) saw spinners (econ 6.8) outshine pace (8.2), yet PBKS’s batting depth overwhelmed LSG’s attack.
Standout Performers
- Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS): 69 off 34—Player of the Match for his blazing start.
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): 52* off 30—captain’s knock to finish it off.
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 3/43—early wickets set the tone.
- Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 44 off 30—lone bright spot in a shaky lineup.
Head-to-Head: PBKS Flip the Script
LSG’s 3-1 lead over PBKS in four prior IPL clashes narrowed to 3-2, with PBKS now 1-1 at Ekana. Last season’s 21-run LSG win here was overshadowed by PBKS’s 2024 56-run thrashing at the same venue. This result marks PBKS’s second straight win in 2025, a stark contrast to LSG’s inconsistency.
What’s Next?
PBKS (2-0) head to Mullanpur to face Rajasthan Royals on April 5, brimming with confidence. LSG (1-2) travel to Jaipur to meet RR on April 3, needing to fix their top-order woes and Pant’s form. Can Lucknow rebound, or will Punjab’s hot streak continue?
Final Thoughts
LSG vs PBKS Match 13 was a masterclass from Punjab—Arshdeep’s early strikes, Prabhsimran’s onslaught, and Iyer’s composure dismantled a hapless LSG. Pant’s third flop (2 off 8) drew flak online, with fans trolling his ₹27 crore tag, while PBKS’s clinical chase cemented their status as early pace-setters alongside RCB and DC. What’s your standout moment—Prabhsimran’s 23-ball fifty or LSG’s powerplay collapse? Share below!
