Image: Prabhimran Singh led Punjab Kings to victory over LSG / © ESPNcricinfo
The 13th match of IPL 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow turned out to be a one-sided affair. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 22 balls to spare, thanks to a sensational performance by Prabhsimran Singh and a clinical bowling effort.
Batting first after losing the toss, LSG had a shaky start and never quite recovered. Mitchell Marsh, opening the innings, was dismissed for a golden duck by Arshdeep Singh in the very first over, setting the tone for a tough outing. Aiden Markram played a few aggressive shots but could only manage 28 runs off 18 balls before falling to Lockie Ferguson.
The biggest disappointment for LSG, however, was their captain, Rishabh Pant, who has been struggling in the tournament so far. Bought for a record-breaking INR 27 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, Pant once again failed to deliver, scoring just 2 runs off 5 balls before being caught by Yuzvendra Chahal off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling. His early departure left LSG reeling at 35/3 within the first five overs.
Nicholas Pooran tried to stabilize the innings, playing a brisk knock of 44 off 30 balls, which included five boundaries and two sixes. He built a crucial partnership with Ayush Badoni, who played a steady innings of 41 off 33 balls. However, just when LSG seemed to be gaining some momentum, Pooran was dismissed by Chahal, leaving the middle order exposed.
David Miller contributed 19 runs off 18 balls, but his dismissal in the 16th over left LSG short of acceleration in the death overs. The only real flourish came from Abdul Samad, who smashed 27 runs off just 12 balls, including two sixes, to push the total to a respectable 171/7 in 20 overs.
Punjab Kings’ bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to keep LSG in check. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 43 runs in his 4-over spell, dismissing Marsh, Badoni, and Abdul Samad at crucial stages. Marco Jansen also bowled effectively, conceding only 28 runs in his four overs while taking the wicket of Miller. The collective bowling effort ensured that LSG could not post a challenging total on the board.
Chasing 172 for victory, Punjab Kings got off to a solid start, scoring 62 runs in the powerplay for the loss of just one wicket. Young opener Priyansh Arya could not make much of an impact, falling for 8 off 9 balls to Digvesh Rathi. However, Prabhsimran Singh took charge and played an explosive innings, scoring 69 runs off just 34 balls at an incredible strike rate of 202.94. His innings started with nine boundaries and three sixes, taking the pressure off Punjab’s middle order.
Prabhsimran, who was named Player of the Match, reached his half-century in just 23 balls, making light work of the LSG bowlers. He was eventually dismissed in the 11th over, caught by Ravi Bishnoi off Rathi, but by then, Punjab Kings had already reached 110/2, putting them in a commanding position.
Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera ensured there were no further hiccups in the chase. Iyer played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. Wadhera, brought in as an impact player, provided the finishing touch with a blistering 43* off 25 balls. The duo added 67 runs in just 37 balls, sealing the win in the 17th over with ease.
LSG’s bowlers failed to make any serious impact against a dominant Punjab batting lineup. Shardul Thakur was the most expensive bowler, conceding 39 runs in just three overs. Ravi Bishnoi also had a tough outing, giving away 43 runs in his three-over spell without taking a wicket. Digvesh Rathi was the lone bright spot, picking up both wickets for 30 runs in his four overs. Avesh Khan (3-30) and Manimaran Siddharth (3-28) were also expensive, unable to contain Punjab’s aggressive batting approach.
Punjab Kings’ victory by eight wickets was their second win in two matches, pushing them to four points in the IPL 2025 standings. With a strong net run rate of +1.485, they moved up to second place, just behind Royal Challengers Bangalore, who had won both their matches with an even higher NRR.
On the other hand, LSG suffered their second loss in three games, placing them in the bottom half of the table with two points and a negative NRR of -0.150. The team will need a turnaround in form, especially from captain Rishabh Pant, if they are to challenge for a playoff spot. Punjab Kings will look to continue their strong start in IPL 2025, while Lucknow Super Giants have some major concerns to address, particularly in their batting lineup, before their next game.
With the conclusion of the 13th match of IPL 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings, one moment stood out as the defining highlight of the game. In the third over of Punjab Kings chase, Priyansh Arya fell to an inspired piece of bowling from Digvesh Rathi. The moment came on the last ball of the over when Rathi delivered a shorter-length ball that spun away, forcing Arya into an awkward shot. Attempting to pull against the angle, Arya mistimed it completely, sending the ball straight up in the air. Shardul Thakur, positioned at mid-on, sprinted in and safely completed the catch, giving Lucknow an early breakthrough.
Arya departed after scoring just 8 runs off 9 balls, including one boundary, leaving Punjab at 26/1. The excitement of the moment was heightened by Rathi’s animated celebration, running up to Arya with a spirited send-off, as if adding his name to a personal wicket-taking record. His emotional reaction highlighted how crucial the wicket was, considering Punjab’s aggressive start. Though Lucknow managed this early dent, Punjab ultimately cruised to victory, led by Prabhsimran Singh’s blistering knock, but Rathi’s breakthrough remained one of the most talked-about moments of the match.
To crown the TCNI’s Hero of the Day from the thrilling clash between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, several players made strong cases with their impactful performances. Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni contributed valuable 40-run knocks, while Abdul Samad provided the finishing touches for Lucknow. On the other hand, Punjab’s chase was headlined by Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive batting, with support from Shreyas Iyer. However, the standout innings that brought the biggest smiles was that of Nehal Wadhera.
Wadhera, brought in as an impact substitute for Yuzvendra Chahal, played a crucial unbeaten knock of 43 runs off just 25 balls. His innings featured three boundaries and four sixes, striking at an impressive 172.00. While Punjab had already seized control of the match, Wadhera ensured they finished on a high, further boosting their net run rate. His fearless stroke play and ability to accelerate under pressure showcased his immense talent and justified his selection as an impact player. His innings not only helped Punjab seal the game comfortably but also proved his worth as a reliable finisher.