NEW DELHI: Prabhsimran Singh lit up the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala with a blistering knock at the top of the order for Punjab Kings. After settling in early, the opener unleashed a flurry of powerful strokes, taking the attack to the Lucknow Super Giants bowlers. He brought up his half-century in just 30 balls, continuing a rich vein of form. This was Prabhsimran’s third consecutive fifty in IPL 2025—an achievement that places him alongside Punjab Kings legends Chris Gayle and KL Rahul. He’s now only the third PBKS opener to score three successive 50-plus innings in a single IPL season.
Most consecutive 50+ scores by a PBKS opener:
3 – Chris Gayle (2018)
3 – KL Rahul (2018)
3 – KL Rahul (2019)
3 – KL Rahul (2020)
3* – Prabhsimran Singh (2025)
Earlier in the day, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first. This clash marks Punjab Kings’ first match at their second home venue of the season, after playing four games in New Chandigarh. PBKS, currently fourth on the points table with six wins from 10 matches, remain firmly in the playoff hunt. LSG, sitting sixth with five wins from 11 outings, returned from a week-long break and must win to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Playing XIs
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Josh Inglis (wk), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Arshdeep Singh
Impact Substitutes: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar, Pravin Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, and Xavier Bartlett
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Akash Maharaj Singh, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Prince Yadav
Impact Substitutes: Ravi Bishnoi, Mitchell Marsh, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Matthew Breetzke
Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 37 runs in their IPL contest on May 4, 2025. The Kings posted a massive total of 236 runs, an achievement driven largely by the explosive batting of Prabhsimran Singh, who scored a stunning 91 runs off just 48 balls, including six fours and seven sixes. His performance was complemented by contributions from other batsmen, notably Josh Inglis, who scored 30 off 14 balls, and Shreyas Iyer, who added 45 runs off 25 balls.
As the match progressed, the asking rate for LSG climbed dramatically, reaching nearly 15 runs per over after the Powerplay. This pressure proved too much for the Super Giants as their top order crumbled under the relentless attack from the PBKS bowlers. Rishabh Pant, who has struggled throughout the tournament, faced a particularly tough moment when he advanced down the track against Azmatullah Omarzai’s pace, only for his bat to slip and lead to his dismissal.
Punjab Kings’ batting unit has been one of the most formidable in the tournament. Their aggressive approach has often led to 200-plus totals, and this match was no exception. After a shaky start that saw Priyansh Arya dismissed early, Prabhsimran Singh quickly took charge of the innings alongside Josh Inglis, who also made a significant impact during the Powerplay. Prabhsimran’s partnership with Iyer was particularly fruitful, yielding 78 runs and setting the stage for a commanding total.
Despite a drop by Nicholas Pooran that allowed Prabhsimran to settle into his innings, the opener continued to put pressure on the LSG bowlers, particularly targeting Mayank Yadav, who struggled in his second match back from injury. PBKS managed to amass an impressive 92 runs in the final six overs, showcasing their batting depth and ability to accelerate when needed.
On the bowling side, Arshdeep Singh was the standout performer, taking three crucial wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs. His early strikes dismantled the LSG top order and set the tone for the match. Despite a valiant effort from Ayush Badoni, who scored 74 runs off 40 balls, and Abdul Samad, who contributed 45 runs off 24 balls, the Super Giants never truly recovered from the early setbacks.
With this victory, Punjab Kings rise to second place in the IPL standings, solidifying their position in the playoff race. The match was not only a testament to Prabhsimran Singh's burgeoning talent but also highlighted the collective strength of the PBKS squad, which has shown resilience and aggression throughout the tournament.
As the IPL season progresses, all eyes will be on the Punjab Kings as they aim to maintain their momentum and secure a spot in the playoffs, while the Lucknow Super Giants will need to regroup quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive.
