NEW DELHI: Arjun Tendulkar finally stepped into action for Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, receiving his first LSG cap before the franchise’s last IPL 2026 league fixture against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The right-arm pacer also got a chance with the bat, finishing not out on five runs. Lucknow, having been sent in, compiled 196/6 in their full quota of 20 overs.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant handed Arjun the ball right after the Powerplay, and the youngster made an immediate impression. In his opening spell, he conceded only four runs and kept batter Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh quiet from scoring freely.
Arjun nearly struck in that very over as well. He bowled a short ball to Prabhsimran, who went for a pull shot. The delivery glanced off the batter’s glove and sped to the left of wicketkeeper Pant. Pant reacted quickly, diving across and getting both gloves to the ball, but the catch would not stick.
After already celebrating the potential breakthrough, Arjun was left frustrated when Pant dropped it, denying him a wicket on debut.
Earlier in the innings, opener Josh Inglis carried the batting charge for Lucknow, smashing 72 off 44 balls. His knock included nine fours and two sixes. During the middle overs, Ayush Badoni added momentum with a brisk 43 off 18 deliveries.
In the closing stages, Abdul Samad provided the finishing touch, remaining unbeaten on 37 off 20 balls to help push the total to 196/6.
For Punjab Kings, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the standout with figures of 2/25, while Marco Jansen also took two wickets, conceding 33 runs.
