Shreyas Iyer delivered a statement century to keep Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 playoff hopes afloat, finishing with an undefeated 101 and driving home the chase with a winning six when Lucknow Super Giants still held a target of 197. The late blow came with Punjab needing just three runs from 13 balls, turning a must-win situation at the Ekana Stadium into a seven-wicket victory.
Key takeaways
- Shreyas Iyer struck a maiden IPL century, remaining unbeaten on 101 to power Punjab’s chase.
- Punjab chased 197 successfully with seven wickets in hand, sealing the result in a high-pressure game.
- Lucknow posted 196/6 after being put in to bat, with Josh Inglis top-scoring at 72 off 44.
- Mohammed Shami made early inroads in the chase, removing Priyansh Arya and later dismissing Cooper Connolly for 18.
- Prabhsimran Singh’s 69 off 39 helped Punjab rebuild after the early setbacks.
- The final delivery moment arrived when Punjab needed only three runs from 13 balls, and Iyer finished with a six.
Lucknow set the test with a 196/6 total
Punjab began the match with a do-or-die mindset at the Ekana Stadium, having already suffered six consecutive defeats. Another loss would have pushed them closer to elimination, and they needed their batting to respond after opting to bowl first.
Lucknow made 196/6 in their innings. Josh Inglis anchored the momentum with 72 off 44 balls, while Ayush Badoni contributed 43 off 18. Abdul Samad also played a key role, finishing unbeaten on 37 off 20, ensuring the innings remained competitive enough to demand discipline from Punjab in reply.
Early pressure, then Iyer and Prabhsimran take control
Punjab’s chase nearly unraveled at the start. Mohammed Shami struck immediately in the first over of the innings, removing Priyansh Arya. He then struck again later by bowling Cooper Connolly for 18. By the time the third over ended with Punjab on 22/2, the game was threatening to slip into another familiar pattern—exactly the kind of collapse Punjab could not afford.
The turnaround began through Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh. Prabhsimran attacked with 69 off 39 balls and helped lift the tempo after the early strikes. Iyer stayed composed at the other end, absorbing the pressure before taking greater command as the chase steadied.
A 140-run partnership between the two changed the complexion of the match. Lucknow had tried to pin Punjab down early, but the stand dragged the chase back into Punjab’s control. Prabhsimran’s intent forced Lucknow to defend more often, while Iyer continued to find boundaries at the right moments to keep the required run-rate within reach.
Arjun Tendulkar eventually trapped Prabhsimran lbw, adding an important wicket for himself. However, the timing of the dismissal mattered—Punjab had already broken the back of the chase. From there, the equation shifted from dangerous to manageable, and Iyer ensured there was no late twist by completing the job he had started.
Shami targeted, then Iyer finishes it in style
The decisive phase arrived in the 16th over, when Iyer launched a counterattack against Mohammed Shami. He struck three sixes in the over, racing quickly into the 90s and turning the remaining workload into a formality.
As the chase approached its finish, the final scene was as clean as it gets for a captain. Punjab required only three runs from 13 balls, and Iyer needed a maximum to complete his maiden IPL hundred. He chose the most emphatic route—hitting a six—to reach his first century in the tournament and seal the chase in one stroke.
While the win does not automatically guarantee Punjab a playoff spot, it keeps their chances alive and provides immediate momentum after a season that had been running out of breath. The impact of Iyer’s innings goes beyond the numbers: he built a hundred with control, timing, and authority, turning a must-win chase into a captain-led statement and ensuring Punjab Kings stayed in the hunt.
