Punjab Kings (PBKS) claimed a commanding 54-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2026 clash on Sunday, yet the win came with a sting in the tail—PBKS fielding, in particular, looked untidy. Shashank Singh was at the centre of the concern, dropping three chances in the outfield. His misses drew visible reactions from captain Shreyas Iyer, while head coach Ricky Ponting was seen staring in disbelief at one point. Still, the mood shifted after the match, with both Iyer and Ponting sharing a light-hearted moment with Shashank following the final ball.
Punjab’s big total sets the tone
After being sent in, Punjab Kings piled on the runs in emphatic fashion. Priyansh Arya produced a blistering knock of 93 off 37, while Cooper Connolly added a fearless 87 off 46. Their efforts powered PBKS to 254/7 in 20 overs—the highest team total recorded in IPL 2026.
Shashank’s three drops leave PBKS visibly rattled
Despite the batting fireworks, the match swung into focus for Shashank Singh’s outfielding errors, with three separate let-offs drawing attention across different overs.
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Shashank’s first dropped chance arrived in the 14th over. LSG batter Nicholas Pooran attempted a slog off Yuzvendra Chahal, but the timing wasn’t clean. Even so, Shashank only managed a glancing touch with fingertips instead of taking the catch.
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In the 18th over, Aiden Markram struck a six, but Shashank misjudged the ball’s flight at sweeper cover. In the dugout, Ponting appeared to react with disbelief as the chance went begging.
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One over later, Shashank dropped another catch—this time coming on Mukul Choudhary. Charging in from deep square-leg, he got hold of the ball, but it popped out before he could secure it properly. Iyer responded with a smile to Shashank’s third miss, though Ponting looked far more serious.
Reactions after the match and LSG’s chase
For all the early frustration, the post-match moment told a different story. During the handshake sequence, Iyer and Ponting were seen embracing Shashank with smiles, suggesting the dropped catches were put aside quickly after the result was settled.
With the bat, LSG did manage some resistance in their chase. Rishabh Pant scored 43, Aiden Markram made 42, and Mitchell Marsh contributed 40. However, LSG ultimately fell well short of the target, handing PBKS a 54-run win.
