Punjab Kings’ unbeaten march in IPL 2026 kept rolling on Sunday as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs at Mullanpur. Batting first, PBKS lost Prabhsimran Singh early, but the innings quickly turned into a batting assault. Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly then took over, combining for a huge 182-run stand that broke the LSG bowling rhythm.
Quick facts
- Match: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants
- Venue: Mullanpur
- Result: PBKS won by 54 runs
- PBKS innings: 254/7 in 20 overs
- LSG innings: 200/5 (falling short by 54 runs)
- Key partnership: 182 runs between Priyansh Arya (93) and Cooper Connolly (87)
- Notable early wicket: Prabhsimran Singh (dismissed before the partnership)
With the platform set, Punjab compiled a commanding total of 254 for 7 in their 20 overs. Arya brought up 93 while Connolly struck 87, their momentum stretching the chase beyond what Lucknow could realistically manage. When LSG went out to bat, they looked to build pressure, but the chase never gathered the required pace.
Lucknow Super Giants were restricted to 200 for 5 in reply, ending their innings short of the target. The defeat was heavy by any measure, and it also sparked fresh attention around Rishabh Pant’s words from the post-match presentation. Pant praised PBKS for the intensity and aggression they’ve shown throughout the season.
Speaking after the match, the LSG captain said he had plenty of belief in his side, but also made it clear Punjab deserved credit for their hard cricket. He highlighted that when the opposition is playing as well as PBKS are right now, the performance cannot be dismissed.
“Definitely, we believe in this team for sure. But at the same time, when the opposition is playing well, like Punjab is playing now, you’ve got to give credit to them for playing good, hard cricket,” Pant said during the ceremony. He also added, “Punjab have been one of the best teams in the tournament.”
Old “Punjab” remark goes viral again
As LSG absorbed the latest loss, an old line from Pant resurfaced online, prompting amused reactions from fans. The remark traces back to an interview following the IPL 2025 mega auction, when Pant was bought by Lucknow for a reported Rs 27 crore.
In that conversation, Pant was asked whether there was any franchise he would not want to be sold to. His answer was blunt: he said there was only one team he didn’t want to go to, explaining it was because they had the biggest purse and other sides couldn’t outbid them. He also revealed that when they signed Shreyas, he felt a sense of relief that the franchise might not pursue him.
“There was only one team I did not want to go to, and that was Punjab. I was scared because they had the maximum purse and no other team could have outbid them. When they roped in Shreyas, I was kind of relieved that they wouldn’t go after me,” Pant had said at the time.
That “Ek ka hi tension tha, wo tha Punjab” line made its way back onto social media after the defeat, turning the moment into a fan talking point while Punjab continued to dominate on the field.
Later, PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer offered another insight into why the batting has been so explosive this season. He said a light-hearted six-hitting contest inside the dressing room has become a key factor behind their batting blitz, with the players pushing each other to swing hard and take on bowlers.
Iyer suggested the side’s execution in the middle overs has been especially impressive, praising their partnerships and shot-making. “Exceptional partnership, some shots were jaw-dropping. Hitting fast bowlers off the back-foot straight. Composure in the middle overs was sensational,” he said during the post-match presentation as Punjab extended their supremacy in IPL 2026.
