Punjab Kings clinched a resounding eight-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, comfortably chasing down a target of 172 runs in just 16.2 overs. The match was highlighted by a stellar performance from Prabhsimran Singh, who smashed a brisk 69 off 34 balls, punctuated with 9 fours and 3 sixes, setting the tone early in the innings.
Following Singh’s aggressive start, captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings to its conclusion with an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls, ensuring a smooth sail to victory for PBKS. This triumph was not just about the runs scored but also about the spirit on social media that followed the game.
Post-victory, Punjab Kings took to social media to poke fun at LSG’s captain Rishabh Pant, referencing his comments during a pre-season interview with Star Sports about the IPL auction. Pant had humorously mentioned his ‘tension’ regarding Punjab’s high auction purse and speculated about his possible move to Lucknow. The PBKS post featured Iyer in various celebratory poses, captioned with the witty retort, “Tension toh auction me hi khatm ho gayi thi” (The tension ended during the auction itself), quickly turning the playful jab viral.
The match began with Lucknow struggling early, losing three wickets for only 39 runs during the powerplay. Arshdeep Singh played a pivotal role for PBKS, claiming three wickets for 43 runs, including a crucial first-over dismissal of Mitchell Marsh for a duck.
Despite efforts from Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33), along with a late surge by Abdul Samad (27 off 12), LSG could only muster a total of 171. The absence of fast bowler Mayank Yadav was felt, and their bowling struggled without him. Ravi Bishnoi continued his poor form, while Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan also failed to make a significant impact.
The victory and subsequent social media banter added an extra layer of entertainment to the match, showcasing not just the competitive spirit of cricket but also the lighter, humorous side that fans enjoy.