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PBKS vs LSG highlights, IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer's maiden IPL century keeps Punjab Kings in playoffs race, beat Lucknow Super Giants by 7 wickets

THE TIMES OF INDIA | May 24, 2026, 11:00:00 IST

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PBKS vs LSG highlights, IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer's maiden IPL century keeps Punjab Kings in playoffs race, beat Lucknow Super Giants by 7 wickets

PBKS VS LSG highlights, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings rediscovered their winning touch after six defeats in a row through skipper Shreyas Iyer’s majestic unbeaten 101 as they handed Lucknow Super Giants a seven-wicket towelling to stay alive in the IPL playoffs race on Saturday.

Shreyas, whose maiden IPL hundred came off 51 balls, and Prabhsimran Singh (69, 39 balls) added 140 runs for the third wicket as Punjab scaled down LSG’s 196 for two in 18 overs. PBKS made 200 for three.

The victory helped Punjab to reach 15 points from their all 14 league engagements to reclaim the No. 4 position on the table.

But now, they will have to go through an excruciating wait to know their fate as Rajasthan Royals (14) are taking on Mumbai Indians on Sunday at Mumbai.

If RR win the match then, Punjab will enter the playoffs as the fourth placed team with 16 points.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (13 points), who are up against Delhi Capitals in the weekend's second clash, too have an outside chance should RR fail to go past MI.

In that case, it will be a battle of net run rate between KKR and PBKS, with both tied on 15 points. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans are already in the knockouts.

But the equation worries are for another time, as Shreyas showed his steely nerves while chasing yet again with a fabulous knock.

19:05 (IST) May 23

Impact sub options for LSG - Shahbaz Ahamad, Digvesh Singh, Manimaran Siddharth, Himmat Singh and Akash Singh.

19:04 (IST) May 23

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI) - Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni (In place of Mitchell Marsh), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary (In place of Shahbaz Ahamad), Arjun Tendulkar (In place of Mayank Yadav and On LSG debut), Mohammad Shami (In place of Akash Singh), Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan.

19:03 (IST) May 23

The captain of the Lucknow Super Giants - Rishabh Pant says they would have bowled first as well, adding that the wicket looks good for cricket regardless of whether you are batting or bowling. He feels it is one of the better batting surfaces and expects a high-scoring contest tonight. Pant also confirms two changes for LSG, with Arjun and Arshin Kulkarni coming into the side. Reflecting on the season, he admits it has been a tough campaign but says there have still been plenty of learnings, both personally and for the team. He ends with a heartfelt message for the fans, apologising for the disappointing season and thanking supporters who have travelled from across Uttar Pradesh to back the side. Pant assures that despite the difficult season, the team will give their 100 percent tonight.

19:03 (IST) May 23

The skipper of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says that the feeling is certainly exciting. It's a do-or-die situation for them. Mentions that they have never been in this situation before in the league stages. Informs that they have made a couple of changes with Marco Jansen and Vijaykumar Vyshak coming into the team.

19:01 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: TOSS!

TOSS!

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer wins toss, opts to field vs Lucknow Super Giants

18:49 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Pitch Report

The pitch at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow for today's match is a traditional black-soil surface that is slow, low, and highly spin-friendly.

Unlike the high-scoring highways seen elsewhere this season, Ekana stands as one of the lowest-scoring venues in IPL 2026, rewarding disciplined bowling over raw power-hitting.

18:47 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Predicted Playing XIs

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal/Vijaykumar Vyshak

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav

Impact Player: Digvesh Rathi

18:38 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Head to Head

Matches Played: 7

Lucknow Super Giants Won: 3

Punjab Kings Won: 4

18:29 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Pitch report

Sometimes it is a good place to bowl. However, I have some bad news for the bowlers straight away: the boundary sizes. 60 metres to my left, 61 to my right, and 76 down the ground. That is tiny. There is no good news in the boundary sizes, but what about the pitch? It's 70% red soil, 30% black soil.

What that means, I think, could favour the batters as well. So not a great night to be a bowler, but to find out more, we have Aaron Finch. Good day, Swanny. Great to be here. Yeah, like you said, this outfield is very, very short tonight. They've brought the boundaries in. But as soon as I come down and look at this wicket, the first thing you notice is how patchy it is. There are little bits of grass, but there are also a lot of really dry patches right throughout.

So for me, that will give the bowlers a little bit of a reprieve. And one thing, it's been tough here for LSG throughout this season, particularly at this ground. But the one thing they can rely on is that their quicks have been exceptional at nailing that 6-8 metre length, they concede under a run a ball when they find that length.

So both teams will be looking at that and really looking to exploit it tonight. So as for the wicket, bat first, trouble. Batting second, you can chase down the total later on. Well, I'm glad to hear there might be a bit more in it for the bowlers tonight, but it still looks pretty good.

Pitch report by Graeme Swann & Aaron Finch

18:28 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Josh Inglis

Yeah, it’s been nice to contribute individually, but it’s a shame how the season has unfolded. It’s certainly not how we wanted to finish, but on a personal level, I’ve enjoyed the challenge. As I said, the results are disappointing, but the vibe remains positive. We have a fantastic group of people here. The emphasis right now is on finishing the tournament strongly; we are still playing to win every game, and there is still plenty to play for in terms of pride and momentum.

It is fairly simple, really. When you're batting at the top of the order in this format, you don’t have much time to "build" an innings in the traditional sense, you have to get on with it as quickly as possible. I’ve loved batting with Mitch [Marsh]; he’s great at taking the pressure off me from the other end, and we’ve managed to form a really effective partnership.

You do your homework before the game, looking at previous matches played on this specific wicket and studying the opposition, but you must adapt quickly. You don’t have a long window to settle in, so you must identify your best scoring options immediately while maintaining a really positive mindset. It’s actually quite nice! Having played with many of these guys last year, I’ve spent a lot of time around them and I know their skill sets well. That’s definitely a bonus heading into tonight, but it doesn't guarantee success. Hopefully, I can turn that knowledge into a big score.

Josh Inglis

18:27 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Batting and bowling

PBKS are also worried about captain Shreyas Iyer’s dip in form, though their explosive opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh remains crucial to their chances.

Meanwhile, LSG have shown flashes of batting strength despite inconsistent results. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis have been in outstanding form, while Nicholas Pooran is gradually finding rhythm again. However, LSG’s middle-order collapses and inexperienced bowling attack continue to hurt them.

Questions also remain around Rishabh Pant as both captain and batter, with LSG set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season. Still, they will look to end their campaign on a positive note with a win over PBKS.

18:15 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Team’s bowling

The team’s bowling has been a major concern, with Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal failing to consistently deliver.

Marco Jansen was even dropped for the RCB game.

On the positive side, Azmatullah Omarzai has impressed, while Shashank Singh regained form with a fifty.

18:07 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings can still qualify for the playoffs if ...

Punjab Kings enter a must-win clash against Lucknow Super Giants with their IPL 2026 playoff hopes hanging by a thread after six consecutive defeats. PBKS had dominated the first half of the season but have collapsed badly in recent weeks, especially due to poor bowling and fielding performances.

Despite their struggles, PBKS can still qualify for the playoffs if they beat LSG and results from other matches, involving Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, go in their favour.

17:53 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings need win and favours

PBKS need win and favours Punjab Kings began IPL 2026 in sensational fashion under Shreyas Iyer, winning six of their first seven matches, with one game ending in no result.

However, their campaign derailed dramatically after that, with PBKS suffering six consecutive defeats at the business end of the season. Last year’s runners-up now head into their final league match against alreadyeliminated LSG under immense pressure.

A win over LSG would take PBKS to 15 points, but even that would not guarantee qualification. PBKS’ biggest hope is RR losing to MI. If RR win and move to 16 points, Punjab can no longer finish above them.

If PBKS beat LSG and RR lose, Punjab will then need Delhi Capitals to beat KKR. PBKS do, however, possess a strong NRR advantage over both RR and KKR, which could prove decisive if teams finish level on points.

PBKS equation
Beat LSG
RR lose to MI
DC beat KKR
KKR face virtual knockout against DC

17:42 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Scenarios

The race for the final IPL 2026 playoff spot is now down to four teams after Sunrisers Hyderabad hammered Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs in their final league-stage clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Despite the defeat, RCB finished at the top of the points table and the defending champions will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium.

SRH, meanwhile, could not achieve the massive margin needed to break into the top two. Pat Cummins’ side eventually finished third and will now feature in the Eliminator on May 27 in Mullanpur. With RCB, GT and SRH already through, the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot is now between Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.

READ FULL STORY

17:36 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Live Streaming details

The LSG vs PBKS clash will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.

The toss for today’s IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings will take place at 7:00 PM IST, while the match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.

17:17 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Akash Maharaj Singh’s viral ‘chit’ celebratio

Akash Maharaj Singh’s viral ‘chit’ celebration became one of IPL 2026’s most debated moments, drawing criticism, trolling and even mockery from fellow cricketers.

But behind the celebration was years of frustration, waiting and perseverance across four IPL franchises. From taking 10 wickets in an innings as a teenager to finally earning his chance at LSG, this is the emotional story behind Akash’s moment in the spotlight.

READ FULL STORY

17:14 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Lucknow Weather Update

The weather forecast for Lucknow during tonight's match is clear, dry, and intensely hot, with zero chance of rain disrupting the game. Temperatures will hover around 40°C to 42°C. It will feel exceptionally dry with hot westerly winds blowing across the stadium. The temperature will slowly drop to around 36°C to 38°C. Humidity will remain low, staying under 25%.

17:09 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: All I can do and control is the behaviour of the team - Ricky Ponting

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting has played down suggestions that external noise or social media controversy has contributed to the team’s slump, saying the six-match losing streak is due to on-field lapses and not distractions.

“I don’t think anything externally has interrupted us as a team. I’m not a big social media guy anyway. Of the stuff that has been happening, I’m probably oblivious to,” Ponting said on the eve of Punjab’s do-or-die IPL clash against LSG.

“All I can do and control is the behaviour of the team and the way that the team prepares and the way that it plays,” he said.

Ponting said the downturn began after the washout against Kolkata Knight Riders and insisted the margins have been fine.

“From that moment on we’ve just been a little bit off. And as I said, these are small things. There are one or two balls or an over here and there that we quite conceivably could have won another three or four games, but we’ve only got ourselves to blame for that,” he said.

The former Australia captain also praised skipper Shreyas Iyer, calling his leadership a key positive in the campaign.

“He has been brilliant. It’s no secret that I wanted to work with him again, having worked with him for a long time in Delhi,” Ponting said. “Shreyas has had a good tournament himself with the bat. His leadership around the group has been exceptional. He is a very mature cricketer now. I think he’s a very mature leader now,” Pointing said.

17:05 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: It's Punjab vs Lucknow in must-win clash

LSG have endured a frustrating and underwhelming IPL 2026 season, with results failing to go their way throughout the campaign. With only eight points from 13 matches, they currently occupy the bottom spot on the points table and are already out of playoff contention.

Despite showing flashes of brilliance in patches, LSG have struggled to maintain consistency in both batting and bowling, which has hurt them repeatedly during crucial moments of the tournament.

In contrast, PBKS are still mathematically alive in the playoff race, although their recent form has placed them in a difficult situation. After enjoying a strong run earlier in the tournament, PBKS have witnessed a dramatic slump in performances and now come into the contest on the back of six consecutive defeats. Their sudden dip in form has severely dented their chances of securing a place in the top four.

Despite the losing streak, PBKS remains fifth in the standings with 13 points and still have an opportunity to push for qualification. However, they can no longer afford any slip-ups, making their clash in Lucknow a virtual must-win encounter. Another defeat would almost certainly end their playoff hopes, while a victory would keep them firmly in contention heading into the final phase of the league stage.

16:51 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Pant and Pooran aim for strong finish

Nicholas Pooran would also hope to rediscover his touch after scoring just 87 runs in his last four innings.

Skipper Rishabh Pant, who has endured a disappointing season with only one fifty so far, will be eager to end the campaign on a positive note.

In the bowling department, it remains to be seen whether veteran pacer Mohammed Shami returns after missing the previous game.

16:41 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: SQUADS

LSG:

Rishabh Pant (c), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mayank Prabhu Yadav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Josh Inglis, Mohsin Khan, Naman Tiwari, Akash Maharaj Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Arjun Sachin Tendulkar, Akshat Raghuwanshi.

PBKS:

Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Mitchell Owen, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Musheer Khan, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Pyla Avinash, Yash Thakur, Harnoor Singh, Praveen Dubey, Vishal Nishad.

16:40 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Marsh and Inglis provide silver lining

One of the few positives for LSG this season has been the form of Australian duo Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis at the top of the order.

The pair stitched together a 109-run stand in just 8.2 overs in the previous game and will once again be key if LSG are to finish their campaign on a high in front of the home crowd.

16:27 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants look to end disappointing season positively

LSG, meanwhile, have endured a forgettable campaign and are already out of playoff contention after managing just two wins in their last 10 matches.

They suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur in their previous outing, a match dominated by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

However, the home side would take confidence from their recent performances at the Ekana Stadium, where they secured victories in both their last two matches against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings.

16:27 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Captain Iyer and middle order lose momentum

Having remained among the leading run-getters for most of the season, captain Shreyas Iyer's returns too have dipped sharply during the losing streak, with only one fifty in the six defeats.

The middle order, which scripted the memorable chase against Delhi Capitals, has also lost momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Punjab's bowling attack has leaked runs consistently at both ends of the innings, while sloppy fielding and dropped catches have further damaged their campaign in crunch moments.

16:26 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Top-order struggles derail Punjab Kings campaign

Before worrying about permutations, Punjab first need to rediscover their form after a prolonged slump that has exposed flaws across departments.

Their aggressive top order of Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly has failed to provide the explosive starts that defined the first half of the season.

Priyansh has managed just one fifty in his last seven innings and was dismissed for a duck in the previous game, while Prabhsimran too has struggled for consistency with only one fifty in his last five innings.

Connolly has shown glimpses of promise but has failed to convert starts into substantial scores.

16:26 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings seek last-gasp turnaround

Punjab Kings will need something special to halt a disastrous slide and keep their fading playoff hopes alive when they face already-eliminated Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL clash on Saturday.

Punjab's campaign has unravelled dramatically since their record 265-run chase against Delhi Capitals on April 25.

From remaining unbeaten till the midway stage and looking like genuine title contenders with six wins in seven matches, last season's runners-up have now crashed to six consecutive defeats, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

16:25 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Playoff equation gets complicated for Punjab

Now placed fifth, Punjab not only need to beat LSG in their final league game but also depend on results from Sunday's double-header fixtures to stay alive in the playoff race.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side would hope both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders lose their respective matches against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.

A Rajasthan Royals victory over Mumbai Indians would officially end Punjab's hopes, while a KKR win over Delhi Capitals could bring net run rate into the equation.

At present, PBKS hold a slight edge in NRR over KKR.

16:24 (IST) May 23

PBKS vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2026: Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of IPL 2026 match between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

PBKS hold a narrow 4-3 edge over LSG overall, including a 2-1 advantage at the Ekana Stadium.

Punjab have dominated the rivalry since 2025, winning all three meetings, including the reverse fixture in Mullanpur where they posted a massive total of 254.