Prabhsimran-Singh. (Photo source: Jio Hotstar)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) were once again clinical with the bat as they posted a huge 236/5 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 54 of IPL 2025 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The total was largely orchestrated by , who smashed a brilliant 91 off just 48 balls but was denied a second IPL century by Digvesh Rathi’s spin bowling.
After being put into bat by LSG, PBKS got off to a flying start despite losing Priyansh Arya in the first over. Josh Inglis, promoted to No. 3, hit a series of sixes that put the visitors on the back foot. However, it was Prabhsimran who stole the show.
Playing at a strike rate close to 190, he hammered six fours and seven sixes in his 91-run knock. The in-form opener, who is now seventh in the race for the Orange Cap, was in impressive touch. Along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25), the duo stitched a 78-run stand, leading PBKS to their highest-ever IPL score against LSG, and their 11th 200-plus score overall, second only to Mumbai Indians.
Watch the viral dismissal of Prabhsimran Singh by Digvesh Rathi here:Just as Prabhsimran was nine runs away from his second IPL century, Digvesh produced a solid delivery to see the batter walking. The PBKS opener tried a switch hit but mistimed it straight into the safe hands of Nicholas Pooran at extra cover. Rathi, who had been expensive earlier, celebrated with his trademark ‘notebook’ celebration. The 24-year-old's disappointment was clear as he walked off. However, the crowd at Dharamsala and his teammates gave him a standing ovation.
"I started well, I had a lot of confidence from my last innings. I got a chance early on and I was able to capitalize. There’s no strategy as such, I’m playing the ball on its merit, want to thank the management as well for backing me. I felt I can take a bit of time after the powerplay. When you get set, when you have already scored 30-35, you need to convert it into something big, it’s good that at times Shreyas is doing it, at times I’m doing it and at times, Priyansh is doing it. The score is really good, we have to bowl in good areas and win the match," Prabhsimran said during the mid-innings break.
Apart from Prabhsimran and Shreyas, cameos from Shashank Singh (33* off 15) and Marcus Stoinis (15* off 5) ensured PBKS had a good finish. Even though Rathi took two wickets, he conceded 46 runs, while Mayank Yadav had a poor spell, going for 60 in four overs, the joint-worst figures by an LSG bowler in IPL history.
