The opening six overs often dictate how a T20 match unfolds. In this game, the contrast between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the PowerPlay was striking. PBKS posted 61/1, while LSG stumbled to 39/3—a gap that proved difficult to bridge. Historical IPL data backs this: since 2023, teams losing three or more wickets in the PowerPlay have lost over 72% of their matches.
Shreyas Iyer anchored the PBKS innings, entering in the third over and guiding his team to victory with an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls. Unlike his aggressive 97* in the previous match, this time he played a supporting role—first to Prabhsimran Singh, then to Nehal Wadhera. Iyer hit four sixes, matching the highest for the match, and continued his consistent form with 13 sixes across two games.
In contrast, Rishabh Pant’s innings for LSG was short and chaotic. Coming in during a collapse, Pant fell to a delivery he normally dispatches—highlighting his struggles this season, with scores of 0, 15, and now 2.
LSG lost momentum early. Mitchell Marsh was dismissed by a delivery from Arshdeep that cut away sharply. Aiden Markram chopped one from Lockie Ferguson, and Pant fell to a Maxwell delivery that drifted outside leg. The recovery effort, led by Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad, could not reverse the damage.
At a venue like Lucknow—where the average first-innings total since 2023 is 165 and pacers strike every 17.9 balls—early setbacks often decide the result.
The final boundary of the PowerPlay left a lasting impression—a six over cover by Prabhsimran Singh off a slower, wider ball from Ravi Bishnoi. More than a shot, it shifted the momentum, lowering the required rate and solidifying Punjab’s command. Bishnoi struggled again, overshadowed by 21-year-old Digvesh Rathi for the third straight match.
Read More: Punjab Kings Outclass Lucknow Super Giants by 8 Wickets with Dominant All-Round Performance
