Lara Zijl 
By Kara Riggs, NZB News
5 May 2025
Punjab Kings delivered a dominant 37-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Match 54 of the Indian Premier League 2025 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, on 4 May 2025, bolstering their playoff hopes. PBKS’s 236 for 5, powered by Prabhsimran Singh’s 91 off 48 balls, outshone LSG’s 199 for 7, despite Ayush Badoni’s 74 off 40. Arshdeep Singh’s 3 for 16 was pivotal. For New Zealand fans, Marcus Stoinis’s 15 for PBKS was a brief highlight in a match showcasing Punjab’s firepower.
Background Information
Punjab Kings, captained by Shreyas Iyer, entered the match third with 6 wins from 10, riding a strong season after a 4-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on 30 April. Lucknow Super Giants, led by Rishabh Pant, were ninth with 3 wins from 10, following a 15-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on 25 April. The Dharamsala pitch, averaging 205 in first-innings scores, offers bounce for batters and early seam movement for pacers like PBKS’s Arshdeep Singh and LSG’s Avesh Khan. New Zealand’s Stoinis has been PBKS’s all-round asset, while LSG lack Kiwi players, relying on Pant and Badoni. PBKS’s 8-wicket win over LSG on 1 April in Lucknow, driven by Prabhsimran’s 69, gave them confidence, but LSG’s batting depth posed a threat in this playoff-defining clash.
Match Details
Teams: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Date: 4 May 2025
Toss: Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to bowl.
Result: Punjab Kings won by 37 runs.
Punjab Kings scored 236 for 5 in 20 overs, led by Prabhsimran Singh’s 91 off 48 balls and Shreyas Iyer’s 45 off 25. LSG’s Akash Singh took 2 for 30, with Digvesh Rathi claiming 2 for 46. Lucknow Super Giants finished at 199 for 7 in 20 overs, with Ayush Badoni’s 74 off 40 and Abdul Samad’s 45 off 25. PBKS’s Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 16, with Azmatullah Omarzai grabbing 2 for 33.
Highlights
PBKS’s innings started shakily, with Priyansh Arya dismissed for 0 off 3 by Akash Singh in the first over. Prabhsimran’s 91, with nine fours and five sixes, including 37 runs off 10 balls after a steady 53 off 35, and a 78-run stand with Iyer’s 45, with four boundaries, set the tone, reaching 100 in 10 overs. Josh Inglis’s 30 off 14, Shashank Singh’s 33 off 15, with a six off Mayank Yadav, and Stoinis’s 15 lifted PBKS to 236, despite Rathi’s dismissals of Inglis and Nehal Wadhera (16). Avesh Khan’s 19th over leaked 26 runs. LSG’s chase crumbled early, with Arshdeep dismissing Mitchell Marsh (0) and Aiden Markram (13) in the third over, and Omarzai removing Pant (12) by the fifth, leaving them 27 for 3. Badoni’s 74, with six fours and four sixes, and Samad’s 45, with a 81-run stand, revived hopes, reaching 154 for 5 after 17 overs. Marco Jansen dismissed Samad, and Yuzvendra Chahal’s final over saw Badoni’s top-edged reverse sweep caught by Arshdeep for 74, ending LSG’s fight. Avesh Khan’s six and four off Chahal weren’t enough, with Iyer dropping a catch on the final ball. Prabhsimran earned Player of the Match.
Records
Prabhsimran Singh’s Blitz: Prabhsimran’s 91 was PBKS’s highest individual score in IPL 2025 and his career-best, surpassing his 69 vs LSG on 1 April. Ayush Badoni’s Milestone: Badoni’s 74 was his highest IPL score, overtaking his 41 vs PBKS earlier. PBKS’s Boundary Barrage: PBKS’s 34 boundaries (18 fours, 16 sixes) were their most in an IPL innings, per ESPNcricinfo. Costliest Overs: Avesh’s 26-run 19th over matched LSG’s worst in IPL history, alongside Mayank’s 60 runs in 4 overs, joint-worst for LSG.
Historical Data
PBKS’s victory extended their head-to-head lead over LSG to 4-2 in six IPL meetings, completing a 2025 season sweep after their 8-wicket win on 1 April. At Dharamsala, PBKS secured their first win since 2023, improving their 2-2 record against LSG at neutral venues. LSG’s sole IPL playoff appearance was 2022, while PBKS chase their first since 2014. New Zealand players have shone, with Stoinis’s 193 runs and 5 wickets for PBKS this season. The IPL’s global pull saw nine Kiwis prioritise the tournament over a T20I series against Pakistan in March 2025. LSG’s earlier loss, despite Nicholas Pooran’s 44, exposed their top-order fragility, a recurring issue in Dharamsala.
Discussion
PBKS’s commanding win showcased their batting depth and bowling precision. Prabhsimran’s 91, accelerating from 53 off 35, and Iyer’s 45 overwhelmed LSG’s bowlers, with Akash’s 2 for 30 a lone bright spot. Shashank’s cameo and Stoinis’s contribution ensured a 200-plus total, exploiting Mayank’s 60-run spell. Arshdeep’s triple strikes, removing Marsh, Markram, and Badoni, and Omarzai’s dismissal of Pant crippled LSG early, despite Badoni and Samad’s 81-run stand. For New Zealand fans, Stoinis’s 15 was modest, but his all-round presence remains key. The bouncy Dharamsala pitch suited PBKS’s aggressive batting and pace attack, while LSG’s decision to bowl first backfired, with Pant’s 128 runs in 11 innings at 12.80 reflecting their batting woes. PBKS’s seventh win moves them to second with 15 points, while LSG’s seventh loss drops them to ninth with 6 points, nearly out of playoff contention.
IPL 2025 Points Table (as of 5 May 2025)
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Team | M | W | L | P | NRR |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Royal Challengers |11 | 8 | 3 |16 | +0.523|
| Punjab Kings |11 | 7 | 4 |15 | +0.321|
| Mumbai Indians |12 | 7 | 5 |14 | +1.274|
| Delhi Capitals |11 | 7 | 4 |14 | +0.362|
| Gujarat Titans |11 | 4 | 7 | 8 | +0.450|
| Kolkata Knight Riders |12 | 5 | 6 |11 | +0.273|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad |10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -0.803|
| Lucknow Super Giants |11 | 3 | 8 | 6 | -0.429|
| Rajasthan Royals |12 | 3 | 9 | 6 | -0.782|
| Chennai Super Kings |11 | 2 | 9 | 4 | -1.213|
+-----------------------+-----------------------+Key: M = Matches, W = Won, L = Lost, P = Points, NRR = Net Run Rate
Orange Cap and Purple Cap Standings
The Orange Cap is held by Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians with 469 runs in 12 matches, his best being 93 not out. The Purple Cap is held by Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 18 wickets in 10 matches, his best being 4 for 20.
Next Matches Schedule
On 5 May 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad face Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST. On 6 May 2025, Mumbai Indians play Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM IST. On 7 May 2025, Gujarat Titans meet Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad at 3:30 PM IST, Rajasthan Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST, and Kolkata Knight Riders take on Chennai Super Kings in Kolkata at 7:30 PM IST. On 9 May 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow at 7:30 PM IST.
What’s Next?
Punjab Kings face Gujarat Titans on 7 May 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where Prabhsimran, Iyer, and Arshdeep aim to solidify their top-four spot against a faltering GT side. Lucknow Super Giants take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 9 May 2025 in Lucknow, with Pant, Badoni, and Samad needing a miracle to keep faint playoff hopes alive. PBKS’s 15 points make them playoff contenders, while LSG’s 6 points demand wins in all three remaining games.
Summary
Punjab Kings’ 37-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants strengthened their IPL 2025 playoff bid. Prabhsimran Singh’s 91 and Shreyas Iyer’s 45 powered PBKS to 236 for 5, with Shashank Singh’s 33 and Marcus Stoinis’s 15 adding late runs. Ayush Badoni’s 74 and Abdul Samad’s 45 took LSG to 199 for 7, but Arshdeep Singh’s 3 for 16 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s 2 for 33 ensured the win. The victory, PBKS’s seventh, lifts them to second with 15 points, while LSG’s seventh loss drops them to ninth with 6 points. For New Zealand fans, Stoinis’s cameo shone. As PBKS chase playoffs and LSG fight for pride, IPL 2025 delivers relentless drama.
