Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant had called for bold intent at the toss — aiming for 220 instead of settling for 200.
What followed at Mullanpur on Sunday was a night where that ambition came back to haunt his side, as Punjab Kings produced a run-fest and sealed a crushing 54-run win in IPL 2026.
Powered by a sensational partnership between Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly, Punjab piled up a staggering 254, the highest total of the season so far. In reply, Lucknow never quite kept pace and finished on 200/5, slumping to their third straight defeat.
Priyansh, Connolly flip the game
Punjab’s innings didn’t hint at a 250-plus total early on. They lost Prabhsimran Singh in the first over, and Cooper Connolly struggled to find rhythm during the powerplay. At the other end, Priyansh Arya counterattacked to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The turning point came just after the powerplay when Pant introduced part-timer Ayush Badoni. Connolly broke free with a boundary and a six in that over, and from there, the momentum shifted dramatically.
With Connolly finding fluency, Priyansh went into overdrive. The duo tore into the Lucknow attack, adding 182 runs in just 80 balls. Priyansh blazed his way to 93 off 37, while Connolly smashed 87 off 46, dismantling both pace and spin with ease.
From 63/1 after six overs, Punjab surged past 180 in just 14 overs, leaving Lucknow stunned. Though the scoring slowed slightly at the death, Punjab still finished with a daunting 254.
Questionable calls hurt LSG
Pant’s decisions in the field raised eyebrows. Powerplay specialist Manimaran Siddharth wasn’t used early, while Badoni’s introduction proved costly. Aiden Markram was also taken apart for 32 runs in a single over as Lucknow struggled to regain control.
Prince Yadav stood out with disciplined bowling, but the rest of the attack leaked heavily as Punjab seized complete control.
Chase falls short despite brisk start
Facing a massive target, Lucknow opted for a change at the top, promoting Ayush Badoni to open alongside Mitchell Marsh. The move brought early momentum, with the pair adding 61 in the powerplay.
However, wickets at regular intervals derailed the chase. Badoni and Marsh fell after promising starts, while Pant’s 43 lacked the support needed to sustain the push. Aiden Markram added a quick 42, but the required rate kept climbing.
Punjab’s bowlers, led by Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal, kept things under control through the middle overs, ensuring there was no late twist.
Despite a few dropped chances in the field, Punjab’s dominance was never under threat. The emphatic win extends their unbeaten run this season, while Lucknow are left searching for answers after another heavy defeat.
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