Punjab Kings broke their six-game losing streak and maintained their chances of making the IPL 2026 playoffs when Shreyas Iyer scored his first IPL century to lead them to a seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium.
With Iyer remaining undefeated at 101 off 51 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 198. 04, Punjab chased down the target in 18 overs in response to LSG’s 196/6. In addition to impressing the audience with his superb timing, excellent delivery pickups, and bottom-handed strokes, Iyer also had a vital 140-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 69 runs off 39 deliveries.
The outcome has moved PBKS up to fourth place in the standings, and their fate is now dependent on the Rajasthan Royals’ game against the Mumbai Indians. Punjab will be eliminated if RR wins; if MI wins, Kolkata Knight Riders may still be able to pass PBKS on net run rate with a convincing victory against the now-eliminated Delhi Capitals.
The Eliminator match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and PBKS will take place in New Chandigarh on Wednesday if everything goes well for them.
The chase started off with a bang when Mohammed Shami caught Priyansh Arya for a golden duck on the pull, sending him crashing to the ground. Before being castled by Mohammed Shami and leaving PBKS at 22/2 in 2. 2 overs, Cooper Connolly retaliated with four boundaries in the second over.
Iyer joined Prabhsimran, and the two of them brought the innings under control. Prabhsimran found his rhythm with creative strokes, using the pace of the bowlers to his advantage, while Iyer smashed consecutive fours against Mohsin Khan and Shami.
After Prabhsimran was caught by Pant off Arjun Tendulkar for 20 during the power play, the relationship flourished, and he reached his half-century in just 28 deliveries.
Iyer, however, chopped and drove with conviction to reach his half-century in 33 deliveries. Before Arjun’s lbw catch of Prabhsimran for 69, the boundaries were open.
However, Iyer persisted and almost secured the match by hitting three sixes in one Shami over. Fittingly, Iyer finished his first IPL century and secured a vital win for PBKS by bowling a slower ball from Mohsin over cow corner.
Iyer felt a sense of joy and relief in that century. He removed his helmet, raised his arms, and was hugged by his teammates as he brought a six-game losing streak to an end and kept his hopes of reaching the PBKS playoffs very much alive. In addition to PBKS celebrating the gle of a crucial win in a game they had to win, LSG’s tenth loss of the season also sealed their fate as the IPL 2026 points table’s bottom team.
Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants 196/6 in 20 overs (Josh Inglis 72, Ayush Badoni 43; Yuzvendra Chahal 2-25, Marco Jansen 2-33)
Punjab Kings 200/3 in 18 overs (Shreyas Iyer 101 not out, Prabhsimran Singh 69; Mohammed Shami 2-45, Arjun Tendulkar 1-36)