The left-arm pacer Arshdeep’s stunning spell derailed LSG’s 237-run chase early, boosting Punjab Kings’ confidence and playoff prospects in IPL 2025.
Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), May 5:
Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball in Dharamsala, wrecking Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top order in the powerplay and leading his team to a 37-run victory on Sunday. With this win, PBKS moved to second spot on the IPL 2025 points table.
Arshdeep, who finished with figures of 3/16 in four overs, was thrilled with the early swing he extracted under Dharamsala’s chilly conditions. “For a change, there was movement in the starting overs. I really enjoyed it. In the second innings, the temperature drops and that helps the ball swing a bit. This win gives us a lot of confidence, though there are still areas where we can improve,” he said in the post-match presentation.
He reserved special praise for Nehal Wadhera, whose sharp catch at deep mid-wicket helped dismiss Mitchell Marsh, a key moment in the powerplay. “I was praying he would catch it. Marsh is dangerous when he settles in. That early breakthrough gave us the edge.”
On PBKS’s playoff ambitions, Arshdeep maintained a grounded approach: “We’re just taking it day by day and enjoying the moment. The execution today was spot on.”
Currently, Arshdeep sits third in the Purple Cap standings with 16 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 18.18 and an economy rate of 8.00, making him PBKS’s top wicket-taker this season.
Match Recap:
LSG won the toss and opted to bowl first. PBKS made the most of the opportunity with explosive knocks from Josh Inglis (30 off 14), Prabhsimran Singh (91 off 45), and Shreyas Iyer (45 off 25), powering the team to 236/5 in 20 overs. Shashank Singh added a brisk 33 off 15* to finish strong.
In reply, LSG’s top order crumbled under Arshdeep’s spell, slumping to 73/5. A valiant effort by Ayush Badoni (74 off 40) and Abdul Samad (45 off 24) revived hope, but it wasn’t enough as LSG ended on 199/7.
With this defeat, LSG remain in seventh place with 10 points, while PBKS sit second with 15 points, continuing their upward surge under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting’s leadership.