In a match hyped as the battle of IPL 2025’s costliest captains, Rishabh Pant faltered yet again while Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings now eye a comfortable chase at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
April 1, 2025: Lucknow: The pressure continues to mount on Rishabh Pant as he failed to make an impact once again, scoring a single-digit knock in front of his home crowd in Lucknow. After a top-order collapse inside the powerplay, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) managed to recover to a respectable 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 13 of IPL 2025.
Also Read: IPL 2025: ₹27 Cr Rishabh Pant Fails Again as PBKS Rattles LSG Top Order
The much-anticipated showdown between the two most expensive players of the 2025 IPL auction—Pant (Rs 27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 crore)—took a decisive turn in PBKS’s favor after early breakthroughs.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer’s Lockie Move Shocks LSG in Toss Drama at Ekana Stadium
PBKS, having won the toss and opted to bowl, executed their plans flawlessly. Lockie Ferguson and Arshdeep Singh struck early, dismissing Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, before Glenn Maxwell removed the struggling Pant. At 35/3, LSG were staring at another batting debacle.
However, a composed 41-run knock by Ayush Badoni and a handy cameo from Abdul Samad (23 off 9) helped stabilize the innings. David Miller chipped in with 22, but it was the middle-order resilience that carried LSG to a fighting total.
Nicholas Pooran, the in-form batter, threatened to take the game away but was dismissed on 44 by Yuzvendra Chahal, who impressed in his first match for PBKS, ending with 1/36.
For Punjab, Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh were economical and effective, with the latter finishing with two crucial wickets in the death overs.
With a chaseable target of 172, all eyes will now be on Shreyas Iyer to steer PBKS home and further consolidate his captaincy credentials.
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