Arya and Connolly power unbeaten PBKS to NRR-boosting win
They put on 182 in just 80 balls to lead PBKS to the season's highest total
They put on 182 in just 80 balls to lead PBKS to the season's highest total
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Ekanth and Abhimanyu
Yookay, weekend ends, fourth game. Fair to say a predictable result but the journey, in the first-innings particularly, was riveting. Join us tomorrow for a new week of adventures. Thanks for tagging along. From Abhimanyu, me, Thilak and Ranjith, take the care, bye!
Priyansh Arya, POTM After the powerplay, I contributed today and that was special. I don't practice six-hitting, I try to time the ball as well as possible. Anand sir and Birla sir, our trainers send us schedules and I follow it. That helps me keep fit. I don't too much with in the middle as that keeps my mind free. I slashed one over point, that's my favourite shot.
Shreyas Iyer, PBKS captain Exceptional partnership, some shots were jaw-dropping. Hitting fast bowlers off the back-foot straight. Composure in the middle overs was sensational. Was talking with Cooper and Arya, said let's compete in the side for the most no. of sixes. They're up for it. Prize is my bat, doesn't make sense but as long as we're all performing I'm happy. When you let players be, I think they just deliver. That's our mantra. I don't tell them how to go about their specific innings, they have their patterns set. Ricky motivates just before the game, I chip, boys come in and deliver. Majority of our bowlers are international bowlers with immense experience. We have plans against certain batters, it's all about execution. They just shouldn't get complacent. (Home ground a fortress?) Yes, I feel when we see the wicket, we feel immense pleasure to be part of the team. Last year, we had to brainstorm about how we'll come this season and how the wicket supports our batters and bowlers, so far so good.
Presentation time. If you're licking your lips that's fair, Shreyas will come in first.
Viraj: "Why has lsg not fixed their batting order. Too much chopping and changing. Never gonna work in IPL "
Pravin Jadhav : "The review which was not taken that cost LSG this match and 2 Points!"
Vyshak Vijaykumar There's a lot of planning from the coaches and video analysts. Without them backing me, it'd be tough. Last two games didn't go well. Prince bowled well, took cues from him. Backed yorkers and slower ones. The way our batters played, it was something to watch out for. Every ball looked like it'll go for six. Video analysts said length ball doesn't do well here, so went shorter. The approach is the same, whatever is the situation and how many ever overs I bowl I want to do well. The last two games when we didn't do well, Shashank came in, so it's not a given that everyone gets four overs. We would like to continue this form and go on to win the finals.
Rishabh Pant, LSG captain Left hand is getting better, got a new tattoo today. Something to look forward to. It's difficult to point out one area, bowler's have done well. There have been areas of concern, some positivity with the batting. (Badoni opening) The idea was to go out and play freely. It was pre-decided, not a decision taken today. Tried to take the pressure off the top order. We believe in the team, but credit to PBKS for playing good, hard cricket.
Great visuals of Shreyas laughing with and hugging Shashank during the handshakes. Ponting's jovial too. Poor Shashank hides his face for a moment but lets a smile out.
11:21pm The win margin could've been 20-25 more had the catching been clean but otherwise that was a clinical performance from PBKS. Particularly with the ball. Didn't let Badoni, promoted to open, and Marsh early on despite the boundaries looking convincing. The pressure of the asking rate was always going to be high, it was 15.3 after ten overs and 22.6 after 15. Pant swung a lot, got a few but couldn't surge on that deep incline. Pooran's bad run continued, Markram did okay from No. 5 but couldn't LSG get close. Vyshak was the pick of the bowlers, bowled into the pitch and yorked it nicely. Chahal ripped it and revved it. Bartlett missed his lengths at times but bowled across phases. Arshdeep and Jansen didn't swing it much but showed decent control.
Himmat out for one ball. Ni3: "Feel for Himmat, you wait an eternity for an opportunity "
AK Markram c Stoinis b Jansen 42 (34m 22b 3x4 3x6) SR: 190.9
PV: "Have never laughed so much on fluffs in the field! :)"
Amandeep: "Pbks fielders gonna meet 2003 ponting tonight!!"
On another day, Cooper Connolly's 46-ball 87 would have been the innings of the match, but Priyansh Arya's 37-ball 93 gave it no chance
Here's a look at what the Orange and Purple Cap tables look like after the KKR vs RR and PBKS vs LSG games on Sunday in IPL 2026
The combination of Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak gives PBKS variety in their bowling attack at IPL 2026
Cooper Connolly, in his first season at the IPL, is Punjab Kings' highest run-getter at the moment, and has made big contributions in two of their five wins so far
They put on 182 in just 80 balls to lead PBKS to the season's highest total