NEW DELHI: The celebration, the roar, and the smile from Shreyas Iyer said it all after the Punjab Kings skipper produced a captain's knock to guide his team to a much-needed victory in their must-win IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday. Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets, courtesy of a magnificent century from Iyer.
Match Summary
Punjab Kings chased down the target with ease, thanks to Iyer's unbeaten century and a crucial partnership with Prabhsimran Singh. The win helped PBKS move to 15 points from their 14 league matches, reclaiming the fourth spot on the points table. However, their playoff fate is not entirely in their hands, as they now depend on the outcome of Sunday's clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Iyer's Post-Match Reaction
After the match, Iyer admitted he was feeling "ecstatic" after achieving a double milestone: scoring his maiden IPL century and keeping Punjab alive in the playoff race. "Ecstatic, first hundred of the season, we won eventually after six consecutive losses. I know if I give myself time in the middle and time the ball, rather than getting on top of the ball… I know I need to stay out there for as long as possible," said the Player of the Match during the post-match presentation. "It's a surreal feeling, finishing a game and scoring a century. I was in a great mind space, felt super from within," he added.
Praise for Teammates
Iyer also praised Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 69, for his contribution in their match-winning 140-run partnership for the third wicket. "Prabh was temperamentally active and the communication we had was great. That partnership was crucial, created momentum in the game… seriously elated," he said, while also lauding the bowlers for restricting LSG to a below-200 total.
Team Approach
The PBKS skipper revealed that the team deliberately kept things relaxed ahead of the high-pressure encounter. "We just kept it simple, rather than having meetings and putting pressure on the boys. Free flow of mind is required in crucial games. We don't want to make them overthink, and I told Ricky that we don't need to do a team meeting," he said.
With Rajasthan Royals currently on 14 points, a win for them against Mumbai Indians would take them to 16 points and seal the final playoff berth, knocking Punjab Kings out. Iyer's message was clear: "We support MI tomorrow."
