Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, 29th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentaryPBKS vs LSG, 29th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

For the first time this season, Punjab Kings were asked to bat first - a different challenge, but one they handled emphatically. Even though Prabhsimran fell early, Priyansh and Connolly stitched together a staggering partnership for the second wicket. That stand not only took the game away from Lucknow Super Giants but also powered Punjab to the highest total of the season. The bowlers then backed it up with a disciplined effort, ensuring their unbeaten run continues. For Lucknow Super Giants, the search for the right combination goes on. Yet another change at the top highlights the uncertainty around their batting order, and they are still trying to figure out their best XI. Time isn’t on their side, and they’ll need answers soon. That’s all from this game. Up next, Gujarat Titans take on Mumbai Indians. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Priyansh Arya | Player of the Match (translated from Hindi): (What felt the most satisfying in this innings?) Today I batted a little beyond the powerplay and contributed as much as I could for my team. That gave me a lot of satisfaction. (What kind of preparation goes into six-hitting?) No, sir, I don’t practice six-hitting that much. I just practice timing the ball as well as possible, and that helps me in batting. (Tell us about your fitness routine as well) Yes sir, Anand sir and Birla bhaiya, who are our trainers, have been working with us for the last six months. Whatever schedule they send me, I follow it, and it has helped me a lot. You looked completely unfazed when Connolly was struggling at the start. Is that your usual mindset?) Yes sir, if we talk too much, too many thoughts come into my mind. I feel it’s better if we don’t talk too much, then we can play with a clearer mind. (Was there one shot you especially enjoyed?) Sir, I hit a six over point with a slash shot.

Shreyas Iyer | PBKS captain: (How did the partnership make you feel when you were watching it?) It was exceptional, first of all. Some of the shots I saw were jaw-dropping, honestly speaking. Hitting fast bowlers off the back foot straight, and spinners as well - it takes a lot of courage and composure at the same time, because things can slip at any moment. But the way they built that partnership, especially in the middle overs, it was sensational. (How much do you as a team discuss how you need to become a really good six-hitting side from top to middle?) I was just talking with Cooper and Priyansh at the moment, and we said let us compete in this IPL for who hits the most sixes. We are up for it, and the prize is going to be my bat. So it doesn’t make much sense, but at the end of the day, as long as they keep performing and I keep performing, I’m happy. I personally feel that when you just let them be, let them go out there and express themselves, they deliver at that time. So that has been our mantra so far. I don’t tell them how to go about their specific innings against different teams. I think they’ve got their patterns set, and every individual in the team has their own routines and processes which they follow - and they are delivering. So I don’t have to say much. We just talk, Ricky motivates just before the game, I also chip in with a few words, and definitely the boys come and deliver. (How satisfied were you with the way the middle overs went?) I think the majority of the bowlers in our team are international-level players, and you’ve seen they’ve been doing fantastic for their respective teams internationally. They’ve got immense experience as well. So again, I don’t have to tell them much. We discuss, we have a set of plans against certain batters, and it’s all about execution. I personally feel that today, the way they bowled - and the way they’ve been bowling throughout the season - has been sensational. They just have to keep executing and not get complacent at any point of time. (Making it a bit of a fortress here in New Chandigarh?) Yes, absolutely. I feel that whenever we come and see the wicket now before the game, it gives us immense pleasure that we are a part of this team. Also last year we had to brainstorm about how we were going to come this season and see to it how we build the wicket and support our batsmen as well as bowlers at the same time. So far, so good.

Phase wise scoring comparison tonight
1-6: PBKS 63/1 at 10.5 RPO | LSG 61/1 at 10.16 RPO
7-15: PBKS 130/2 at 14.44 RPO | LSG 81/3 at 9 RPO
16-20: PBKS 61/4 at 12.2 RPO | 58/1 at 11.6 RPO

LSG in the IPL
Batting first: 36 matches, 20 wins, 15 defeats, 1 NR, W/L: 1.333
Batting second: 28 matches, 12 wins, 16 defeats, W/L: 0.75

- 200/5 is LSG’s highest team total without an individual 50-plus score, surpassing 171/7 against the same opponents in Lucknow last year.

- Three wins out of three for PBKS at Mullanpur this season. They had won three out of 10 across 2024 and 2025.

Vijaykumar Vyshak: Obviously there’s a lot of planning. The coaches and the video analysts have been doing a lot of planning, so credit goes to them as well. Without them backing me, because the last couple of games didn’t really go my way, I think they’ve backed me really well. Looking at the wicket, I think the way Prince (Yadav) bowled, he bowled exceptionally well. So taking a dig at him, whatever he did well, I just thought I’d back my yorkers and back my slower ones as well. So that’s why I thought I’d do the same thing. I think the way our batsmen played, it was something to watch out for because every ball looked like it was going for a six and it did eventually. Obviously they planned a lot. Credit goes to the video analysts as well. He came and told me that the length balls weren’t a good ball to bowl here. So that’s why I just backed my yorkers. I think I bowled a lot of yorkers today. Credit goes to the bowling coach as well because we’ve been working a lot behind the nets too. (Approach compared to the previous season) I think the approach is the same. Whatever given situation, I want to do my best for the team, whether it might be the first over or the last over, or if I’m getting one over or four overs. I just want to be there and do the best for my team. I want to win the game for my team. So that has been the motto, and that is helping me a lot. I think the last two games when we didn’t do well, Shashank came and got us those crucial wickets. So I think everybody has been doing really well. We would like to continue with the same form. So hopefully we can continue this and go on to win the finals.

Rishabh Pant | LSG captain: (How is your left elbow?) I think the left hand is getting better, but I got a new tattoo (injury on the right hand) today, so I think something to look forward for me again (smiles). (Where did it go wrong today?) See, it's difficult to point out one area because, bowlers have been putting up a nice show, but at the same time, there are areas of concern. But there were some positives for us also to work around. There was some glimpse of batting, what we talked about. Definitely look to take some positives, but at the same time, as a team, we're going to do well each and every match. (Thinking behind sending Ayush Badoni as the opener) I think the idea was to just go out there and play freely. It wasn't taken just today. It was pre-decided that he's going to open. It was just something we kept inside. We wanted some freedom on the top order and just (the) middle order wanted to chip in. (You got the players to turn it around) Definitely, we believe in this team for sure. But at the same time when the opposition is playing well, like Punjab is playing now, you've got to give credit to them for playing good hard cricket also. (All the best as you try to sort out this puzzle) Thank you boss. We'll keep (it) positive.

23:23 Local Time, 17:53 GMT: Chasing 255 was never going to be easy, and it stayed that way for Lucknow Super Giants. They tried yet another opening combination, with Badoni partnering Mitchell Marsh - their third opening pair in seven games this season. The duo did well to add a 50-plus stand, but 61 in the powerplay wasn’t quite enough given the steep target. From there, it was always a chase from behind. Contributions came in the form of 40s from Marsh, Rishabh Pant and Markram, but none could push on to truly threaten Punjab Kings. Punjab’s bowlers were spot on with their plans and execution. Apart from Bartlett, everyone chipped in with wickets, and three of them conceded at under 10 runs per over - a key factor in closing out the game. Hang around for the presentations..

Marco Jansen to Aiden Markram, THATS OUT!! Caught!!