Punjab Kings (PBKS) did what they needed to do on Saturday, but now they must wait for results from two Sunday matches to see if they remain in playoff contention.
Shreyas Iyer and his team had to win against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium to reach 15 points. They were aiming to break a six-match losing streak. Iyer won the toss and chose to field first. Early wickets fell, but Josh Inglish and Ayush Badoni formed a strong 49-run partnership off just 23 balls. Inglish scored 72 runs off 44 balls, and Abdul Samad added a quick 37 runs, helping LSG set a total of 196/6.
Mohammed Shami took two wickets in his opening overs, but Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh steadied the innings. Once settled, they attacked the LSG bowlers, scoring 140 runs from 76 balls in a solid partnership. Prabhsimran made 69 runs off 39 balls, while Shreyas remained not out at 101 off 51 balls, leading his team to victory by seven wickets with two overs left.
Qualification scenarios explained
If the Rajasthan Royals defeat the Mumbai Indians on Sunday, May 24, at the Wankhede Stadium, they will secure 16 points and a spot in the playoffs. Conversely, if they lose, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will be crucial.
Currently, KKR holds 13 points. If they beat DC by 77 runs while batting first and scoring 200, or if they chase down 180 runs in about 12-12.4 overs, they would tie with PBKS on 15 points but have a better net run rate, allowing them to qualify for the playoffs.