Last-chance saloon as PBKS seek to arrest freefall

The higher you go, the deeper you fall.

A proverb that has defined the Punjab Kings' run in IPL 2026. Everything went right in the first half before the campaign capitulated alarmingly. Yet, those early exploits mean they can still make the playoffs if they arrest a six-game freefall. A win against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday alone won't suffice — they also need a favour from Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals on Sunday.

PBKS' bowling and fielding woes continue. Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson have failed to make a lasting impact. Yuzvendra Chahal has blown hot and cold with catches dropped off his bowling. Marco Jansen was dropped for the RCB fixture. Azmatullah Omarzai has emerged as a bright spark, while Shashank Singh hit a fifty in the last game. Concerns mount over Shreyas Iyer's form — 118 runs including a scratchy half-century in defeats. When pace-setting openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh fall early, the middle order struggles. In a do-or-die situation, PBKS need them at their best.

LSG have shown promise with the bat. Nicholas Pooran looks in better rhythm. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are in sensational touch, though LSG often lose their way in the middle overs. Bowling options lack experience, with Prince Yadav standing out. Scrutiny continues on Rishabh Pant the batter and captain. LSG haven't been near playoff contention since the start of this cycle, but a win to sign off with positives would do them good.

When: Saturday, May 23 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
What to expect: Scorching 40°C temperatures. The last two games here favoured batters, with LSG winning both. Expect early assistance for pacers. Chasing teams have won 9 of 13 matches here since IPL 2025 (excluding the Super Over game involving KKR).
Head to head: PBKS lead 4-3, including 2-1 at Ekana. Since 2025, PBKS have won all three matches, including the reverse fixture in Mullanpur where they scored 254.
Injuries & Unavailability: Aiden Markram missed the last game due to personal reasons and is unlikely to feature. Mohammed Shami didn't play the previous match, no injury reported.

Tactics & Matchups: Shreyas Iyer has struggled against Mohsin Khan — 12 runs off 27 balls in T20s, dismissed once (in the reverse fixture). Expect Mohsin used upon Shreyas' entry. Mayank Yadav could be deployed early against Prabhsimran Singh, whom he has dismissed twice.

Probable XII (LSG): Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi

Injuries & Unavailability: None from PBKS.
Tactics & Matchups: Both Pooran (SR 163.63) and Pant (SR 150) have excellent records against Yuzvendra Chahal, who has averaged 74.4 against left-handers at an economy of 11.1 in the IPL since 2025. With left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar in the mix, the Kings may field just one spinner, potentially opening the door for Vijaykumar Vyshak's return.

Probable XII (PBKS): Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal/Vijaykumar Vyshak

• Priyansh and Prabhsimran are the only pair to have opened in over 25 innings for PBKS in 19 IPL editions. PBKS are also the only team to use a single opening pair over the last two seasons.
• Marsh has hit 73 sixes in the IPL since 2025, the most by any overseas player in that period.
• 81.4% of PBKS' overs this season have come from pacers — the lowest spin usage among all teams.

"I think teams in situations like this can be very dangerous. Lucknow going into tomorrow, apart from personal pride and pride for the franchise, they've got nothing else to lose. So teams can be dangerous. That's the way I want my boys to play — fearless and daring." — Ricky Ponting, PBKS Head Coach