Last edition's finalist, Punjab Kings (PBKS) stay in the race for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoff after a seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It was captain Shreyas Iyer's show, who led from the front, smashing a century that helped the Punjab-based franchise to register a comfortable win.
The defeat marked Lucknow Super Giants’ 10th loss of the season, making it a disappointing campaign for the team.
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Fans misbehaved with cheerleaders
However, apart from the cricket action, an unfortunate incident involving spectators and cheerleaders also drew attention during the match. A few fans were reportedly seen misbehaving with the cheerleaders inside the stadium, forcing police officials to step in and handle the situation. Videos from the venue showed security personnel quickly reaching the spot and taking action against the group involved. A woman police officer was also seen speaking to some of the fans.
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Rishabh Pant after LSG's defeat
After the match, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant admitted that the season had been difficult for his side. Following the heavy defeat, Pant said the team faced several challenges throughout the tournament and could not deliver the results they had hoped for.
PBKS IPL 2026 qualification scenario
Punjab Kings (PBKS) ended their IPL 2026 league campaign with 15 points and a Net Run Rate of +0.309. However, their playoff qualification now depends completely on the result of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Mumbai Indians (MI) match.
If Mumbai Indians defeat Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings will secure a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. But if Rajasthan Royals win the match, PBKS will be knocked out of the tournament, as RR will move to 16 points and claim the final playoff spot.