Cricket News

Shreyas Iyer’s Maiden IPL Century Revives Punjab Kings’ Playoff Hopes

Aaryan Patel · 23/05/2026 · 2 min read

Punjab Kings Revive Playoff Hopes with 7-Wicket Win

Punjab Kings have ended their six-match losing streak in the IPL 2026 with a convincing 7-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Match-Winning Innings from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh

Chasing 197, Punjab Kings reached the target in 18 overs, thanks to outstanding innings from captain Shreyas Iyer and opener Prabhsimran Singh. Iyer scored his maiden IPL century, remaining unbeaten on 101 runs in 51 balls, while Singh contributed 69 runs in 39 balls.

The situation could have been worse for Punjab Kings if Rishabh Pant had not dropped Prabhsimran’s catch in Arjun Tendulkar’s first over. Singh took full advantage of the reprieve, hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes before being dismissed by Arjun in his third over.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Batting Performance

Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants had posted 196 for 6 in 20 overs, with Josh Inglis top-scoring with 72 runs in 44 balls. Ayush Badoni also made a significant contribution, scoring 43 runs in 18 balls, including 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Abdul Samad remained unbeaten on 37 runs in 20 balls, smashing 3 fours and 3 sixes. Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets each, while Shashank Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai added one scalp each to their bowling figures.

Playoff Hopes Still Alive for Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings have finished the league stage with 15 points from 14 games. Their fate now depends on the outcome of other matches. If Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians on May 24, Punjab will be eliminated. However, if the results go in favor of the host franchise, the Super Kings’ fate will be decided after the Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals clash.

If KKR secure a win over DC, they would end the first round on 15 points, and the net run rate would come into play. With this win, Punjab Kings have kept their playoff hopes alive, and their fans will be eagerly waiting for the outcome of the upcoming matches.

Aaryan Patel

Aaryan Patel is the Youth Cricket Editor for Cricbuzz, where he tracks emerging talent, U‑19 World Cup storylines, and the hidden gems of India’s domestic cricket circuit. A Mumbai native, Aaryan turned a teenage obsession with junior cricket scorecards into a career, securing a PG diploma from Symbiosis and quickly becoming the go‑to voice for everything from U‑16 trials to IPL auction watchlists. He hosts The Pipeline, a weekly podcast that breaks down performances in the Cooch Behar Trophy, Vinoo Mankad, and age‑group tours, while also writing features on the mental pressures faced by young athletes. His work has been credited with putting several U‑19 stars onto the national radar months before official recognition.