That's a wrap for today's Live coverage of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings match. The IPL 2025 juggernaut moves to the Chinnaswamy stadium for the first time tomorrow, as table-toppers RCB take on GT!

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live and latest sports updates. Join us tomorrow for yet more IPL action.

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Punjab Kings have won two away games now, and next have two successive home games against RR and CSK, on April 5 and April 8. They'll hope the track in Mullanpur plays to their strengths now.

For LSG, they face MI at home on April 4, before travelling to Kolkata to face KKR on April 8.

Rishabh Pant suffers defeat in his first home game for LSG. Nowhere near good enough today, and a lot to think about for them. Form of spearhead bowlers like Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi, as well as his own touch with the bat, will be the biggest concerns.

Punjab Kings have soared up to second spot in the table. They have a healthy net run rate of +1.4 at the moment, only behind RCB. A complete performance with bat and ball today by the visitors. Shreyas Iyer is leading them in a fantastic manner.

Punjab Kings look seriously good in the early stages of IPL 2025. Their captain Shreyas Iyer is in incredible form, and youngsters like Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera have stepped up. Players like Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis haven't even been needed to step up yet! 

Under Ricky Ponting, Punjab Kings finally look like a team that could be a contender this year at last.

Shreyas finishes it off in style! A big maximum over mid-wicket, and victory by 8 wickets. Half-century for Iyer as well, richly-deserved. What a start for Punjab Kings. Back-to-back wins to kick off  IPL 2025!

PBKS 177/2 (16.2) beat LSG 171/7 (20) by 8 wickets

NEHAL WADHERA! What a finish being provided here by the left-hander. Sent up the order, ahead of players like Maxwell and Stoinis, Wadhera has proved that it was a masterstroke. Great knock here. 43 off 25!

PBKS 171/2 (16)

Exceptional batting. Shot of man in the richest of form. Driven through mid-off for a boundary, but the six was special. Pulled hard, handsome over mid-wicket. Sweet sound off the bat. Punjab Kings marching towards victory.

PBKS 155/2 (15)

Nehal Wadhera! 16 runs off Ravi Bishnoi's over. It just hasn't been the leg-spinner's day today. Punjab Kings now need less than a run a ball. Brilliantly executed run chase this. Prabhsimran set the foundation. Iyer and Wadhera have carried it forward.

PBKS 143/2 (14)

Nehal Wadhera to the party! He's taken his time to settle in, and then comes down the track to slam Ravi Bishnoi over long-on for a maximum. Next ball, exquisite! Beautifully hit for 4 through extra cover.

PBKS 137/2 (13.3)

Lucknow Super Giants are coming back into the game! Just 10 runs off the last two overs, and the big wicket of Digvesh Rathi. Nehal Wadhera hasn't got going yet, while Shreyas has hit a slight slump.

PBKS 120/2 (12)

WHAT A CATCH! Prabhsimran Singh is gone! Excellent fielding in the deep. Ayush Badoni with a great effort in the deep to save it from going for a six, throws it back to Ravi Bishnoi who completes the catch. Digvesh Rathi gets a second wicket. Some hope for LSG here.

PBKS 110/2 (10.1)

Shreyas Iyer sends it out of the ground for a maximum now. Pitched short and fast by Shardul, Shreyas comes across and goes for the ball. Took his eyes off it, but the pace carries it all the way over fine leg for 6.

PBKS 108/1 (9.3)

100 UP FOR PBKS! It has come in a flash. Difficult run chase, on a tough track, but Punjab Kings have come out of the blocks in great style. They're cruising at the moment. They need only 72 runs off 65 balls now.

PBKS 100/1 (9.1)

Punjab Kings continue to motor along. Rishabh Pant's tactics are not working, and the visitors are in total control of the run chase at the moment. Prabhsimran Singh is on fire, and he's up to 67 now off just 31 balls.

Pant going back to Shardul now.

PBKS 99/1 (9)

Ravi Bishnoi, it's just not his day today. Prabhsimran Singh picks up two more boundaries, brilliant timing! Punjab Kings are already up to 90. Their required rate has now come down to under 7 runs an over.

PBKS 90/1 (8)

50 for Prabhsimran Singh! Comes off just 23 balls. Incredible knock by the right-hander, who has stepped up in a crucial run chase. Did not do well in the first game, but has taken the lead in this one so far.

PBKS 78/1 (7)

M Siddharth is not having a great first over. Shreyas Iyer slams him over extra cover for a big six. The Punjab Kings captain is in the best form of his life. Prabhsimran's form has allowed him to settle in here.

PBKS 77/1 (6.5)

M Siddharth brought on as the Impact Sub by LSG. Left-arm spinner, replaces David Miller who exits the field of play. Prabhsimran welcomes him with a stunning switch-hit! Pre-meditates it, and times it to perfection. Up to 49!

PBKS 66/1 (6.1)

Punjab Kings have made the ideal start to their run chase, and they have Prabhsimran Singh to thank for it. 45 runs off 20 balls, 5 fours and 3 sixes. PBKS going at over 10 runs an over at the moment, and captain Shreyas Iyer has had time to settle in.

PBKS 62/1 (6)

More boundaries for Prabhsimran! Into the 40s now, the young wicket-keeper batter. Connecting really well today. Playing the field, picks up two boundaries off Ravi Bishnoi's bowling. One over long-on, and then over deep mid-wicket.

And now SIX! Flat! Over extra cover, all the way for a maximum. Great hitting.

PBKS 62/1 (6)

Digvesh Rathi comes back into the attack, and is slammed for two boundaries. One by Prabhsimran, and then Shreyas finishes the over by slapping it through the covers. Great shot. 10 runs off the over.

PBKS 47/1 (5)

The umpire intervened there, giving a warning to Digvesh for that send-off and celebration. Sunil Gavaskar is not happy either. "Do the batters give such a send-off after hitting a boundary?" says the reputed commentator.

Meanwhile, Prabhsimran continues the flow of runs, picks up another six!

PBKS 35/1 (3.3)

Rishabh Pant brings on young spinner Digvesh Rathi in the third over, and the gamble has paid off! Priyansh Arya departs! Very brutal, controversial dig by Digvesh, gives a send-off to Priyansh. Seemed like it was something to do with his paycheck.

PBKS 26/1 (2.5)

Prabhsimran Singh is on a roll. Picks up his second boundary, once again cut through third man. Nearly goes all the way, one bounce into the fence. PBKS off to a quick start here!

PBKS 20/2 (2)

Prabhsimran Singh, beautifully timed. Searching for some runs, that's a good start. Beautiful cover drive, first boundary conceded by Shardul Thakur. "Very satisfying" says Sunil Gavaskar, speaking about the shot.

Next ball, SIX! Upper cut all the way.

PBKS 11/0 (0.5)

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh out to open the batting again for Punjab Kings. Priyansh played a superb knock in the first game. Prabhsimran will be hoping to cash in today, after failing to score big in the first game. Shardul Thakur opening the bowling for LSG.

PBKS 1/0 (0.2)

As we wait for the game to resume, why not check out our podcast? Tune in to 'Knuckleball by NDTV' on YouTube. Our latest episode features MI cult hero Aditya Tare, who relives 'that six', and speaks on Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Jasprit Bumrah, and more!

Full Episode

Focus now on PBKS batters. Priyansh Arya starred in the first game, while Shreyas Iyer was magnificent. They'll hope to play well again to help Punjab Kings chase it down. 

Arshdeep Singh confirms that PBKS will need to bat really well to chase this down, and hinted that it could be close finish.

A terrific final over by Arshdeep. Good total for LSG. They've managed to recover from a disastrous start, thanks to good knocks by Pooran, Badoni and Samad. It is definitely a total that they can fight with on a ground like Ekana. Punjab Kings will fancy their chances, though!

LSG 171/7 (20 overs)

PBKS Target: 172

Arshdeep Singh has bounced back remarkably! Gets Abdul Samad's wicket as well. Switches up his length, goes for the wide yorker. Samad tries to slice it, but gets no timing. Straight to Priyansh Arya standing at short third-man. Poor final over LSG.

LSG 167/7 (19.4)

Ayush Badoni has played a great knock. Came out to bat when LSG were under serious pressure, at 35/3 inside the powerplay. Has held one end right to the end, and delivered a good innings of 41 off 32 balls.

LSG 166/6 (19.2)

Ayush Badoni departs! Arshdeep Singh strikes back with his second wicket of the game. Badoni tries to go for the six, but the Ekana is a big stadium to try and clear. Glenn Maxwell present at long-on, he won't drop catches.

LSG 166/6 (19.2)

Marco Jansen, top stuff in the penultimate over. Nails his yorkers and slower ones. Finishes with figures of 1/28 in 4 overs. Under the radar, great spell by the South African speedster. LSG have one over to try and finish off in style.

LSG 164/5 (19)

20 runs off Arshdeep's over! India's No. 1 wicket-taker in T20Is sent to the cleaners. What a cameo Samad is playing here. 23 runs off just 7 balls. Two overs to go, can LSG get to 180? Badoni is also going well at the other end, and nearing a half-century.

LSG 156/5 (18)

The young Indians are going berserk! First an excellent shot by Badoni, cut away through gully for 4! Two balls later, Samad is tearing it apart! Huge six over mid-wicket, and then reverse scooped for 4! LSG cross 150!

LSG 155/4 (17.5)

Yuzvendra Chahal finishes his spell. 11 runs off the final over, 36 in total. But a much more improved showing today. Did pick up the very crucial wicket of Nicholas Pooran along the way. 

LSG 136/5 (17)

Ayush Badoni to the party! Comes down the track, takes the attack to Yuzi Chahal, gets 6 runs. Handsome shot by the talented batter from Delhi. Need a few more of these shots if LSG want to post a total of 170+.

LSG 133/5 (16.4)

SIX! What a start for Abdul Samad. Slashes it over the deep point region for a maximum. LSG need a big finish here, and the responsibility is on two young Indian batters, Samad and Badoni. Arshdeep still has two overs left, but Chahal will finish his spell first.

LSG 125/5 (16)

GONE! David Miller is out! Half the LSG batters are back into the dugout. Great switch up by Marco Jansen, thick edge by David Miller and caught behind by Prabhsimran. Punjab Kings pick up a vital, vital wicket.

LSG 119/5 (15.5)

David Miller is getting into his groove. Glenn Maxwell is into the attack, and the South African is dishing out the shots. First one timed towards square-leg, the second one through mid-wicket. Superb timing!

LSG 117/4 (15)

FOUR! Cover drive from David Miller, placed and timed to perfection. First boundary for the South African. Exquisitely played. "Why does a cover drive look so gorgeous when a left-hander plays it?" says Sunil Gavaskar on commentary.

LSG 107/4 (13.4)

Ayush Badoni! Second maximum of the day for the diminutive right-hander. Thumped over extra cover, all the way for 6 to end Lockie Ferguson's over. 100 up for LSG in 13 overs. They need a partnership between these two players here.

LSG 101/4 (13)

Yuzvendra Chahal with a masterful over. Concedes just 3 runs and picks up the huge, huge wicket of Nicholas Pooran. LSG were stitching a partnership but that has been cut short. Miller and Badoni now at the crease.

LSG 91/4 (12)

Nicholas Pooran is gone! Yuzvendra Chahal with his first wicket for Punjab Kings! Pooran tries to go big, doesn't get the timing whatsoever. Finds the fielder at long-off, where Glenn Maxwell is as safe as houses.

LSG 89/4 (11.3)

Nicky P enters the 40s! Flat six, brilliantly timed by the left-hander. Pitched short by Stoinis, flick of the wrists and pummelled over the point boundary. And the next one goes for 4 more! Pooran now fully in the groove.

LSG 88/3 (11)

Nicholas Pooran is looking excellent! Slowly turning up the gears. First a brilliant drive through the covers and then whacks it over Chahal's head for another 4. Past 30 now, and nearing another half-century. 

LSG 76/3 (10)

Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack. The leg-spinner was bought for Rs 18 crore in the auction, but did not deliver a wicket in the first game. He will hope to put off-field distractions aside, and get the wicket of Pooran here. 

LSG 61/3 (9)

Nicholas Pooran is batting at run-a-ball! 18 runs off 18 balls. How often do you see the Trinidadian brute not going at a crazy strike rate? Well, the situation demands him to be more cautious, and he has big responsibility on his shoulders here.

LSG 61/3 (9)

Marcus Stoinis is brought into the attack by Shreyas Iyer, and delivers a solid ninth over. Concedes just three runs, as LSG continue to struggle with the run-rate. Remember, Ekana is a bowling-friendly pitch, so a total of 160 would be a good one.

LSG 61/3 (9)

50 up for LSG. It's taken them 7.1 overs to get there. And now Ayush Badoni with a maximum! Pace and bounce offered by Lockie, and Badoni hooks it over fine leg, for a 6! Excellent shot by the right-hander.

LSG 56/3 (7.2)

Nicholas Pooran upping the ante! First a deft one down fine leg, and then brings out the slog sweep to pick up 4 more through mid-wicket. Glenn Maxwell was trusted with a second over, but he concedes 10 runs.

LSG 49/3 (7)

39 runs. That is the lowest powerplay score by any side in IPL 2025. Incredible start by Punjab Kings, who've put the pressure on LSG right from ball 1. Nicholas Pooran is still at the crease for LSG, and he'll need to carry them out of danger.

LSG 39/3 (6)

GONE! Rishabh Pant flops yet again! Pant plays it aerially down the leg side, sends it straight to the fielder standing at square-leg. Guess who? Yuzvendra Chahal, making his first impact in reddish pink. Glenn Maxwell with the wicket!

LSG 35/3 (4.5)

Lockie Ferguson dismantles Aiden Markram's stumps! Knocked over in style by the Kiwi pacer who hits right back. Markram was looking so good, but it's a short one. Rishabh Pant joins Nicholas Pooran at the crease now.

Ferguson had bowled a 157.3 kmph ball in the IPL, for GT in 2022.

LSG 33/2 (4)

Aiden Markram looks in excellent touch! First a boundary straight for 4, then incredible timing for SIX over the off-side. The South African opener looks in great form today. He's rescuing LSG from the early wicket.

LSG 32/1 (3.4)

Aiden Markram once again! Picks up two more boundaries off Arshdeep's second over. Beautiful timing. The first one picked back over the bowler's head, the second one cut beautifully through the off-side.

LSG 19/1 (2.5)

First boundary for LSG! Much-needed. Good shot, played through mid-wicket for 4. Diving effort from Lockie Ferguson at mid-wicket, and he almost got to the ball. But LSG pick up some valuable runs.

LSG 11/1 (2.1)

Clear tactic for Punjab Kings to use Lockie Ferguson against Nicholas Pooran. The Kiwi speedster has dismissed Pooran four times in six meetings. He bowls an excellent first over, gives away just 4 runs.

LSG 7/1 (2)

Excellent start by Arshdeep Singh. Right on the money. That's why he was paid the big bucks in the mega auction. Burden now on Nicholas Pooran, who's had to walk out into the middle in the first over. Lockie Ferguson takes the ball from the other end.

LSG 3/1 (1)

Mitch Marsh is gone! Arshdeep celebrates! What a start for Punjab Kings. Marsh does not pick up the bounce whatsoever, gets a dreadful top edge, sends it high up into the air, and Marco Jansen takes a comfortable catch! 

LSG 1/1 (0.4)

Aiden Markram is off the mark. Takes a single off the third ball of Arshdeep's over with a soft nudge towards the off-side. Now Mitch Marsh on strike. Superb start to the IPL 2025 season, with two half-centuries.

LSG 1/0 (0.3)

The players are out on the field. Mitch Marsh and Aiden Markram opening the batting for LSG, as expected. Looks like Markram will take strike for the first ball. Arshdeep Singh will open the bowling for PBKS, no surprises there.

We are moments away from the start of the encounter between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. LSG to bat first today. All eyes on brutes like Marsh and Pooran, while Rishabh Pant will be hoping to return to form in LSG's first home match of the season.

Punjab Kings have brought in Lockie Ferguson, who boasts a superb record against Nicholas Pooran! In their last six meetings, Ferguson has dismissed Pooran 4 times. A clear gameplan here from PBKS to deal with LSG's marauding batter.

There have been calls for Rishabh Pant to open the batting to come back in form, but it does not seem like that will happen. Mitch Marsh and Aiden Markram are expected to open, with Pooran at 3 and Pant at 4.

Lucknow Super Giants XI vs PBKS: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Singh.

No changes for LSG.

Punjab Kings Playing XI vs LSG: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson replaces Omarzai in the XI. Expect Nehal Wadhera to come on as a batter later on.

Shreyas Iyer wins the toss and elects to bowl vs LSG! Talks about the red soil and the due factor, and also confirms that Lockie Ferguson has come into the PBKS XI. Lockie's fastest-ever IPL delivery is 157.3 kmph!

No change made by LSG for the match against Punjab Kings. After their first victory, LSG are choosing to continue with the winning combination!

Former England spinner Graeme Swann is doing the pitch report. He says that the Ekana pitch, contrary to previous years, might be a 'glorious pitch to bat on'! Interesting observation. Expect the toss-winning captain to bowl first though.

Looks like we're set to see a change in the Punjab Kings lineup. Lockie Ferguson has just received his cap from Shreyas Iyer, which means that he'll play. But who does he replace? Omarzai or Jansen are the likely candidates to face the cut.

The Ekana Stadium is one of the few places in the IPL that may assist the bowlers more than it helps the batters. It is a pretty spin-friendly area, while clever pacers can also get a lot of assistance. Win the toss, bowl first - seems to be the likely choice.

We are just 10 minutes away from toss time! A lot of hype surrounding this match, as the two most expensive players in IPL history square off. Rs 27 crore Rishabh Pant vs Rs 26.7 crore Shreyas Iyer!

Here is the probable XII for PBKS today vs LSG:

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak.

Here is the probable XII for LSG today vs PBKS:

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Singh.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been in the news for off-field reasons in recent months, following his high-profile divorce with ex-wife Dhanashree Verma. However, on the field, he has a big responsibility with PBKS. Bought for Rs 18 crore, Chahal went wicketless in the first game and did not even complete his quota, conceding 34 runs in 3 overs.

It will be the return to LSG for Punjab Kings stars Marcus Stoinis and Yash Thakur. Stoinis, in particular, was a key part of LSG in their first three years, and is still the third-highest run-scorer for the franchise after KL Rahul and Pooran.

In fact, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had said that he would've RTM'd Stoinis in the auction if his price had stayed below Rs 10 cr (PBKS bought him for Rs 11 cr).

Shifting our focus from LSG openers to PBKS openers, let's talk about Priyansh Arya! Rs 3.8 crore, first IPL gig, thrown in against GT and a swashbuckling 47 on debut! Earned praise from Ricky Ponting as well. One to watch today, for sure.

Mitchell Marsh has been brilliant in the first two games. There were doubts surrounding him ahead of IPL 2025, given his injuries and recent forms. But Marsh has silenced the doubters, smashed two half-centuries and been LSG's go-to man at the top.

Nicholas Pooran is the current orange cap holder, and wow, has he been impressive. Retained by LSG for Rs 21 crore, the West Indian is proving to be worth every penny. 145 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 258 in the first couple of games. 

PBKS need to get his wicket early to stand a chance today.

While Avesh Khan is back, LSG are still missing three frontline Indian seamers due to injury. Mohsin Khan has already been ruled out of IPL 2025. Akash Deep is still nursing a niggle, while Mayank Yadav is not fit to bowl yet.

The three combined cost LSG Rs 25 crore!

A month ago, Shardul Thakur did not have a contract for IPL 2025. The 33-year-old had gone unsold in the mega auction. But LSG remarkably saw all four of their Indian seamers - worth a combined Rs 34.75 crore - get injured at the same time. Then Shardul got the ring from Zaheer Khan! 

2 games, 6 wickets, a 'Player of the Match'. Rejuvenated and leading the bowling attack of an IPL side.

Both LSG and PBKS have got their first wins on board, and find themselves in the top half of the league table. LSG are currently third, with a +0.9 NRR, while Punjab Kings are fifth, with a +0.5 NRR. 

Shreyas Iyer seems to be in the form of his life. The reigning IPL-winning captain. The reigning Syed Mushtaq Ali-winning captain. India's top run-scorer in the Champions Trophy 2025. Rs 26.75 cr IPL contract. And a stunning 97* to begin the season!

Both franchises already have their first wins of the season under their belt. PBKS got off to a winning start, and have only played one game so far, beating Gujarat Titans. Shreyas Iyer smashed 97 as they piled up 243 in that game.

LSG started off with a heartbreaking loss, but then bounced back by sweeping aside last year's runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad in their backyard. 

Rishabh Pant. Rs 27 crore. But it's not been the best start for him with the bat. Duck in Game 1. Only 15 runs in Game 2. Can he finally step up and make a big score for his new franchise? It would be the perfect gift to the LSG fans in their first home game of the season.

It is a battle of the two most expensive players in IPL auction history. Rs 27 crore Rishabh Pant leads Lucknow Super Giants; Rs 26.75 crore Shreyas Iyer is the captain of Punjab Kings. Both are rising stalwarts of Indian cricket, and this match is expected to be a great one!

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings match. It is the first IPL 2025 game at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, between two teams who've both won their previous matches!