Dharamsala, May 3 (UNI) Punjab Kings' explosive opening duo, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, who have piled up close to 700 runs between them this season, will aim to extend their scintillating run and take a giant stride towards the IPL 2025 playoffs when they meet a struggling Lucknow Super Giants side in Match 54 at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday.
Riding high on a four-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings, Punjab enter the contest with momentum and form firmly on their side.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer has marshalled his troops with composure, and the team’s batting depth—featuring Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and keeper Josh Inglis, makes them one of the most complete sides in the tournament.
On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen have struck early blows consistently, while Yuzvendra Chahal’s guile in the middle overs continues to be a major asset. His four-wicket haul against CSK was crucial in turning the game. Allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar and Suryansh Shedge further bolster Punjab's arsenal.
In stark contrast, Lucknow, led by Rishabh Pant, are battling both form and pressure, sitting sixth on the points table after losing three of their last four games. A 54-run drubbing by Mumbai Indians has left them teetering on the brink, with Sunday's match effectively a must-win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Lucknow's batting has lacked cohesion, with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh struggling to provide a steady start. Nicholas Pooran's bursts of brilliance at No. 3 have been offset by Pant’s lean patch, while David Miller and Abdul Samad have lacked the platform to finish strong.
Their bowlers too have been erratic—Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, and Avesh Khan leaking runs in key phases. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi remains their most dependable weapon, with Markram and Digvesh Singh Rathi offering part-time support.
The scenic HPCA Stadium is expected to favour seamers early on but traditionally flattens out for batting as the game progresses. With five of the last six matches here won by teams batting first, the toss could prove vital in determining the course of the game.
Punjab, who beat Lucknow by eight wickets earlier this season, hold a narrow edge in the head-to-head record. With red-hot form, better balance, and in-form match-winners, they start as favourites, though Lucknow will be desperate to script a turnaround and stay in the hunt.
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