With the IPL 2025 playoff race heating up, Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to make the most of a crucial home advantage as they gear up for their next three matches at their second home, Dharamsala. Currently placed fourth, PBKS face off against sixth-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday in a match that could prove decisive for both teams’ playoff ambitions.
Coming off a hard-fought win in hot and humid Chennai, a visibly drained Shreyas Iyer led his team into cooler conditions in Dharamsala — where PBKS also held their pre-season camp. Coach Ricky Ponting had emphasized the importance of familiarizing with the ground early, and now, three games at the venue present a golden opportunity. Winning all three could even put PBKS in contention for a top-two finish.
PBKS’ Indian top order, led by Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and captain Shreyas Iyer, has carried the team’s batting. However, their fragile middle order remains a concern — it has the second-lowest strike rate in the tournament — and they’ve rotated five players at No. 4 across ten games so far.
LSG face a similar issue but have relied heavily on their overseas batters. Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran have contributed nearly 63% of the team’s total runs this season. Captain Rishabh Pant, who dropped as low as No. 7 against Delhi Capitals, has moved back up to No. 4, but continues to struggle with form.
Though not yet out of contention, LSG are in a delicate position, having lost three of their last four games. Pooran’s dip in form has coincided with this slump. The team will hope to turn things around after a six-day break, with some players arriving in Dharamsala early for preparation.
Ponting hinted at potential changes to the PBKS XI depending on pitch conditions. If the surface offers swing, they may bring in new-ball specialist Xavier Bartlett, who could replace Suryansh Shedge after a poor outing in Chennai.
Yuzvendra Chahal will be a key figure for PBKS. After a slow start to the season, he has been sensational in recent games — taking 11 wickets in his last four outings at a tidy economy rate. Against CSK, he claimed a hat-trick and four wickets in total, stalling their charge to a 200-plus score. His record against Pant and Pooran — both with modest strike rates against him — could again prove decisive.
Pooran, despite a quiet run of late, remains LSG’s most dangerous batter against spin, striking at a phenomenal 264 this season. But he has been dismissed by fast bowlers in his last four innings — a trend PBKS could look to exploit.
Team News and Probable XIs:
With Glenn Maxwell ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to injury, PBKS played only three overseas players against CSK, bringing in the uncapped Suryansh Shedge. However, his performance with both bat and ball left much to be desired. If swing is on offer, Bartlett may come back into the XI.
PBKS (probable XII):
- Priyansh Arya
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Marco Jansen
- Suryansh Shedge
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Harpreet Brar / Xavier Bartlett
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh
LSG, meanwhile, welcomed back speedster Mayank Yadav in their last game against MI. Returning from injury, he bowled eight slower deliveries — the most in a T20 match for him — and finished with 2 for 40. With a week’s rest, LSG are expected to retain him, with an eye on workload management.
LSG (probable XII):
- Aiden Markram
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (capt & wk)
- Ayush Badoni
- David Miller
- Abdul Samad
- Mayank Yadav
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Digvesh Rathi
- Avesh Khan
- Prince Yadav
With the margins narrowing and points becoming priceless, Sunday’s clash in the serene hills of Dharamsala could shape the playoff fate of both these teams.
