Shreyas Iyer won the toss and, with dew expected on a true batting surface at the Ekana, chose to bowl. Rishabh Pant admitted he would have done the same. The decision paid off immediately. Azmatullah Omarzai, bowling the first over of the match, produced a back‑of‑a‑length delivery outside off that Arshin Kulkarni — playing his first game of the season — edged to the keeper for a golden duck. LSG: 0 for 1. Two overs later, Marco Jansen cramped Nicholas Pooran with a short‑of‑a‑length delivery that the left‑hander pulled onto his own stumps for 2. LSG were 20 for 2 in the third over.

Then Ayush Badoni counter‑attacked. The young right‑hander produced a blistering 43 off 18 balls — five fours, three sixes, strike rate 238.88 — including a 24‑run demolition of one over that briefly shifted the momentum back to LSG. But Yuzvendra Chahal — who had leaked runs in previous games — produced the breakthrough when it mattered most. He first stumped Badoni with a slider that beat the batter’s attempted heave, then removed Rishabh Pant for a scratchy 26 off 22 balls, caught in the deep by Marco Jansen. “Chahal got a crucial wicket of Pant; he showed his character after leaking runs in the previous game,” Iyer said.

Josh Inglis held the innings together with a composed yet aggressive 72 off 44 balls — nine fours, two sixes — his third half‑century in five games since replacing the unavailable Mitchell Marsh. Abdul Samad provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls, including three fours and three sixes, pushing LSG to 196 for 6. But on a surface that was playing true and with the dew arriving, the total felt 15–20 runs short of par. Marco Jansen (2/33) and Chahal (2/25) were the standout bowlers. Arshdeep Singh had a rare off‑night, conceding 52 runs in three wicketless overs.

Chasing 197 on a surface that was playing true under lights, PBKS needed a strong start. What they got was the opposite. Mohammed Shami — returning to action after being rested — removed Priyansh Arya for a golden duck with a delivery that seamed away and took the edge through to the keeper. Two overs later, Shami bowled Cooper Connolly for 18, the Australian dragging a fuller delivery onto his stumps. At 22 for 2 in the third over, with six consecutive defeats weighing on the dugout, PBKS were wobbling.

Then Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh came together and simply refused to let the innings end. The pair added 140 runs in 76 balls — PBKS’ fifth‑highest partnership in tournament history — a stand that transformed a precarious chase into a procession. Prabhsimran was the aggressor early on. His 69 off 39 balls — seven fours, two sixes, strike rate 176.92 — was his sixth half‑century of IPL 2026, and it ensured PBKS stayed ahead of the required rate during the middle phase. By the end of the powerplay, PBKS were 65 for 2 — perfectly positioned.

Prabhsimran fell in the 15th over, trapped lbw by Arjun Tendulkar’s clever slower‑ball yorker. But the wicket only unleashed Iyer. The PBKS captain, who had reached fifty off 33 balls, shifted gears with devastating effect. In the 16th over, he launched Mohammed Shami for three towering sixes — a 20‑run assault that pushed him into the 90s. He scored his final 51 runs off just 18 deliveries. Fittingly, the match ended with Iyer launching a slower ball from Mohsin Khan over cow corner for six — his fifth maximum, his 11th four, his 101st run, his first IPL century, and PBKS’ seventh victory of the season, all in one swing of the bat.

“I know if I give myself time in the middle and time the ball, rather than getting on top of the ball… I know I need to stay out there for as long as possible,” Iyer said. “Ecstatic, first hundred of the season, we won eventually after six consecutive losses. Support MI tomorrow.”

1. Omarzai’s First‑Ball Wicket (LSG 0/1, 0.1 ov): Azmatullah Omarzai’s very first delivery — a back‑of‑a‑length ball outside off that Arshin Kulkarni edged to the keeper for a golden duck. LSG were 0 for 1 after one ball, setting the tone for a stuttering innings.

2. Badoni’s 24‑Run Over (LSG 54/2 → 69/3, 6.4 ov): Ayush Badoni counter‑attacked with a blistering 43 off 18 balls, including a 24‑run over that shifted momentum back to LSG. But Chahal then stumped him with a slider — the breakthrough that stopped LSG’s charge.

3. Chahal Removes Pant (LSG 134/4, 13.5 ov): Yuzvendra Chahal — who had leaked runs in previous games — produced a slider that Rishabh Pant (26) skied to deep midwicket. “Chahal got a crucial wicket of Pant; he showed his character after leaking runs in the previous game,” Iyer said.

4. Shami’s Double Strike (PBKS 4/1, 22/2): Mohammed Shami removed Priyansh Arya for a golden duck and bowled Cooper Connolly for 18. PBKS were 22 for 2. The six‑match losing streak was flashing before their eyes.

5. The Iyer‑Prabhsimran 140‑Run Stand (PBKS 22/2 → 162/3): The partnership that won the match. 140 runs in 76 balls — PBKS’ fifth‑highest ever. Prabhsimran’s 69 off 39 provided the platform. Iyer’s 101* provided the finish.

6. Iyer’s 16th Over — Three Sixes Off Shami (PBKS Chase): With 51 needed from 30 balls, Iyer launched three sixes in a 20‑run assault off Mohammed Shami. The over reduced the equation to a formality and pushed Iyer into the 90s.

7. The Century‑Sealing Six (PBKS 200/3, 18 ov): Needing six for his century and six for the win, Iyer launched a slower ball from Mohsin Khan over cow corner for six — his maiden IPL hundred, the victory, and the end of a six‑match losing streak, all in one swing.

Three teams have qualified. Four are eliminated. That leaves three teams — PBKS, RR, and KKR — fighting for one remaining playoff berth on Sunday, May 24. PBKS have completed their league stage. They now wait.