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Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer exchanges a handshake with Lucknow Super Giants’ Manimaran Siddharth after their Indian Premier League 2025 match, at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1, 2025
| Photo Credit: ANI

Opener Prabhsimran Singh followed up a disciplined performance from Punjab Kings bowlers with a blazing fifty to help his team outclass Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in an IPL 2025 match at the Ekana Stadium here on Tuesday (April 1, 2025).

Prabhsimran’s early blitz ensured a comfortable win for Kings as they scaled LSG’s 172-run target inside 17 overs.

The wicketkeeper-batter kicked things off by taking down LSG’s pacers. While Shardul Thakur was driven through cover and slashed over point, Avesh Khan was dispatched over extra cover with a shot mirroring a tennis forehand.

Prabhsimran fared even better against the LSG spinners, employing a battery of sweeps, reverse sweeps and scoops to garner boundaries.

The 24-year-old reached his fifty off the 23rd ball and was threatening to wipe off the chase on his own before he was caught at the fence following an acrobatic relay catch involving Ayush Badoni and Ravi Bishnoi.

Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer marshalled the chase from thereon as he ticked off his second consecutive fifty.

With Impact Player Nehal Wadhera for company, Shreyas secured his side’s second win in as many games.

Earlier, Shreyas’ choice to put LSG in was validated by his bowlers led by pacer Arshdeep Singh (three for 43). The home team lost Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Rishabh Pant in the PowerPlay as the Kings attack clicked in unison.

With his top-order colleagues departing early, Orange Cap-holder Nicholas Pooran decided to bide his time. He eventually rose from his slumber by taking on the spinners. Pooran carved Yuzvendra Chahal for a couple of boundaries through the off-side before lofting him down the ground for a six.

But, with a third consecutive fifty on the horizon, Pooran was snared by Chahal, who baited the left-hander with a wide googly. The resultant miscue was pouched by Glenn Maxwell at long-on, silencing a boisterous home crowd.

LSG enjoyed a mini-recovery through a 47-run, sixth-wicket partnership between Badoni and Abdul Samad, which dragged the side past 170. But it proved insufficient in the face of Prabhsimran’s onslaught.

NEW DELHI: If left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh set the stage with the ball, it was Prabhsimran Singh who stole the show with the bat as Punjab Kings dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with a dominant eight-wicket win in their IPL 2025 clash on Tuesday.
Prabhsimran played a breathtaking knock of 69 off just 34 balls, smashing the LSG bowlers all over the park. His blistering innings, laced with nine fours and three sixes, ensured Punjab chased down the 172-run target with ease.
On a pitch offering grip and variable bounce, Punjab Kings maintained their aggressive approach. Despite losing Priyansh Arya (8) early, Prabhsimran launched a fierce attack, propelling Punjab to a rapid start. His explosive hitting put LSG on the back foot, allowing captain Shreyas Iyer (52* off 30) and Nehal Wadhera (43* off 25) to cruise to victory in just 16.2 overs.
Punjab Kings’ bowlers had earlier put up a collective effort to restrict LSG to 171/7 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh (3/43) led the charge, dismissing Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck in the first over and later accounting for Abdul Samad (27 off 12) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33). Lockie Ferguson (1/26), Marco Jansen (1/28), Glenn Maxwell (1/22), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/36) also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.

LSG’s innings lacked momentum, with Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30) being the only batter to provide resistance. Skipper Rishabh Pant’s struggles continued as he managed just 2 runs before falling to Maxwell. David Miller (19 off 18) and Samad tried to push the scoring rate, but Punjab’s disciplined bowling kept them in check.
Digvesh Rathi (2/30) was the lone bright spot in LSG’s bowling attack, but he couldn’t stop Punjab’s aggressive chase. Iyer and Wadhera ensured there were no further setbacks, finishing off the chase comfortably.
Punjab Kings will next face Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer in action for PBKS vs LSG© BCCI/IPL

RCB’s Virat Kohli, during the training session ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru on April 01, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K.

On paper in the lead-up to IPL-18, and on the field during the opening two matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has given the impression of a champion outfit.

On display was its considerable batting might, power-hitting ability and shrewd bowling skills as it recorded two fantastic victories over defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders and bogey side Chennai Super Kings.

Wednesday (April 1, 2025) will be RCB’s first opportunity to showcase its new, confident self to the Garden City faithful when it welcomes Gujarat Titans to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

What should give RCB confidence is that Phil Salt up top, skipper Rajat Patidar in the middle, and Liam Livingstone and Tim David lower down have displayed serious batting muscle that can potentially take advantage of the small boundaries.

The bowling, led by Josh Hazlewood, seems ready for the arduous task of defending totals at the Chinnaswamy, which otherwise is a graveyard for bowlers.

Titans, however, will offer a good test. Though the Shubman Gill-led side lost the opener to Punjab Kings, it made a good fist of the 244-run chase, eventually reaching 232. In contrast to the previous season, there is a genuine urgency in run-making.

Then, in the 36-run victory over Mumbai Indians, Titans’ bowling nous came to the fore, with speedster Prasidh Krishna leading the way, and ably supported by the wily Rashid Khan and Mohammed Siraj.

There is also the thinking Sai Kishore and the old warhorse Ishant Sharma to round off a capable bowling unit. Will they be able to crash RCB’s early momentum?

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss on Tuesday and opted to field against Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Iyer included New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson in the playing XI, handing him his debut cap for Punjab Kings.
“We are going to bowl first. It’s a new ground, new pitch, dew could be a factor as well, and with this being a red-soil pitch, we want to chase. The players have the freedom to express themselves. You have to play the situation; the important goal is to win. We try to keep things simple. We don’t know how the pitch is going to play, but we have to adjust quickly. Lockie comes into the team,” Iyer said.
Also See: LSG vs PBKS Live Score
Known for his express pace, Ferguson had clocked a blistering 157.3 kmph during an IPL 2022 match against Rajasthan Royals.
Pant, meanwhile, retained the same XI for the match against Punjab Kings.
“We wanted to bowl first, but there are things that are not under our control, so happy to bat first. There are a lot of people who have come to support us, and we are definitely going to give our best. No changes for us,” Pant said.

Head-to-Head Record: LSG 3 – 1 PBKS
When these teams met in Lucknow last season, which was also LSG’s first home game, the hosts secured a 21-run victory.
Playing XIs:
Lucknow Super Giants:
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is targeting a “game-changing” return to the Champions League after the club ended their painful 56-year trophy drought. Around 300,000 fans turned out in Newcastle at the weekend to celebrate last month’s victory in the League Cup final against Liverpool. But the focus has already turned to Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at St James’ Park and the race for the top four. Sixth-placed Newcastle, who played in the Champions League last season for the first time in two decades, are in a scrap with a big group of clubs.

Bournemouth, in 10th place, are just three points behind the Magpies, who have a game in hand over their rivals.

A strong season by English sides in European competitions means it is almost certain that a top-five finish will secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

“It could be game-changing in terms of revenue and also in terms of what it means and the competition, and then of course the changes that you have to make to be ready for Champions League football,” Howe said on Tuesday.

“That changes everything — as we found last year to our cost to some degree with the extra games — so there’s a lot to think about.”

But the Englishman said the run-in would be tough.

“It’s one of the tightest Premier Leagues that we’ve seen in recent times, very little between the teams competing for those places, so it’s going to come down to who is the most consistent,” he said.

Newcastle beat runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley but Howe said consistency was a problem, with three defeats in their past five home games in all competitions.

“That is the big question: Can we be that team that we were against Liverpool? You can’t be there every game, but you can still reach a standard and win the game. That is what we have got to try to do,” he said.

“We have done it — we played West Ham before the final, didn’t play great, but won the game through defensive steel, really.

“We have to find ways to win games when we are not at our best.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

MI bowler Ashwani Kumar celebrates the wicket of KKR batter Rinku Singh during the IPL 2025 cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Mumbai, Monday, March 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Mumbai Indians’ unheralded fast bowler Ashwani Kumar, who became the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut, is a “lot quicker than people recognise at first”, says his teammate Ryan Rickelton.

The left-arm Punjab seamer took 4/24 on Monday (March 31, 2025) to blow away Kolkata Knight Riders as Mumbai Indians recorded an eight-wicket win which took them to the sixth spot in the points table.

“He’s a lot quicker than I think people recognise at first, that’s a great attribute he has and he can swing the new ball,” Rickelton told the media after the match here at the Wankhede Stadium.

“He’s a lot quicker than you think and he rushes you a little bit lower as well. He’s a great addition obviously to the group and the wicket can suit him.” “Looking forward to seeing if he gets an opportunity with the new ball to see that other set of skills come through. He’s a nice find for MI and really looking forward to seeing how he goes,” he added.

Rickelton said the Punjab seamer, who had only played four senior T20 matches, four List A matches and two Ranji Trophy games before his IPL debut, executed his plans really well.

“I’ve played a few warm-up games with him, keeping (the wickets) to him and batting against him in the nets. He’s a really nice bowler. He can swing the new ball and he executed his plan really, really well,” he said.

“The group’s really happy for him. But yeah, it’s cool that he got an opportunity. The group’s really chuffed that he managed to get out of the match performance,” he added.

KKR’s Ramandeep Singh, who is also from Punjab and trains in the same academy as Ashwani, termed him as a “talented cricketer”.

“Ashwani is a very talented cricketer, he is from Punjab. This IPL is known for the fact that youngsters come and perform here and you can see their talent,” he said.

Rickelton, meanwhile, said getting his maiden half-century was a massive relief. The left-handed South African wicketkeeper-batter hit 62 not out off 41 balls with five sixes and four fours.

“Obviously a massive relief, in all honesty. The first two games were on tricky (and) on some tough wickets. But to get out here in Mumbai and have Spencer (Johnson) turn me inside out was quite a tough battle to get through,” he said.

“But once I managed to get through that, it’s just really pleasing to get a score. But more relief than anything and to get two points on the board is great for the team.” Rickelton said having joined the MI camp before — he played for MI Cape Town in the SA20 competition — gave him a good experience.

“It’s been a nice intro. It’s not just coming in blind. It’s been an easier transition, but the IPL is a different beast in its own. To mentally work my head around that is a bit of a different one for me and I’m trying to just adapt to the group and luckily I’ve got a few familiar faces around as well. It makes the transition a bit easier,” he said.

Talking further about the pressure in IPL, the South African player said it is entirely different.

“Naturally, there’s just a lot more pressure. The standard is incredibly high and the conditions are all changing,” he said.

“A year ago, turn on the television and teams are getting 260 and you think it’s a free for all. But you come here and it’s actually not that easy; different grounds have their unique characteristics, so the pressure factor internally is big, but externally is huge.” “You’re playing with some of the world’s best players, not just in this team, but obviously around the country. That extra pressure is there and it’s hard, I’m not going to lie, it’s hard.

“Just trying to find my way through that and try to adjust my game in order to give me the best chance of being successful for the team,” he added.

India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to continue their A+ grade BCCI central contract list for 2025-26, while Shreyas Iyer is expected to return to the list after being dropped on the previous occasion due to reportedly missing domestic cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to retain Virat and Rohit in the A contract, which will see them earn Rs 7 crore despite the duo’s retirement from the T20I format. Rohit and Virat had their last dance in the format after ending India’s ICC trophy drought by lifting the T20 World Cup last year in Barbados.

“Rohit and Virat will continue their A+ grade central contract (7 crore) even after retiring from T20I format. They are big players and will be accorded the respect they deserve. Shreyas Iyer is all set to be back in central contract,” BCCI sources said.

Rohit, a modern-day icon in the white-ball cricket, has lost his charm and purple patch across all formats. After bringing the curtain down on his T20I career on a memorable note, the seasoned opener’s bat has resorted to silence.

During India’s historic 3-0 home series whitewash against New Zealand, the fiery opener, who has lost his flamboyance, contributed just 91 runs across three Test matches, averaging 15.17.

Even before the series loss against the Kiwis, when India faced Bangladesh, the dynamic opener amassed a mere 42 runs in two Test matches while averaging just 10.50.

After a forgettable run at home, Rohit’s performance sparked criticism after his shambolic display in Tests in Australia. In five innings during the series, Rohit had only 31 runs to show at an abysmal average of 6.20.

Meanwhile, Virat, who could just make 190 runs in 10 innings during the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was among players who came under scrutiny after the 1-3 series loss to Australia.

Virat ended the last year with just 655 international runs in 23 matches and 32 innings, averaging 21.83, with a century and two fifties to his name. His best score was 100*.

On the other hand, Shreyas, along with Ishan Kishan, were dropped from the BCCI’s central contract list after reportedly missing domestic cricket despite being available. Since then, Shreyas has put in the hard yards in India’s domestic circuit and exhibited a scorching form.

In his last Ranji Trophy campaign, Shreyas garnered 480 runs from five matches for Mumbai, averaging 68.57 while striking at a healthy rate of 90.22.

With 345 runs in his kitty from nine matches, Shreyas was the fourth-highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He exhibited his rich vein of form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, boasting 325 runs in five games at a staggering average of 325.00.

He was a part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning run in February and ended the tournament as the nation’s leading run-scorer with 243 runs from five matches.

Mumbai Indians bowler Ashwani Kumar during the IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on March 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Mumbai Indians’ (MI) latest sensation, Ashwani Kumar, made a dream debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL), delivering a match-winning performance against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The young seamer from Jhanjheri, Mohali, was the star with the ball, picking up 4/24 in his three-over spell and playing a crucial role in restricting KKR to 116.

After being named Player of the Match for his stunning debut performance, an emotional Ashwani said, “It is a big thing for me that I got this opportunity and that I am getting this award. Never thought about this, just did my process and happy (to get this award). I am from Jhanjheri in Mohali district – to come from there to here, that is the result of my hard work and by god’s grace, I am here,” as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

Ashwani’s impact was felt early as he claimed his maiden IPL wicket by dismissing KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane for 11. Gaining confidence with each delivery, he then sent back the dangerous Rinku Singh (17). After that, he cleaned up Manish Pandey (19) and all-rounder Andre Russell (5) to complete a stunning spell. Despite his impressive performance, the young pacer admitted to feeling a mix of emotions before stepping onto the field.

“I was confident, but I was a little nervous as well, thinking about what will happen,” he shared. Ashwani also had a special message for his supporters back home, expressing gratitude and determination to continue performing at the highest level.”I want to make all of you feel proud in the upcoming games,” he said. With a debut to remember, Ashwani Kumar has announced himself on the big stage.

Had banana, says Ashwani

“I didn’t have anything for lunch, I just had a banana. There was a little pressure. I wasn’t feeling hungry,” said Kumar.

“But still, I played well, so it’s good.

“(Captain) Hardik Pandya said that since it’s your debut match, enjoy yourself. Just keep bowling the way you have been,” he added.

Pandya said the credit for his bowler’s impressive debut should go to the extensive Mumbai scouting network.

“We thought Ashwani can come in on this pitch and bowl the way he bowled. It is all the scouts – they picked him,” said Pandya.

“They have gone to all the places and picked these young kids. We played a practice game, he had that zip, that late swing, something off the wicket, a different action and he was a leftie.”

(With inputs from AFP)