Key Points
- Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 37 runs, climbing to second place in the IPL 2025 points table with 15 points from 11 matches.
- Kolkata Knight Riders edged Rajasthan Royals by just 1 run in a nail-biting finish at Eden Gardens, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
- Mumbai Indians, despite a strong net run rate, dropped to third place after Punjab’s win, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain on top.
- Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive 91 (48 balls) powered Punjab to 236/5, while Arshdeep Singh’s 3/16 sealed the win as LSG managed only 199/7.
- Lucknow Super Giants’ playoff hopes now hang by a thread; they must win all remaining matches and hope for favorable results from other teams.
- The playoff race remains wide open with RCB, PBKS, MI, GT, DC, and KKR all in contention.
New Delhi: At the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, Punjab Kings (PBKS) delivered a commanding performance to defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 37 runs. Sent in to bat, PBKS piled up a daunting 236/5, thanks to a blistering 91 off 48 balls from Prabhsimran Singh, who smashed 11 fours and 5 sixes. Skipper Shreyas Iyer contributed a vital 45, while Shashank Singh (33) and Marcus Stoinis (15) added late fireworks.
LSG’s chase faltered early, with Arshdeep Singh dismantling the top order in a fiery powerplay spell (3/16). Despite a valiant 74 off 40 balls from Ayush Badoni, LSG could only muster 199/7, suffering their sixth defeat in 11 matches.
This emphatic win propelled Punjab Kings to second place on the points table with 15 points from 11 games (7 wins, 3 losses, 1 no result), trailing only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who lead with 16 points from 11 matches. Mumbai Indians (MI), despite a superior net run rate (+1.274), slipped to third after Punjab’s leap.
KKR Clinch Last-Ball Thriller Against Rajasthan Royals
Earlier in the day, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) edged Rajasthan Royals (RR) by a single run in a heart-stopping contest at Eden Gardens. Batting first, KKR posted 206/4, powered by Andre Russell’s unbeaten 57 off 25 balls and solid contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ajinkya Rahane. Rajasthan’s reply was anchored by captain Riyan Parag’s sensational 95 off 45 balls, but late wickets from Harshit Rana and disciplined death bowling saw RR fall agonizingly short at 205/8.
The win lifted KKR to sixth place, keeping their playoff hopes alive with 11 points from 11 matches.
Updated IPL 2025 Points Table (After May 4 Double-Header)
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 16 | +0.482 |
| 2 | Punjab Kings | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 15 | +0.376 |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 14 | +1.274 |
| 4 | Gujarat Titans | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | +0.867 |
| 5 | Delhi Capitals | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 12 | +0.362 |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 11 | +0.249 |
| 7 | Lucknow Super Giants | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 10 | -0.469 |
| 8 | Rajasthan Royals | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | -0.718 |
| 9 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -1.192 |
| 10 | Chennai Super Kings | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4 | -1.117 |
Playoff Scenarios: Can Lucknow Still Qualify?
Lucknow Super Giants’ playoff chances are now slim but not impossible. To reach the top four, LSG must:
- Win all their remaining three matches to reach 16 points.
- Rely on at least two of the current top four teams (RCB, PBKS, MI, GT) to lose enough games for LSG to leapfrog them on points or net run rate.
- Hope Delhi Capitals and KKR do not overtake them in the final stretch.
Given the current form of the leading teams, LSG’s path is steep, but as IPL history shows, surprises are always possible.
What Lies Ahead
With just a handful of league matches left, every result is crucial. The battle for playoff spots is tighter than ever, with RCB, PBKS, MI, GT, DC, and KKR all still in contention. Punjab Kings’ dominant win and KKR’s last-ball thriller have set the stage for a dramatic finish to IPL 2025’s league phase.
