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Nine 200-plus totals conceded and six consecutive losses person near Punjab Kings (PBKS) facing a analyzable qualification script successful the ongoing Indian Premier League season.
Gearing up for a do-or-die fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants astatine the Ekana Stadium present connected Saturday (May 23, 2026), PBKS caput manager Ricky Ponting rued the team’s inability to present successful crunch moments.
“Yes, we’ve mislaid six games successful a row. But determination person been precise fewer games wherever we’ve been outplayed. We got into winning positions successful astir but haven’t been capable to adjacent them out,” helium said.
PBKS caput manager Ricky Ponting during the property league up of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket lucifer against Lucknow Super Giants astatine the Ekana Stadium successful Lucknow connected May 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
A cardinal origin successful the team’s diminution has been Arshdeep Singh’s dip successful signifier compared to past season. However, Ponting defended his frontline pacer, noting that the shortest format has shifted drastically successful favour of batters.
“In the past 3 games, Arshdeep has been getting backmost to his best,” Ponting said. “He didn’t prime up wickets successful the archetypal 3 games, but since then, he’s been beauteous consistent.”
Ponting emphasised the high-scoring quality of the tourney to contextualise the bowling struggles. “We person conceded 9 200-plus totals, but we’ve made 200s 8 times. The IPL has go a overmuch higher-scoring tournament, and bowlers’ figures bespeak that. I’ve been highly blessed with however Arshdeep has bowled.”
Come Saturday, PBKS volition anticipation Arshdeep and the bowling onslaught tin yet flip the publication and present crucial, match-defining breakthroughs with the team’s playoffs qualification connected the line.
Lance Klusener adjunct manager of LSG during a property league up of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket lucifer against Punjab Kings astatine the Ekana Stadium successful Lucknow connected May 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
On the different hand, an already eliminated LSG comes into the crippled with thing to lose. It already played a portion successful Chennai Super Kings’ exit and volition look to bash the aforesaid against the visitor.
“We haven’t recovered the perfect winning look this play truthful far. So, hopefully moving into tomorrow, we tin bash that, and we tin enactment connected 1 last bully amusement for our fans astatine home,” said LSG adjunct manager Lance Klusener.
