The Punjab Kings and the Lucknow Super Giants will square off in Match 38 of the IPL 2023. The match is scheduled for April 28 at the IS Bindra PCA Cricket Stadium in Mohali, Punjab. PBKS is presently sixth on the table with four wins in seven games, whereas LSG is fourth with four victories but a better net run rate.
After losing to Punjab Kings at home, Lucknow Super Giants will face Shikhar Dhawan's team in the rematch on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali in Match No. 38.
Punjab Kings have been the most inconsistent team in the IPL since 2014, never making the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons. This year, with the addition of Sam Curran and a new skipper in Shikhar Dhawan, they would try to erase the memories of the past and return to winning ways. The last time they advanced in the playoffs was in 2014 when they finished as runners-up.
On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants had a memorable inaugural season, winning nine of fourteen games and finishing third in the standings despite sharing an equal number of victories with Rajasthan Royals due to a lower net run rate. They were defeated by RCB by a narrow margin of 14 runs in the eliminator. KL Rahul had a successful season as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer. He and Quinton de Kock put up a record-breaking 210-run partnership for the first wicket against KKR. Lucknow, led by KL Rahul, would like to extend their winning streak in the 2023 edition.
Destination: Mohali. 2 points. ✈️🤞 pic.twitter.com/ytLMS8pOvV
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 26, 2023
PBKS vs LSG head to head
Both teams last clashed in IPL 2023 Match No. 21 at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, when the Kings beat the Super Giants by two wickets. These teams have played each other only once in their IPL history, and the equation is equal.
| Matches played | 2 |
| PBKS won | 1 |
| LSG won | 1 |
| Tie | 0 |
PBKS vs LSG match results
Punjab and Lucknow have played two head-to-head matches since LSG debuted in the IPL last year. Last season, these two sides faced off once, with LSG winning by 20 runs thanks to a powerful bowling squad that limited PBKS to 133.
| DATE | WINNER | MARGIN | VENUE |
| April 15 2023 | Punjab Kings | 2 wickets | Lucknow |
| April 29 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants | 20 runs | Pune |
PBKS vs LSG IPL stats
Most runs
KL Rahul of the LSG tops the batting leaderboard with 80 runs in these games, followed by Sikandar Raza (57) and South African Quinton de Kock (46). Deepak Hooda and Short are on the list as well.
| Player name | Runs |
| KL Rahul | 80 |
| Sikandar Raza | 57 |
| Quinton de Kock | 46 |
| Deepak Hooda | 36 |
| Matthew Short | 34 |
Most wickets
Kagiso Rabada has taken the most wickets (6), followed by Sam Curran, Mohsin Khan, Krunal Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi, who have each taken 3. Four players have taken 3 wickets each in the PBKS vs LSG head to head matches.
| Player name | Wickets |
| Kagiso Rabada | 6 |
| Sam Curran | 3 |
| Mohsin Khan | 3 |
| Krunal Pandya | 3 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 3 |
Best match in the Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants head to head
Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada threw a decent length delivery to LSG captain KL Rahul to get the outside edge, and Jitesh Sharma dove to his right to dismiss Rahul early in the innings. LSG's scoring methods were unaffected by Rahul's departure, as Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda collaborated with some stunning strokes to consolidate their innings. De Kock hammered his compatriot Rabada for three straight sixes in the powerplay.
Wickets crumbled when de Kock and Hooda's 85-run partnership was broken up. LSG was bowled out for 13 runs after losing five wickets in three overs. Mohsin Khan (13 runs in six balls) and Dushmantha Chameera (17 runs in ten balls) helped LSG break the 150-run mark, closing at 153/8.
Punjab made a strong start to their modest chase, reaching 46 for 1 after powerplay overs. Ravi Bishnoi was pricey at one end, surrendering 41 runs from four overs and dismissing Shikhar Dhawan at the top.
Krunal Pandya bowled a short spell of 2/11 from his four overs to hold the middle order tight. The left-arm orthodox handed up only four runs in his final 18 deliveries, including a maiden wicket over. He subsequently took a low catch at third man to remove Jonny Bairstow's (32 in 28 balls) threat.
Mohsin took two wickets in the late middle order to end with 3 for 24 as the Super Giants held the Kings to 133/8. The 20-run victory boosted KL Rahul and his team's playoff chances.
It will be an interesting watch to figure out who will get the lead in the Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants head to head.
