LSG vs PBKS Live Score: Josh Inglis and Ayush Badoni Power Lucknow to 196/6

Lucknow Super Giants gave their home fans plenty to cheer about after posting a strong total of 196/6 against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. The biggest reason behind this impressive score was Josh Inglis, who played a fearless knock of 72 runs from just 44 balls and completely changed the flow of the match.

At one stage, things were looking really difficult for Lucknow. Punjab Kings bowlers started the game with full intensity and quickly put LSG under pressure by taking early wickets. The home side was struggling at just 20/2, and it seemed like PBKS had full control of the game. But cricket can change very quickly, especially in the IPL, and that is exactly what happened once Inglis settled at the crease.

The Australian batter looked confident from the beginning. He didn’t panic after the early wickets and instead focused on rebuilding the innings smartly. Slowly, he started attacking the bowlers and shifted the pressure back onto Punjab Kings. His timing looked perfect throughout the innings, and he played shots all around the ground.

Inglis smashed nine boundaries and two huge sixes during his entertaining knock. Whether it was cuts through point, drives through covers, or powerful pulls over midwicket, everything was coming perfectly from the middle of the bat. The Ekana crowd loved every minute of his innings and kept cheering loudly whenever he found the boundary.

Punjab Kings Start Strong

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided to bowl first, hoping the bowlers could use the fresh conditions early in the game. That decision looked absolutely correct during the first few overs.

LSG lost wickets early, and the pressure started building quickly. The PBKS bowlers were bowling tight lines and not allowing the batters to score freely. The Lucknow dugout looked slightly worried as the scoreboard showed only 20 runs with two wickets already gone.

Marco Jansen used his height and bounce really well, while the rest of the bowling unit supported him nicely. Punjab Kings knew that taking early wickets was important because once batters settle in T20 cricket, things become difficult very fast.

Inglis And Badoni Change The Game

After surviving the early pressure, Inglis started attacking. He found great support from young batter Ayush Badoni, who once again showed why he is considered one of the most exciting young talents in the IPL.

Badoni came in and immediately played attacking cricket. He scored 43 runs from only 18 balls and completely lifted the run rate for Lucknow. The young batter played without fear and targeted almost every loose delivery.

The partnership between Inglis and Badoni changed the entire mood of the match. From struggling badly in the powerplay, LSG suddenly looked like a team capable of crossing 200 runs.

Badoni played some beautiful shots during his short but impactful innings. He attacked both pace and spin, and his confidence was clearly visible. Fans were expecting him to complete a half-century, but unfortunately, he got out while trying to continue the aggressive approach.

Even after Badoni’s dismissal, the damage had already been done to the Punjab Kings bowlers.

Josh Inglis Plays Mature Cricket

What made Inglis’ innings special was the balance between aggression and smart cricket. He did not just swing wildly at every ball. Instead, he picked the right bowlers to attack and rotated the strike really well in between boundaries.

Whenever PBKS bowlers tried slowing the game down, Inglis answered with another boundary. His calmness under pressure stood out the most.

The Australian batter also handled the spinners brilliantly. Yuzvendra Chahal tried using his experience to trap him, but Inglis continued finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving.

By the time Inglis got out for 72, he had already done the main job for his team. He gave Lucknow the perfect platform for a big total and completely shifted the momentum towards the home side.

Abdul Samad Gives Perfect Finish

After Inglis’ dismissal, Abdul Samad made sure Lucknow finished strongly in the final overs. The hard-hitting batter remained unbeaten on 37 from 20 balls and played some important shots near the end of the innings.

Samad’s role was extremely important because Punjab Kings were trying to stop LSG from reaching a huge score. But Samad kept attacking till the last over and ensured Lucknow crossed the 190-run mark.

His powerful hitting in the death overs added extra pressure on Punjab Kings before the chase even started. A total close to 200 is always challenging, especially in a high-pressure IPL match.

PBKS Bowlers Had Mixed Day

Punjab Kings bowlers started the innings brilliantly, but things became difficult once Inglis and Badoni started attacking.

Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets each, but overall, PBKS would probably feel they allowed too many runs after dominating the first few overs.

The middle overs became a major problem for Punjab Kings as the bowlers struggled to control the scoring rate. Some deliveries missed their lengths, and LSG batters punished almost every mistake.

Still, PBKS can take confidence from the fact that they pulled things back slightly during the final overs and stopped Lucknow from crossing 210.

Another Tough Outing For Rishabh Pant

LSG captain Rishabh Pant once again failed to play a big innings, which will surely remain a concern for the team management and fans.

Pant looked slightly uncomfortable during his stay at the crease and could not really dominate the bowling attack. Expectations are always very high from him because he is one of the biggest match-winners in Indian cricket.

Even though Lucknow managed a strong total, fans would still hope their captain returns to top form soon.

Ekana Crowd Enjoys Full IPL Entertainment

The atmosphere at the Ekana Cricket Stadium was amazing throughout the innings. Fans witnessed everything — early wickets, pressure moments, aggressive batting, massive sixes, and momentum shifts.

Josh Inglis received a standing ovation from many fans after his dismissal, and rightly so. His innings completely rescued Lucknow from a dangerous situation.

With 196 runs already on the board, the second innings promises even more drama because Punjab Kings now need a strong batting effort to chase down the target.

The pressure will now be on PBKS batters, while LSG bowlers will look to defend the total and finish the night with a memorable victory in front of their home supporters.