Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants: A Rivalry Born in Balance
In the entire history of the Indian Premier League, few rivalries sit in such precise equilibrium as the one between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. Across 6 meetings from 2022 to 2025, the two franchises are locked at 3 wins apiece — a dead heat that neither side has been able to tilt decisively. For a fixture that only began in 2022, when Lucknow Super Giants entered the IPL as a new franchise, the contests have already produced a 56-run demolition, an 8-wicket rout, and a Player of the Match performance from a then-uncapped teenager.
What makes this rivalry compelling is not just the numbers but the narrative arc. Lucknow dominated the opening chapter in 2022 and 2023, winning 3 of the first 4 meetings. Punjab Kings then flipped the script emphatically in 2025, winning both encounters — including an audacious 8-wicket chase in Lucknow's own backyard at the Ekana Stadium. The pendulum has swung both ways in this young fixture, and history suggests it will continue to do so.
All-Time Head-to-Head Record
| Metric | Punjab Kings | Lucknow Super Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Matches won | 3 | 3 |
| Win percentage | 50% | 50% |
| Biggest victory (runs) | 37 | 56 |
| Biggest victory (wickets) | 8 wickets | — |
| Seasons played | 4 (2022–2025) | 4 (2022–2025) |
| No results | 0 | 0 |
The symmetry is remarkable. Both sides have won precisely half their meetings. Punjab Kings hold the edge in wickets-based chases (an 8-wicket demolition in 2025), while Lucknow Super Giants own the largest runs-margin victory — a commanding 56-run win in Chandigarh in 2023.
Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2025 | Dharamsala | Punjab Kings | 37 runs | P Simran Singh |
| 1 Apr 2025 | Lucknow (Ekana) | Punjab Kings | 8 wickets | P Simran Singh |
| 30 Mar 2024 | Lucknow (Ekana) | Lucknow Super Giants | 21 runs | MP Yadav |
| 28 Apr 2023 | Mohali, Chandigarh | Lucknow Super Giants | 56 runs | MP Stoinis |
| 15 Apr 2023 | Lucknow (Ekana) | Punjab Kings | 2 wickets | Sikandar Raza |
The table tells a story of shifting momentum. Lucknow Super Giants won 3 of the first 4 encounters between 2022 and 2024, establishing early dominance in the fixture. Punjab Kings then turned the tide dramatically in 2025, winning both meetings with increasing authority — first by 8 wickets in Lucknow, then by 37 runs in Dharamsala.
Defining Moments
The 56-Run Demolition — Chandigarh, April 2023
The single largest victory margin in this fixture belongs to Lucknow Super Giants. On 28 April 2023, at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Chandigarh — Punjab Kings' adopted home ground — Marcus Stoinis delivered a Player of the Match performance that left the hosts with no answers. LSG posted a total that Punjab Kings never threatened, ultimately falling 56 runs short. The result was significant: it gave Lucknow a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head and established them as the dominant force in the early chapters of this rivalry.
The Ekana Heist — Lucknow, April 2025
If 2023 belonged to Lucknow, 2025 belonged to Punjab. On 1 April 2025, Punjab Kings travelled to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium — Lucknow's fortress — and chased down the target with 8 wickets in hand. It was the most emphatic wickets-based victory in this fixture's history. P Simran Singh, still a teenager at the time, earned Player of the Match honours for a performance that announced Punjab Kings' intent to rewrite the narrative of this rivalry. He would repeat the feat just 33 days later in Dharamsala.
The 2-Wicket Thriller — Lucknow, April 2023
Not all contests have been one-sided. On 15 April 2023, Punjab Kings pulled off a nervy 2-wicket chase at the Ekana Stadium. With the game slipping away and wickets tumbling in the back end, Sikandar Raza held his nerve to guide Punjab over the line. It remains the closest finish in this fixture's history — and the only meeting decided by fewer than 20 runs or 3 wickets.
Venue Split
| Venue | Meetings | Punjab Kings Wins | LSG Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| MCA Stadium, Pune | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Chandigarh | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The most telling statistic here is Punjab Kings' record at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Despite being the away side, Punjab have won 2 of 3 matches at Lucknow Super Giants' home ground — a 67% win rate that defies conventional home advantage logic. The 2023 thriller (2-wicket win) and the 2025 demolition (8-wicket win) both came at Ekana, making Punjab Kings the more successful side at a venue that should theoretically favour the hosts.
Lucknow Super Giants' victories have come at neutral or away venues — Pune in 2022 and Chandigarh (Punjab's home at the time) in 2023. This paradox gives the rivalry an unusual tactical dimension: the away team has historically performed better.
Lucknow's Early Dominance: 2022–2024
Between 2022 and April 2024, Lucknow Super Giants won 3 of the 4 meetings against Punjab Kings. This period coincided with LSG's strong overall IPL form under KL Rahul's captaincy — the franchise made the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023. The margins told the story: wins of 20 runs (2022), 56 runs (2023), and 21 runs (2024) suggested that when Lucknow got on top in this fixture, they stayed there. Punjab's sole win in this window — the 2-wicket scrape in April 2023 — was the exception that proved the rule of Lucknow's superiority in the early years.
The Rivalry's Place in IPL History
Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants is the youngest rivalry in IPL cricket, existing only since the 2022 mega auction that birthed LSG as a franchise. Yet in just 6 meetings across 4 seasons, it has already produced a 56-run blowout, an 8-wicket rout, a last-gasp 2-wicket finish, and a teenager earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards in consecutive fixtures. The 3-3 deadlock makes every future meeting a de facto decider — whichever side wins next takes the historical lead for the first time. As both franchises continue building their identities in the IPL landscape, this fixture will remain one of the most evenly contested in the tournament's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall head-to-head record between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in IPL?
Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants have met 6 times in IPL history (2022–2025). The head-to-head is perfectly tied at 3 wins each, with zero no-results. It is the most evenly split rivalry among the franchises that entered after 2021.
What was the biggest victory in PBKS vs LSG matches?
The biggest victory by runs was Lucknow Super Giants' 56-run win in Chandigarh on 28 April 2023, with Marcus Stoinis earning Player of the Match. The biggest victory by wickets was Punjab Kings' 8-wicket triumph in Lucknow on 1 April 2025.
What was the closest finish between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants?
The closest finish came on 15 April 2023 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, where Punjab Kings won by just 2 wickets. Sikandar Raza was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock under pressure.
Which venue has hosted the most PBKS vs LSG matches?
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has hosted 3 of the 6 meetings — the most of any venue. Punjab Kings have won 2 of those 3 matches at Ekana, defying home advantage.
Who has won the most Player of the Match awards in this rivalry?
P Simran Singh holds the record with 2 Player of the Match awards — both earned in the 2025 season (1 April and 4 May). Marcus Stoinis, MP Yadav, Sikandar Raza, and KH Pandya have 1 award each.
When did Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants first play each other?
Their first-ever meeting was on 29 April 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune (a neutral venue that season due to COVID logistics). Lucknow Super Giants won by 20 runs, with KH Pandya named Player of the Match.
Where can I watch Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants matches?
All IPL matches, including PBKS vs LSG fixtures, are broadcast live on JioStar across television and streaming platforms in India. International viewers can access matches through Star Sports and JioCinema's global feeds.