Yuzvendra Chahal delivered another match-defining spell for Punjab Kings in their crucial IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Saturday. After removing the dangerous Ayush Badoni earlier in the innings, the veteran leg-spinner struck again to dismiss LSG captain Rishabh Pant and swing the momentum heavily in Punjab’s favour. With Punjab Kings fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, Chahal stepped up when his team needed him the most.
The experienced spinner kept the pressure firmly on Lucknow’s middle order and never allowed the batters to settle during the middle overs. Rishabh Pant, who has struggled for consistency this season, attempted to rebuild the innings after early wickets. The left-hander managed 26 runs off 22 deliveries but never looked completely comfortable against Chahal’s variations and changes of pace.
The breakthrough came on the fifth ball of the 14th over when Pant tried to attack a well-disguised googly from the PBKS spinner. Chahal tossed the ball up full on middle stump, tempting the LSG skipper into a slog sweep towards the backward square-leg boundary. However, Pant failed to middle the shot cleanly.
WATCH – Prabhsimran Singh Produces Brilliant Stumping To Remove Dangerous Badoni
The ball went high into the night sky towards deep square leg, where Marco Jansen settled comfortably underneath it and completed a safe catch. Chahal erupted in celebration immediately after the dismissal, roaring in delight as Punjab Kings edged closer to complete control of the contest.
Lifeline – Boundary – Revenge 😮💨🔥
🎥 This Yuzvendra Chahal vs Rishabh Pant rivalry had everything 🫣
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Pant’s struggles against Chahal are not new. Over the years, the rivalry between the two Indian stars has produced several fascinating battles in T20 cricket, with the leg-spinner often outsmarting the aggressive batter at key moments.
According to Cricbuzz stats, Pant has scored 137 runs off 94 deliveries against Chahal in T20s at a strike rate of 145.74. However, the spinner has dismissed him four times while also maintaining an impressive dot-ball percentage of 30.8 in the matchup.
WATCH – Rishabh Pant Issues Emotional Apology To Lucknow Fans
Chahal’s overall spell against Lucknow once again highlighted his value in pressure situations. The leg-spinner finished with figures of 2 wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of just 6.25 on a surface that offered assistance to slower bowlers.
Earlier before the toss, former Australia captain Aaron Finch had observed the dry and patchy nature of the Ekana pitch, suggesting spinners would come into play as the match progressed. Chahal used those conditions brilliantly, varying his pace and extracting enough grip to trouble the LSG batters throughout his spell.
