Singh is King, and last night, Punjab Kings gave that phrase a whole new meaning. The spotlight belonged to two exceptional players who turned the stadium into their personal playground and powered Punjab to a statement win that’s got everyone talking.
Let’s start with the young Prabhsimran Singh. There were whispers and raised eyebrows when Punjab decided to back him, but he’s been answering every doubter with his bat. Last night, he was in beast mode, hammering 91 off just 48 balls. 7 sixes and 6 fours rained down as he became one of the highest six-hitters in an innings at this venue. This was his third consecutive fifty of the season, and he’s now scored eight 50-plus scores for Punjab before turning 25-a franchise record. With 437 runs this season, he’s seventh on the runs list, but here’s the flex: he’s got a higher strike rate than everyone above him. Talk about energy!
Punjab’s total? A monstrous 236 for 5-the kind of score that makes opposition bowlers rethink their life choices. Other teammates played their parts with quickfire contributions, but it was the young batsman’s fireworks that set the tone.
Then came the left-arm pace sensation Arshdeep Singh, ready to turn the powerplay into his own highlight reel. He got Mitchell Marsh out for a duck. That’s twice this season he has sent the Bison packing without scoring. Not stopping there, he knocked over Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, all inside the powerplay. These three had scored a majority of their team’s runs this season before this match, and he got 'em all. His final figures? A cool 3 for 16 in a game where nearly 200 runs were scored by the opposition. He’s now third on the wickets list with 16 scalps and counting.
This win was more than just points on the board. Punjab broke an 12-year jinx at this venue, notching their first win here since 2013. With 15 points and three matches still to go (even after a washout), Punjab are sitting pretty near the top of the table and eyeing the playoffs with swagger.
The duo have made it clear: Punjab Kings are here for the big stage. And with this kind of form, who knows how high they’ll fly next?
