IPL23 Match no 21 LSG VS PBKS This match PBKS won by 2 wickets. Sikandar Raza (Player of the match): "Yeah, itfeels great, to be honest. But when I got out therewere a few demons in my mind. But credit goesto Shahrukh for the way he batted and took theteam over the line. It's one of the biggest stageandI was looking to perform well here. Ihadafewaverage games, good to put on a show today.I think Jitesh's wicket was a game-changing one ifhe would have been at the crease he would havefinished off the game with a few overs to spare.But the way Shahrukh played was pretty good, hejust came and hit the first ball for the six."Sam Curran (Punjab Kings Captain): "T knewyou gonna say that. Amazing win. Seems likethe franchise loves the close games. It's good tocome out on top. I thought our. spinners bowlednicely, the way G came in with the ball was good.The way Sikandar Raza came in and batted wasreally good. I think Trev and the other coachingside were really clear with his [Shahrukh Khan]roles in the team. Perhaps guys who can hit sixes.I think in IPL you go ground to ground and comeup with a different game plan. I thought thewhole bowling group bowled really wel. You haveso many options to work which is really well. Ihaven't done it before."This is the only second time that LSG have lostwhile defending a total in IPL. They have won8 of the 10 occasions when they have battedfirst. The last time LSG lost while defending wasagainst Gujarat Titans back in 2022 which wastheir first-ever IPL game.Shahrukh Khan (Punjab Kings): "Yeah, I am reallyfeeling good. The way everyone played. Razaplayed very well. I thought Ijust came into thmiddle a bit late. Just when Jlitesh got out it w:a strategic timeout. I try to use my power. IfI tryto be cheeky it doesn't work for nme. When Brar was batting, I just said him to go for a big shotas I was at the other end even if he gets out.Unfortunately, he got out to Wood."KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants Captain): "Yes,we were about 1O runs short in the end. The dewcame in the endand made life easier for thebatters. We didn't do a goodjob with the ball.You can't rely on previous games when you'replaying on new ground and pitch. Obviously,you can't rely on the same players to do thejob everv match. We take things as they come.assess them as they happen, and don't really setgoals for ourselves. We can get to 180-190 if acouple of batters get in and play good knocks.Unfortunately, today's batters hit good shots butwere caughtjust inside the boundary. Somedaysit goes for sixes. We would have gotten those10-15 extra runs on another day, and it wouldhave made all the difference.(On his catch) The game was on the line, andIalways try to give my all when Im on the fielcYou need to give your best every game and psome performances. Each player has a distinct role to play, which iswhy it is referred to as a team game. We have 7-8batters on our team, and only a fewof them canclear any boundary. Some are not as powerfulas others, but they are talented. It is about eachplayer doing their part and playing their role,which is what makes a team exciting, and thatis what we must do. Pooran and Stoinis are twopower hitters in our lineup. Mayers at the top takethe aggressive approach, and the restof us haveto assess the situation and stick to what workthem. It's all about giving them the confidence wdo what they want"|We have been treated to somenerve-wracking moments in the ongoingIPL season and this had to be one of them. Thematch swung like a see-saw and it was the PunjabKings' middle and lower batting order that helpedthem cross the finish line. Shahrukh Khan (23*off 10 balls)!! You gotta keep faith in him andthe 27-year-old will finish matches for you jus.as he does for his State, Tamil Nadu.A Shikhar Dhawan-devoid Punjab side gets back to winningways after two losses under the leadership ofstand-in skipper Sam Curran.Yudhvir Singh Charak hada dream IPL debutwith the new bal in hand as the tall pacerremoved Atharva Taide right in the first over ofthe innings and drew the first blood. Right in hissecond over the Jammu-based pacer uprootedthe off stick of Prabhsimran Singh who wasbeaten on the inside edge during the intendedrive. Matthew Short stepped up and played some outrageous shots, scoring 34 runs off 22balls while batting one down. He was succoredby Harpreet Singh Bhatia (run-a-ball 22) whostruggled against the LSG bowling attack.Wickets fell in patches but it was Sikandar Razawho gleamed at the need of the hour. Just whenthe Punjab-based franchise was falling behindwith the required run rate, Sikandar Raza (57 off41 balls) hit two sixes and a four against Krun.Pandya in the halfway stage. He went on tobecome the first Zimbabwean cricketer to notch a fifty in IPL and narrow down the equation tosome extent. But alas! The all-rounder couldn'tfinish the chase as Ravi Bishnoi who wasintroduced late got the better in the 18th over.With 20 runs needed from the last twoovers, Shahrukh Khan and Harpreet Brar had theassignment put out in front of their eyes. MarkWood delivered an excellent 19th over barrina six off the top edge of the blade of ShahrukWith 7 runs needed off the last over, the equationseemed to difficult for the wrist spinner Bishnoi.Shahrukh Khan fetched a couple of doubles andsmashed the third ball of the over towards widishlong off to bring back triumph in the Punjabcamp.Charak, Wood, and Bishnoi scalped twO wicketseach followed by solitary pieces for Gowtham andPandya.Losing the toss, KL Rahul and his boys had to batfirst. Kyle Mayers capitalized on the new hardand notched up some quick runs. He smasheusome breathtaking sixes but was outfoxed by left-KL Rahul was the one grafting from one end andKrunal Pandya joined hands with him for the thiwicket jolting 48 runs to the tally.Post this, the skipper fell short of assistance fronthe other end as player came in and went backto the pavilion. It was a no-show for NicholasPooran today as Kagiso Rabada got the better cthe calypso power. Stoinis popped up with someblows but could score just 15 runs off 11 balls.Rahul's 74 off 56 balls helped LSG reach 159 ruat the end of 20 overs.