Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer achieved a major milestone after smashing a sensational century in PBKS’ must-win clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The PBKS captain remained unbeaten on 101 off just 51 balls and guided his side to a comfortable chase of 197 runs, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
With the knock, Iyer scripted his name into an elite IPL list alongside some of the greatest captains in tournament history.
Shreyas Iyer joins legendary IPL captains after stunning century
Iyer became only the fourth captain in IPL history to score a century while chasing a target.
The PBKS skipper played one of the finest knocks of his IPL career under pressure and ensured Punjab comfortably crossed the finish line in just 18 overs.
Century by captains in IPL chases
119 - Virender Sehwag vs Deccan, 2011
108* - Virat Kohli vs RPS, 2016
119 - Sanju Samson vs PBKS, 2021
101* - Shreyas Iyer vs LSG, 2026
Shreyas Iyer’s innings came at the perfect moment for Punjab Kings, who entered the match in a must-win situation after suffering six consecutive defeats.
The stylish right-hander paced the innings brilliantly and accelerated at crucial stages while maintaining complete control throughout the chase.
His knock also made him only the third PBKS captain to score an IPL century after KL Rahul and Adam Gilchrist.
PBKS defeat LSG to keep playoff hopes alive
Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants posted 196 runs on the board thanks to important contributions from:
Josh Inglis — 72 off 44
Ayush Badoni — 43 off 18
Abdul Samad — 37 off 20
For Punjab Kings:
Marco Jansen — 2 wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal — 2 wickets
Azmatullah Omarzai — 1 wicket
Shashank Singh — 1 wicket
PBKS’ chase started poorly after Mohammed Shami dismissed Priyansh Arya on the very first ball of the innings and later removed Cooper Connolly.
However, opener Prabhsimran Singh counterattacked brilliantly with a 39-ball 69 before Shreyas Iyer completely took control of the game.
The duo stitched together a match-winning 140-run partnership which sealed Punjab’s dominance in the contest.
For LSG, only three wickets fell:
Mohammed Shami — 2 wickets
Arjun Tendulkar — 1 wicket
The victory keeps Punjab Kings alive in the race for the final IPL 2026 playoff spot.