Arjun Rajput's 4-wicket haul and 82-run knock fires Ludhiana Lions to Sher-E-Punjab T20 win
Synopsis
Ludhiana Lions were staring at defeat at 81/5 chasing 166 when Arjun Rajput — who had already taken 4/27 with the ball — unleashed an 82-off-45 assault to flip the match on its head. Krish Bhagat's unbeaten 35 sealed the deal in a three-wicket thriller at Mohali that announced Ludhiana as serious Sher-E-Punjab T20 League contenders.
Key Takeaways
Ludhiana Lions beat Bathinda Royals by three wickets in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 at I.S.
Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 1 September .
Arjun Rajput took 4 wickets for 27 runs and then scored 82 off 45 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) to anchor the chase.
Ludhiana were reduced to 29/4 inside four overs and 81/5 at the halfway mark before Rajput's rescue act.
Krish Bhagat remained unbeaten on 35 off 19 balls , finishing the chase under pressure.
Bathinda Royals were bowled out for 165 , with Harnoor Singh top-scoring with 38 off 19 balls .
Ludhiana Lions pulled off a dramatic three-wicket victory over Bathinda Royals in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 at the I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on 1 September, with Arjun Rajput delivering a match-defining all-round display. Rajput first dismantled the Royals' batting with 4 wickets for 27 runs, then returned to smash 82 off 45 balls to chase down a target of 166 with the Lions teetering at 81/5.
Bathinda Royals Set a Competitive Target
Invited to bat first, Bathinda Royals began steadily, their openers putting on 46 runs for the first wicket. Harnoor Singh provided the early thrust, blazing 38 off 19 balls, while Rishabh Gupta chipped in with 9 off 6 before falling. A 50-run partnership between Noorveer Singh and Dev Amritpal Singh then steadied the middle order and appeared to set up a big finish.
However, Ludhiana's bowlers tightened the screws in the back half of the innings. Sahil Bhaskar took 3 wickets and Rajput claimed 4, their sustained pressure preventing Bathinda from accelerating. The Royals were eventually dismissed for 165, leaving the Lions a challenging but gettable target.
Ludhiana's Chaotic Chase
The Lions' reply began in crisis. Bathinda's bowlers were sharp from the outset, reducing Ludhiana to 29/4 inside the first four overs. Abhijeet Garg attempted to rebuild, scoring 28 off 22 balls, but was cut short by a sharp piece of fielding from Imrozpreet Singh, leaving the Lions at 81/5 at the halfway mark.
Rajput Takes Control
With the match in the balance, Rajput stepped up. He forged a crucial partnership with Krish Bhagat, the pair adding 50 runs in just 34 balls through a blend of smart running and clean hitting. Rajput was the aggressor, repeatedly finding the boundary against a Bathinda attack that had looked dominant just overs earlier.
His innings of 82 off 45 balls — studded with 8 fours and 4 sixes — ended when Gourav Choudhary trapped him lbw, but not before Ludhiana were firmly in the driver's seat. A stunning diving catch by Noorveer Singh to dismiss Madhav Pathania for 2 off 9 balls briefly gave Bathinda hope, with 14 runs still needed from 19 balls.
Bhagat Seals a Memorable Win
It was Bhagat who had the final word. Unbeaten on 35 off 19 balls, he kept his composure under pressure and guided the Lions over the line, completing a three-wicket win that will be remembered as much for its nerve-shredding finish as for Rajput's all-round brilliance. The victory underlines Ludhiana's depth and their ability to win from precarious positions in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026.
Point of View
Then a counter-punching 82 to rescue a chase that looked lost at 81/5 — is the kind of performance that defines knockout-stage contenders. What stands out is the sequencing: Ludhiana's bowling unit, led by Bhaskar and Rajput, did the hard work to keep 165 in range; without that discipline, the heroics with the bat would have been academic. Bhagat's unbeaten 35 at the death is also worth noting — composure under pressure at that level is not incidental. For Bathinda, the inability to accelerate past 165 despite a solid platform and a 50-run middle-order stand will be the sharper concern.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Ludhiana Lions vs Bathinda Royals match in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026?
Ludhiana Lions won by three wickets, chasing down 166 at I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on 1 September. The win was built on Arjun Rajput's all-round performance of 4/27 and 82 off 45 balls.
How did Arjun Rajput perform in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League match?
Arjun Rajput delivered a match-winning all-round display, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs with the ball and then scoring 82 off 45 balls — including 8 fours and 4 sixes — to guide Ludhiana Lions to victory from a precarious 81/5.
What score did Bathinda Royals post in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League match?
Bathinda Royals were bowled out for 165, despite a 46-run opening stand and a 50-run middle-order partnership between Noorveer Singh and Dev Amritpal Singh. Ludhiana's Sahil Bhaskar and Arjun Rajput took 3 and 4 wickets respectively to restrict them.
Who finished the chase for Ludhiana Lions?
Krish Bhagat remained unbeaten on 35 off 19 balls to seal the win. He partnered Rajput in a 50-run stand off 34 balls and held his nerve after Rajput's dismissal, with 14 runs still needed from 19 balls.
Where was the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 match played?
The match was played at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali (SAS Nagar), Punjab, on 1 September 2026.
