IPL 2025 – Strategic Timeout Controversy: On Tuesday (April 1), Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a huge margin of eight wickets to make it two wins in a row in IPL 2025.
PBKS Dominates LSG in IPL 2025: Eight-Wicket Victory
PBKS played brilliantly and outperformed LSG to secure their second victory of the season. While the PBKS players were impressive throughout the match, it was the umpires who caught everyone’s attention towards the end of the game.
The umpires decided to call a strategic timeout when PBKS needed just one run to win the game. The scores were tied at the end of the 16th over, and the umpires surprised everyone by announcing the timeout.
Strategic Time-Out Rules Explained:
According to the current rules, each team is allowed one three-minute strategic timeout per innings. The bowling team can take it between overs 6-9, while the batting team has the option between overs 13-16. If a team doesn’t take its timeout before the 16th over, it is automatically called after that over.
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While the umpires simply followed the rules, their decision confused and puzzled many people. Here are some of the reactions to the umpires’ call. Check them out:
Strategic timeout when 1 run is required of in 24 ballspic.twitter.com/bbMYoFiUwV
— Om👽 (@H4RVEYSP3CT3R) April 1, 2025
Jab 4 over me bas 1 run chahiye the to Ponting aur Langer strategic time out me ground me aa ke kya baat kar rahe the apne apne players se 😭 pic.twitter.com/58NleE7uXH
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) April 1, 2025
strategic timeout with one run needed to win pic.twitter.com/Hw02x1BH8E
— nou (@mandhanahive) April 1, 2025
strategic time out is for advertisement not for strategy
— Ashpirin (@ashpirin05) April 1, 2025
nah these r3tards are really taking a "strategic timeout" with 1 run needed of 4 overs 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/L5zlPZSceO
— soo washed (@anubhav__tweets) April 1, 2025
Punjab Kings need 1 run from 4 overs for win against Lucknow Super Giants, and the Strategic Time-out is called !
Unbeatable idiocy !!#IPL2025— Parthasarathy Chaganty (@pchaganty) April 1, 2025
Behan Ke Bhode, this Strategic Time-out is something that could've been avoided when a Team needs only one to win.
How pathetic, they're losing 4 overs due to early finishe so obviously would want to make use of this shite #LSGvPBKS pic.twitter.com/rVZHjyG3ZW
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) April 1, 2025
One run needed to win and there's a strategic time-out. Now LSG players can strategize how to avoid their owner in team meeting.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 1, 2025
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I wonder what strategy is being discussed in this strategic timeout 😄🤓
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) April 1, 2025
Michael Vaughan Takes a Dig at IPL Over Time-Out Rule
Last week, former England captain Michael Vaughan also made fun of the IPL following a similar decision by the umpires. Vaughan couldn’t resist taking a jibe at the IPL when LSG was forced to take a time-out, even though they only needed 2 runs from the last 24 balls. He tweeted:
“Only in the IPL can you have a strategic time out with 2 needed off 24 balls with 5 wkts remaining .. 😜 #India “
Only in the IPL can you have a strategic time out with 2 needed off 24 balls with 5 wkts remaining .. 😜 #India
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2025
It was a one-sided match at Ekana Stadium as PBKS dominated LSG. LSG, batting first, got off to a terrible start and found themselves at 35/3 early on. However, useful contributions from Nicholas Pooran (44), Ayush Badoni (41), and Abdul Samad (27) helped them recover and reach a total of 171/7.
In response, PBKS comfortably chased down the target in just 17 overs, thanks to brilliant half-centuries from Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer. Prabhsimran scored 69 off 34 balls, while Iyer remained not out on 52. Nehal Wadhera also chipped in with a solid 43 not out.
ALSO READ: IPL 2025: Yuzvendra Chahal’s Emotional Outburst At Nicholas Pooran – VIDEO
