Match: 31st Match, Indian Premier League 2025

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh

Result: Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 16 runs

This encounter between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will be remembered as a historic low-scoring thriller where PBKS remarkably defended the lowest-ever total in IPL history. After being bowled out for a paltry 111, the Punjab Kings staged an incredible comeback with the ball to stun the Kolkata Knight Riders, who were bundled out for just 95.

Punjab Kings Innings:

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Punjab Kings got off to a flying start courtesy of their openers, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. They raced to 39 runs in just 3.1 overs, with Prabhsimran Singh smashing 30 off just 15 balls, including three sixes. However, KKR’s bowlers struck back hard. Harshit Rana triggered a collapse by picking up two wickets in an over, including the dangerous Arya (22 off 12).

The KKR bowlers continued to apply pressure, with regular wickets falling. The spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy proved particularly effective, picking up two wickets each. Anrich Nortje, playing his first game of the season for KKR, also chipped in with a wicket. PBKS struggled to build any substantial partnerships, and their aggressive approach led to a flurry of dismissals. The innings eventually folded for just 111 in 15.3 overs, with Harshit Rana finishing with impressive figures of 3/25.

Key Performers for PBKS (Batting):

• Prabhsimran Singh: 30 runs off 15 balls (3 sixes)
• Priyansh Arya: 22 runs off 12 balls (4 fours, 1 six)

Key Performers for KKR (Bowling):

• Harshit Rana: 3 wickets for 25 runs in 3 overs
• Sunil Narine: 2 wickets for 14 runs in 3 overs
• Varun Chakaravarthy: 2 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings:

Chasing a seemingly easy target of 112, Kolkata Knight Riders started cautiously but suffered an early setback when Marco Jansen dismissed Sunil Narine in the very first over. Xavier Bartlett then compounded their woes by picking up the wicket of Quinton de Kock, leaving KKR at 7/2.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37 off 28 balls, 5 fours) showed composure and, along with captain Ajinkya Rahane (14 off 22), built a 55-run partnership that seemed to put KKR in control at 62/2 in the 8th over. However, the game took a dramatic turn with the introduction of Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack.

Chahal triggered an unbelievable collapse, picking up four wickets in his first three overs, including the crucial wickets of Raghuvanshi and Rahane. KKR lost five wickets for just 17 runs, going from a comfortable 62/2 to a precarious 79/7. Andre Russell (17 off 11 balls, 2 sixes, 1 four) tried to counter-attack, smashing Chahal for a few boundaries, but it was too little too late.

Marco Jansen returned to pick up two more wickets, including the final one of Andre Russell, as KKR were bowled out for a mere 95 in 15.1 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal was the star of the show for PBKS, finishing with a match-winning spell of 4/28, while Marco Jansen supported him well with 3/17.

Key Performers for KKR (Batting):

• Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 37 runs off 28 balls (5 fours)

Key Performers for PBKS (Bowling):

• Yuzvendra Chahal: 4 wickets for 28 runs in 4 overs (Player of the Match)
• Marco Jansen: 3 wickets for 17 runs in 3.1 overs
• Arshdeep Singh: 1 wicket for 13 runs in 3 overs

Match Analysis:

This match was a rollercoaster of emotions. After a poor batting performance, Punjab Kings pulled off an improbable victory thanks to a sensational bowling effort, particularly from their spinners and the disciplined seam bowling. Yuzvendra Chahal’s spell was the turning point, completely derailing the KKR chase when they looked set for victory.

Kolkata Knight Riders will be kicking themselves for such a dramatic collapse while chasing a low total. Their batting unit, which has shown firepower in previous matches, failed to adapt to the conditions and succumbed to pressure. The decision by Ajinkya Rahane not to review his LBW dismissal proved costly as ball-tracking showed the ball was missing the stumps.

Key Moments:

• PBKS’s aggressive start: Arya and Prabhsimran’s quickfire opening partnership.
• Harshit Rana’s double-wicket over: Pulling KKR back into the game.
• Yuzvendra Chahal’s game-changing spell: Triggering a collapse of the KKR batting order.
• Andre Russell’s late hitting: Providing a glimmer of hope for KKR.
• Marco Jansen dismissing Russell: Securing a historic win for PBKS.

Post-Match Comments:

• Shreyas Iyer (PBKS Captain): Expressed his disbelief and joy at the win, highlighting the bowlers’ disciplined execution and Yuzvendra Chahal’s impact. He also mentioned the variable bounce of the wicket, which they kept in mind while bowling.
• Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain): Took responsibility for the batting failure and admitted to playing a wrong shot. He acknowledged the bowlers’ good performance in restricting PBKS to a low total but was disappointed with the batting unit’s recklessness.
• Yuzvendra Chahal (Player of the Match): Credited the team effort and mentioned that they believed they were in the game after picking up early wickets. He noted the slow and turning nature of the pitch and the importance of varying his pace.

Conclusion:

This match will go down in IPL history as the lowest total ever successfully defended. Punjab Kings showed incredible fight and resilience to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Kolkata Knight Riders will need to address their batting inconsistencies after this shocking loss, despite their bowlers putting in a commendable performance. Yuzvendra Chahal’s brilliance with the ball was the defining factor in this unforgettable encounter.