Match Report: Chahal’s Spin Web and PBKS Grit Seal Record-Breaking Victory Over KKR

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In Match 31 of IPL 2025 at the New PCA Cricket Stadium, Punjab Kings created history by successfully defending the lowest-ever total in IPL history and sealed a dramatic win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Yuzvendra Chahal’s masterclass with the ball and a fiery start from PBKS batters ensured a record-breaking moment for the franchise, who now also hold the record for chasing the highest total (263) and defending the lowest (111) in the IPL history.

Toss

Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to put runs on the board and let their bowlers dictate the game. Though they were bundled out for just 111 runs, their bowlers responded with fire.

Playing XI

PBKS:

Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge (IP), Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prabhsimran Singh.

KKR:

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Quinton De Kock (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (IP).

First Innings Overview: PBKS Collapse to 111 but Show Fight

Punjab Kings had a fiery start thanks to Prabhsimran Singh (30 off 15) and Priyansh Arya (22 off 12), but a middle-order collapse saw them crumble to 111 in 15.3 overs. KKR’s bowlers exploited the conditions well, with Harshit Rana (3/25), Sunil Narine (2/14), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/21) sharing the spoils.

Despite the modest total, the pitch offered enough assistance, and PBKS bowling unit smelled blood.

Second Innings Overview: Chahal Dismantles KKR with Fiery Four-For

Chasing 112, KKR looked in control at 62/2 after the powerplay, with Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37 off 28) stitching together a promising partnership. The chase appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable finish—until Yuzvendra Chahal stepped in.

Chahal broke the partnership and spun a web around KKR’s middle order. He turned the tide with a fiery spell, picking up 4/28 in 4 overs. However, in a tense moment, Andre Russell counterattacked in Chahal’s final over, hitting 2 sixes and a four, putting PBKS under pressure and briefly reigniting KKR’s hopes.

But the momentum didn’t last long. Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh held their nerve brilliantly at the death, picking up 2 wickets between them to wrap up KKR for just 95 in 15.1 overs, sealing a dramatic 16-run win for Punjab Kings in one of the most thrilling comebacks of the season.

Player of the Match

Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS): 4/28 (4).

Result

Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs, successfully defending the lowest total in IPL history and rewriting the record books again in this thrilling 2025 season.

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