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Arpit Sachdeva

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Punjab Kings

Three talking points from PBKS vs KKR IPL 2025 match

Punjab Kings (Image Credits: Twitter)

Many Punjab supporters would have thought about heading home after KKR’s powerplay in the second innings at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chasing a meager target of 112 runs, Kolkata had managed to score 55 for 2 after the first six overs. Understandably, Punjab’s dugout looked far from cheerful. However, what followed thereafter stunned everyone in the stadium and those watching on television. 

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal produced a spell for the ages and turned the game on its head. KKR batters looked dumbfounded and were bowled out for 95 in the end. Andre Russell’s two sixes and a four off Chahal saw the crowd getting silent for some time but it was Punjab Kings, who took two points in the end. 

Much like Kolkata Knight Riders, the Kings also produced a disappointing show with the bat and mustered up just 111 runs in the first innings. But it proved enough as Shreyas Iyer and Co. ended up winning the game by 16 runs. With that win, Shreyas Iyer and Co. have climbed to fourth on the table with four wins in six games. 

Let’s take a look at three major talking points in the game:

  1. Punjab Kings’ powerplay of two halves 

The way Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran had started their innings it looked like Punjab were on course for another 200-plus total. The duo raced to 33 in the first three overs but KKR, led by Harshit Rana, fought back brilliantly. 

Harshit gave little room to the batters and troubled them with his pace. He sent both Priyansh and Shreyas Iyer out in the fourth over. Varun Chakravarthy was brought on in the next over and immediately castled Josh Inglis with the one that came into him. Harshit Rana bowled the next over and had Prabhsimran caught at point on the last ball of the powerplay. 

From 33 for 0, Punjab Kings slipped to 54 for 4. 

2. Aggressive intent from Punjab batters backfired 

Punjab Kings walked out to bat with a clear plan to bat aggressively. However, despite losing wickets in a cluster, they didn’t try to develop partnerships and continued to go hard at the bowlers, which proved their downfall. 

After Priyansh Arya got out to Harshit Rana in the fourth over, skipper Shreyas Iyer wasted no time in reading the surface and looked to go hard at the bowler. The plan was set for him- bowl one outside the off stump at a good pace and he fell for that. Two wickets were down but Punjab didn’t change their approach. Josh Inglis had no clue how to play Chakravarthy and looked to attack from the word go. In a bid to launch him for a six, he had his stumps castled. 

Nehal Wadhera hit two back-to-back boundaries off Anrich Nortje but lost his wicket while trying to hit one more. Questions should be asked about why Glenn Maxwell was backed despite enduring a horrendous run with the bat. Although Punjab did manage to win the game, they must go back to the drawing room and rethink their attacking approach, especially when their backs are against the wall. 

3. Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4-24 turned the game on its head 

Prior to this game, Yuzvendra Chahal had only managed to pick two wickets in five wickets at an economy of over 11. He was facing the heat and had a point to prove. And, one must be honest, no one saw this coming! In a game when the game looked done and dusted, Chahal showcased his magic. In his first over of the innings, Yuzvendra Chahal got Rahane leg-before for 17. Had the KKR skipper taken the review, the game's result might have been different as the impact was outside the off stump. 

At that time, Rahane wouldn’t have imagined that his decision to not take the review would prove so costly that his team would end up losing the game. Chahal, a man who has a big heart, deceived the likes of Angriksh Raghuvanshi (37 off 28), Rinku Singh (2), and Ramandeep Singh (0) with his turn and guile. From 62-3, Kolkata Knight Riders found themselves tottering at 76 for 7. Chahal couldn’t had the better of Russell but finished with a sensational spell of 4 for 28 in his four-over quota.  

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