TATA IPL 2025: In an unforgettable night at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, Punjab Kings (PBKS) etched their name into IPL history by defending the lowest-ever total in the league’s history. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, PBKS bowled out Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for just 95 while defending a modest 112, securing a stunning 17-run victory in Match 31 of the TATA IPL 2025.
The heroes of the night were Yuzvendra Chahal, the IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker, who delivered a fiery spell of 4/28, and Marco Jansen, who chipped in with a crucial 3/17. KKR, seemingly in control at 62/2, suffered a dramatic collapse, losing eight wickets for just 33 runs. Their chase came to a screeching halt in the 16th over when Jansen clean-bowled Andre Russell to seal the win for PBKS.
This match added another dramatic chapter to the PBKS-KKR rivalry. Remarkably, it was the same fixture in which PBKS had chased down a record-breaking 262 in 2024. This time, however, the script flipped as the teams produced one of the most thrilling low-scoring encounters in IPL history.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, captain Shreyas Iyer got the start he hoped for as Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh launched a blazing assault at the top. The PBKS openers raced to 39 runs in just 19 balls, setting an aggressive tone and putting early pressure on the KKR bowlers.
However, just as the momentum seemed to swing firmly in Punjab’s favor, the KKR bowling unit, led by Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh, pulled things back brilliantly. Rana, who was dispatched for a six by Arya on his very first delivery, made an immediate comeback. On the very next ball, Ramandeep safely pouched a high skier at fine leg to dismiss Arya. Two deliveries later, Ramandeep produced a moment of brilliance, diving forward at deep point to complete a spectacular catch and send PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer back to the pavilion, suddenly shifting the momentum in KKR’s favor.
Just a couple of overs later, the impactful duo of Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh struck once again, making it three wickets between them in quick succession. Prabhsimran Singh, who had looked dangerous with a blazing 15-ball 30, was the next to depart, and PBKS suddenly found themselves reeling at 54/4 by the end of the powerplay.
Anrich Nortje, returning to action for his first appearance this season, also made his presence felt by chipping in with a wicket. However, it was KKR’s spin pair — Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine — who truly turned the screws on the Punjab batting lineup. The experienced duo shared four wickets between them, with Chakaravarthy dismantling the stumps of Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, while Narine clean bowled Marco Jansen to deepen PBKS’s woes.
A steady stream of wickets kept Punjab from mounting any recovery, and their innings wrapped up in just 16 overs for a paltry total of 111. It was yet another clinical all-round bowling display by KKR, who looked well on track for a straightforward chase — until PBKS had other plans.
In stark contrast to their dominant chase against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where they overhauled a target of 103 in just 11 overs, KKR’s pursuit of 112 against PBKS turned into a rollercoaster ride filled with drama and unexpected twists.
The tone was set early by Marco Jansen, who rattled Sunil Narine’s stumps in the very first over. The early blows kept coming as Xavier Bartlett removed Quinton de Kock for his maiden TATA IPL wicket, reducing KKR to 7/2 and sending early jitters through the dugout.
However, young Angkrish Raghuvanshi stepped up under pressure, displaying remarkable composure. He launched a counter-attack in partnership with skipper Ajinkya Rahane, stitching together a steady 55-run stand that took KKR to 62/2 by the eighth over. With only 50 runs required from 75 deliveries, a KKR win seemed a mere formality.
But just as the match seemed to be slipping away from Punjab, their bowlers turned the tide in stunning fashion. Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell spun a web around the KKR middle order, triggering a collapse that left the visitors shell-shocked. In the span of just seven deliveries, the duo claimed three crucial wickets — Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh — to breathe new life into the contest.
Jansen returned to the attack and added to the chaos with another wicket, and suddenly KKR found themselves staring at a collapse of epic proportions, reeling at 79/8. What looked like a routine chase had now transformed into a tense thriller.
Just when it seemed like PBKS had sealed the game, Andre Russell brought the match back to life with a fierce counterattack. The explosive all-rounder smashed two towering sixes and a crisp four off Yuzvendra Chahal, suddenly reducing the target to just 17 runs with two wickets in hand. The tension in the stadium was palpable.
However, it was Chahal’s brilliance earlier in the innings — a masterful spell of 4/28 with a remarkable 14 dot balls — that had already tilted the scales in PBKS’s favor. His timely breakthroughs dismantled the KKR middle order and laid the foundation for a potential upset.
In the end, Punjab’s bowlers held their nerve. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen returned to finish what they had started, picking up the final two wickets and bundling out KKR for 95. The incredible fightback sealed a 17-run win for PBKS, who not only defended the lowest total in IPL history but also delivered one of the most unforgettable finishes of the season.
The full scorecard and match details can be found here.
