The 31st match of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur saw Punjab Kings (PBKS) struggle against a disciplined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling attack on April 15.
Punjab Kings’ openers Priyansh Arya (22 runs off 12 balls) and Prabhsimran Singh (30 runs off 15 balls) started briskly, racing to 39 runs in 3.1 overs. However, Harshit Rana drew first blood, dismissing Arya.
Captain Shreyas Iyer (0 run off 2 balls) fell for a duck in the same over. Josh Inglis, at No. 4, was outdone by Varun Chakaravarthy (2 runs off 6 balls) in the fifth over, leaving PBKS at 42/3.
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Prabhsimran tried to counter-attack and hammered Harshit for two consecutive sixes in the last over of the powerplay. However, the fast-bowler ultimately took his wicket as the PBKS innings continued to nosedive.
With the top-order back in the pavilion, Punjab turned to Nehal Wadhera (10 runs off 9 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (7 runs off 10 balls). Wadhera threw caution to the wind against Anrich Nortje to collect two back-to-back fours but a leading edge immediately after brought an end to his stay at the crease
Maxwell, struggling for form, fell to Chakaravarthy, in the 10th over. The Aussie was outfoxed by the spinner and got deceived by a carrom ball that bowled him through the gate.
PBKS brought in their Impact Player in the form of Suryansh Shedge (4 runs off 4 balls). The move did not work as Sunil Narine showed the exit door to the youngster in the 11th over. Narine got the better of Marco Jansen a few balls later as the Kings sank further.
Shashank Singh (18 runs off 17 balls) showed some resistance. He stitched a 23-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Xavier Bartlett (11 runs off 15 balls). KKR brought Vaibhav Arora back into the attack in the 16th over in which Shashank was adjudged LBW.
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A run-out for the last wicket ended Punjab Kings’ innings at 111 runs in 15.3 overs, the second-lowest total of IPL 2025.
For KKR, Harshit was the pick of the bowlers. He took three wickets and gave away 25 runs in his three overs.
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