In Match 31 of IPL 2025, held on April 15 at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, Punjab Kings (PBKS) stunned Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by securing a historic 16-run victory in a low-scoring thriller. The standout performer of the night was none other than Yuzvendra Chahal, whose exceptional bowling spell proved to be the turning point of the game.
Punjab Kings Defend Lowest Total in IPL History
Batting first, Punjab Kings were bundled out for just 111 runs, a total that seemed underwhelming. However, their bowling unit delivered a masterclass, dismissing KKR for only 95 runs, marking the lowest total ever defended in IPL history.
The match started with PBKS struggling with the bat, but despite their underperformance, they came out all guns blazing in the second innings. The credit for this historic win goes primarily to Chahal’s exceptional performance.
Yuzvendra Chahal: The Game Changer
Veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal delivered one of the finest spells of IPL 2025, taking 4 wickets for 28 runs in his four overs. This performance became his second-best in IPL history. He dismissed key KKR batsmen — Ajinkya Rahane (17), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37), Rinku Singh (2), and Ramandeep Singh (0) — breaking the backbone of the chase.
His impact on the game earned him the Player of the Match award, and fans hailed his spell as the
“play of the day.”
Match Summary Table
| Team | Innings Total | Top Performer (Bat) | Top Performer (Bowl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings | 111 all out | Prabhsimran Singh (30) | Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 95 all out | Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37) | Harshit Rana (3/25) |
Also Check: IPL 2025: KKR’s Batting Collapse Hands PBKS a Comfortable 16-Run Victory
PBKS Climbs to Fourth on Points Table
With this win, Punjab Kings climbed to 4th position on the IPL 2025 points table. They now have 8 points from 6 matches with a net run rate of +0.172, pushing Lucknow Super Giants to fifth place due to superior NRR.
This victory marks PBKS’s 4th win of the season and adds strong momentum to their campaign as they eye a playoff spot.
What’s Next for Punjab Kings?
Up next, Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 18 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. With Chahal in red-hot form and the bowling unit showing strong cohesion, fans are excited to see if PBKS can carry forward their winning streak.