IPL 2025: Yuzvendra Chahal the hero as PBKS defend lowest total in IPL history

Punjab Kings defended 111, the lowest-ever in IPL history, bowling KKR out for 95.

Punjab Kings defended 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders thanks to sensational spells from Yuzvendra Chahal (4 for 28) and Marco Jansen (3 for 17).

This was heist on a cricket field if there was every any. Kolkata Knight Riders celebrated like their job was half done when Punjab Kings were bowled out for 111 despite a strong opening stand. To be honest, that should have been job half done, dusted and completed.

Yuzvendra Chahal the hero

Until Yuzvendra Chahal stepped in. The PBKS fast bowling coach wanted his star leg-spinner to be used a little more. The highest wicket-taker in IPL history had endured an unproductive season until he ran into KKR at Mullanpur Tuesday night.

In the days of 200 plus totals, a chase of 112 was supposed to be a cake-walk. KKR fell short by 16 runs. All thanks to Chahal’s destructive spell and key wickets by Jansen which included the final one of Andre Russell who threatened to spoil Punjab’s party. Those efforts were underlined by Chahal, who now jointly holds the record for most four-wicket hauls in the IPL alongside Sunil Narine.

PBKS broke a 16-year-old record. Ironically, it was in 2009 when CSK had successfully defended 116 vs PBKS. In 2018, Sunrisers Hyderabad had defended 118 against Mumbai Indians. In 2019, PBKS had won against MI despite scoring 119. Such low totals have not been defended in the IPL for years and that’s why their Punjab’s efforts were even more glorious.

PBKS now hold the records for the highest successful run chase and the lowest total defended in the IPL. Incidentally, both those records came at the expense of KKR.

Lowest totals defended in IPL

• 111 – PBKS vs KKR, Mullanpur, 2025
• 116/9 – CSK vs PBKS, Durban, 2009
• 118 – SRH vs MI, Mumbai WS, 2018
• 119/8 – PBKS vs MI, Durban, 2009
• 119/8 – SRH vs PWI, Pune, 2013

The turnaround

Just last week, when KKR needed 104 to win against Chennai Super Kings, they got home with 8 wickets and 59 balls remaining. Naturally, there were similar expectations against PBKS, but Chahal had different plans.

KKR lost Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock early but Ajinkya Rahane had calmed the nerves with Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The pair came together at 7 for 2 and had steered the side to 62 for 2 in the 8th over before Chahal struck to remove Rahane. Replays suggested the LBW decision should have been reviewed by the KKR captain and indeed, the impact was outside off-stump.

In his next over, Chahal removed the well-set Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 37. There was still no way KKR did not think of an easy win but Glenn Maxwell, who flopped with the bat again, snared Venkatesh Iyer. When Chahal dismissed Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh off successive balls in the 12th over, PBKS had really started to believe.

KKR had two more shocks to deal with Marco Jansen removed Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh dismissed Vaibhav Arora off the last ball of his spell. Between those two dismissals, Andre Russell somehow kept KKR in the game with 2 sixes and a four off Chahal in his last over.

Jansen delivers knockout punch

With 5 overs remaining, KKR needed only 17 but they also had only 1 wicket left. Jansen bowled Russell who tried to hit the ball out of the park – there were crazy scenes of celebrations as Jansen was mobbed by his teammates after a sensational win.

The PBKS innings lost steam and never gained any momentum after a rapid start from Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. The twist came in the 4th over when Harshit Rana removed Arya and Shreyas Iyer for a duck.

This was Iyer’s first match against KKR after winning the last IPL with them. It was a big wicket because of the kind of from the PBKS captain has been in this season.

Prabhsimran Singh fell soon after and on either side of his dismissal, PBKS lost Josh Inglis, Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell.

Suryansh Shedge was brought in as an Impact Player but it did not help Punjab and when Shashank Singh fell for 18, the writing seemed to be on the wall. Xavier Bartlett was run out after a comical mix-up with Arshdeep Singh as the PBKS innings folded for 111 off 15.3 overs.

Harshit Rana was the best KKR bowler with 3 for 25 while Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine pocketed 2 wickets apiece. Vaibhav Arora and Anrich Nortje who replaced Moeen Ali, picked 1 wicket each.

This was the second successive match when the KKR bowlers fired and restricted the opposition to a low score. Four days back, CSK were at the receiving end of the Knight Riders’ bowling attack in a crushing defeat at the Eden Gardens. Not in their wildest dreams would KKR have thought of losing this game – spare a thought for their bowlers who witnessed one of the most timid batting performances in the history of the IPL.