Iyer Explosive 97 Powers PBKS to Thrilling 11-Run Win
GT winning the toss and electing to bowl first, a decision that reflected their confidence in chasing targets at a venue known for favoring high-scoring encounters. PBKS got off to a shaky start when Rabada struck early, dismissing opener Prabhsimran Singh for just 5 runs. However, the young Priyansh Arya, making his IPL debut, quickly turned the tide with a blazing 47 off 23 balls, including a flurry of boundaries and a six that showcased his audacious strokeplay. His aggressive intent set the stage for what would become a run-fest, but his innings was cut short by Rashid Khan, whose guile proved too much for the debutant.
As wickets fell, PBKS found themselves at 105/4 by the 11th over, with Sai Kishore striking twice in quick succession to remove Azmatullah Omarzai (16) and Glenn Maxwell (0). The pressure was mounting, but Shreyas Iyer, in his first outing as PBKS captain, rose to the occasion with a breathtaking display of batting prowess. Walking in at No. 3, Iyer anchored the innings with a blend of elegance and aggression, unleashing a barrage of sixes—nine in total—alongside five fours. His unbeaten 97 off 42 balls was a statement of intent, proving why PBKS had invested heavily in his leadership and skill following his title-winning stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.
Iyer found an able partner in Shashank Singh, who smashed an unbeaten 44 off 16 balls, including six fours and two sixes. Together, they plundered 135 runs in the last eight overs, exploiting GT’s death bowling frailties. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan bore the brunt of the assault, with Shashank taking 23 runs off the final over to propel PBKS to a daunting 243/5—the highest IPL total ever recorded at the Narendra Modi Stadium, eclipsing GT’s previous record of 233/3 against Mumbai Indians in 2023.
Chasing 244, GT needed a strong start, and their new opening pair of Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan delivered. Buttler, with his trademark flair, scored 54 off 33 balls, while Sudharsan played a more measured yet impactful 74 off 41 balls. Their 84-run partnership in the powerplay gave GT hope, with the duo finding boundaries at will against a PBKS attack hampered by dew. However, Arshdeep Singh, PBKS’s pace spearhead, broke the stand by dismissing Sudharsan, triggering a shift in momentum.
Sherfane Rutherford (31 off 18) and Rahul Tewatia (15 off 10) kept GT in the hunt with some lusty blows, including 16 sixes in the innings—the most GT had ever hit in an IPL match, surpassing their previous best of 14 against Lucknow Super Giants in 2023. At 182/2 after 16 overs, GT needed 62 runs off the final four overs, a steep but achievable ask given the batting depth and the dew factor aiding the chase. Yet, PBKS’s bowlers, particularly Arshdeep and Vijaykumar Vyshak, tightened the screws with disciplined wide yorkers, forcing GT into errors.
Rutherford’s dismissal—bowled by Arshdeep in the 19th over after a wild swing—proved decisive, leaving GT needing 19 off the last two balls. Shahrukh Khan smashed a six off the penultimate delivery, but it was too little, too late. GT finished at 232/5, falling 11 runs short despite posting their highest-ever chase total in the IPL. The 16 sixes and 232 runs underscored the batting might on display, but PBKS’s superior finishing in both innings sealed the deal.
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Iyer’s 97* earned him the Player of the Match honors, a near-perfect start to his captaincy tenure with PBKS. His ability to dominate GT’s spinners, including Rashid Khan, who conceded two sixes in an over, highlighted his form, though he fell agonizingly short of a maiden IPL ton. For GT, the loss exposed vulnerabilities in their death bowling, with 135 runs leaking in the final eight overs—a stark contrast to their batting heroics. Rashid Khan, typically a trump card, finished with 1/40, while Siraj and Rabada struggled to contain the onslaught.
The match, witnessed by a packed Ahmedabad crowd, lived up to the IPL’s reputation for drama and fireworks. PBKS’s victory was a testament to their intent to play “brave cricket,” as promised by assistant coach Brad Haddin, while GT’s spirited chase showed their potential despite the defeat. Historically, GT holds a 3-2 edge over PBKS in five meetings, but this result signaled a shift, with Iyer’s leadership and Shashank’s late flourish giving Punjab an early boost in IPL 2025. As the tournament progresses, both teams will look to build on their strengths—GT refining their bowling execution and PBKS maintaining their fearless batting approach—in what promises to be a fiercely contested season.
