PBKS vs KKR Highlights | Punjab Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 Runs | IPL 2025 Match Report | IPL 2025 | 31st Match

Punjab Kings Clinch Dramatic 16-Run Win Over Kolkata Knight Riders in Low-Scoring Thriller

Summary
In what turned out to be a rare low-scoring drama in IPL 2025, Punjab Kings held their nerve to edge past Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The contest, which saw both teams bundled out under 120, was a masterclass in bowling discipline and pressure handling. With just 111 on the board, PBKS relied on a stellar performance from their bowlers, especially Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen, to secure a vital win. Despite Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s cameo for KKR, their middle-order collapsed under sustained pressure, handing Punjab their fourth win of the season.

Scorecard

Punjab Kings: 111 all out in 15.3 overs
(Prabhsimran Singh 30, Priyansh Arya 22; Harshit Rana 3/25, Varun Chakaravarthy 2/21, Sunil Narine 2/14)

Kolkata Knight Riders: 95 all out in 15.1 overs
(Angkrish Raghuvanshi 37, Rahane 17; Yuzvendra Chahal 4/28, Marco Jansen 3/17, Xavier Bartlett 2/30)

Result: Punjab Kings won by 16 runs
Player of the Match: Yuzvendra Chahal

The moment where Yuzvendra Chahal turned the game ????#TATAIPL | #PBKSvKKR | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/D2O5ImOSf4

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 15, 2025

Punjab’s Powerplay Collapse and Recovery Efforts

After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Punjab Kings were immediately thrown off balance. Harshit Rana’s triple-strike within the powerplay dismantled the top order, removing Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and captain Shreyas Iyer. At 42 for 3, things went further downhill as Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell failed to build any momentum on a pitch that seemed two-paced.

Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh attempted a brief recovery, but with Varun Chakaravarthy and Narine applying the chokehold in the middle overs, Punjab's innings folded quickly. A late 15-run flourish from Xavier Bartlett helped push the total to 111, but it was far from a par score by Mullanpur standards.

KKR’s Response: A Tale of What Could’ve Been

Chasing 112, Kolkata Knight Riders began with an over-aggressive approach. Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine both fell inside the first two overs victims of trying to manufacture strokes too early. From 7 for 2, KKR looked to rebuild, with captain Ajinkya Rahane and the talented Angkrish Raghuvanshi adding some stability.

Raghuvanshi’s 37 off 28 balls was the lone bright spot, as wickets continued to tumble around him. Maxwell’s part-time spin removed Venkatesh Iyer, and Yuzvendra Chahal turned the screws by taking out both Rahane and Rinku Singh in quick succession.

What should’ve been a straightforward chase turned into a nightmare for the men in purple. Jansen returned to mop up the tail, removing Russell and Harshit Rana in the same over before Chahal picked up his fourth to end the innings at 95.

Bowling Brilliance: Chahal and Jansen Steal the Spotlight

On a pitch where no batter looked completely comfortable, it was the bowling units that dictated terms. Yuzvendra Chahal proved once again why he remains one of the most trusted spinners in the league. His four wickets included three of KKR’s most explosive hitters Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Ramandeep Singh ensuring there would be no late-game heroics.

Marco Jansen’s 3 for 17 was equally vital. He mixed pace and bounce cleverly and took out Russell just when the all-rounder looked like he could change the game. Xavier Bartlett’s early breakthroughs had already jolted KKR, and Arshdeep Singh's tight lines helped maintain the squeeze throughout.

The Turning Point: Raghuvanshi’s Wicket

At 62 for 3, Kolkata had the chase under control with Raghuvanshi striking fluently. But his dismissal to Chahal caught at cover while attempting an unnecessary big shot opened the floodgates. From that moment, KKR lost 7 wickets for just 33 runs. The team, known for their deep batting lineup, fell prey to panic and poor shot selection.

Skippers’ Contrasting Fortunes

Shreyas Iyer’s duck added to PBKS's early worries, but his bowlers bailed him out. On the other side, Ajinkya Rahane, despite scoring 17, couldn’t anchor the innings as expected. With a batting order full of stroke makers, both captains had to manage shifting gears with precision. Iyer will take the win, albeit in a scrappy fashion, while Rahane may have some thinking to do about the approach in tricky chases.

What This Means for Both Teams

The win lifts Punjab Kings to 10 points, comfortably placing them among the top four of the IPL 2025 table. Their bowling unit, especially the spinners, has proven capable of defending sub-par totals a crucial weapon in the business end of the tournament.

For KKR, this defeat exposes a glaring weakness in their middle-order. This is their fifth loss of the season, and their Net Run Rate has taken another significant hit. With playoff spots tightening, the margin for error has all but disappeared.