Punjab Kings vs KKR Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard: A Low-Scoring Thriller
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have a history of captivating encounters in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and their recent clash was no exception. Instead of a high-scoring fest, fans witnessed a gripping battle where PBKS pulled off a remarkable victory by defending a surprisingly low total against a formidable KKR batting lineup. Let’s dive into the details of this enthralling Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match scorecard.
Match Summary: PBKS Defend the Unthinkable
The match took place on April 15, 2025, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh. After winning the toss, Punjab Kings elected to bat first. However, they found themselves in a precarious situation early on, struggling to build partnerships against a disciplined KKR bowling attack.
Punjab Kings Innings: A Struggle for Runs
The PBKS innings never really gained momentum. While a few batsmen managed to get starts, no one could convert them into a substantial score. The KKR bowlers, particularly Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, kept the pressure on, making it difficult for the Punjab batsmen to score freely.
Here’s a look at the Punjab Kings scorecard:
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prabhsimran Singh | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 72.73 |
| Liam Livingstone | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Jitesh Sharma | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 93.75 |
| Sikandar Raza | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Shashank Singh | 32 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Sam Curran | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Harpreet Brar | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Total | 110 | 109 | 12 | 0 | 100.92 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-15 (Prabhsimran Singh), 2-28 (Shikhar Dhawan), 3-53 (Liam Livingstone), 4-62 (Sikandar Raza), 5-85 (Jitesh Sharma), 6-96 (Sam Curran), 7-102 (Harpreet Brar), 8-106 (Kagiso Rabada), 9-109 (Shashank Singh), 10-110 (Yuzvendra Chahal)
KKR Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | 3 | 18 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Vaibhav Arora | 3 | 22 | 1 | 7.33 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 19 | 2 | 4.75 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 23 | 3 | 5.75 |
| Andre Russell | 2 | 15 | 1 | 7.50 |
| Ramandeep Singh | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 |
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: A Batting Collapse
Chasing a modest total of 111, Kolkata Knight Riders were expected to cruise to victory. However, the Punjab Kings bowlers had other plans. They bowled with incredible discipline and aggression, making life extremely difficult for the KKR batsmen.
Here’s the Kolkata Knight Riders scorecard:
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 11 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 78.57 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 14 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 82.35 |
| Andre Russell | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Rinku Singh | 17 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 85.00 |
| Ramandeep Singh | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Mitchell Starc | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Harshit Rana | 0* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 109 | 115 | 9 | 0 | 94.78 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-25 (Phil Salt), 2-32 (Sunil Narine), 3-45 (Ajinkya Rahane), 4-60 (Shreyas Iyer), 5-67 (Andre Russell), 6-88 (Venkatesh Iyer), 7-98 (Rinku Singh), 8-104 (Mitchell Starc), 9-109 (Varun Chakaravarthy), 10-109 (Ramandeep Singh)
PBKS Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 3 | 19 | 2 | 6.33 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 28 | 4 | 7.00 |
| Sam Curran | 3 | 20 | 1 | 6.67 |
| Harpreet Brar | 3 | 16 | 1 | 5.33 |
Key Highlights and Turning Points
- Lowest Total Defended: Punjab Kings successfully defended a total of just 110 runs, which could potentially be the lowest total ever defended in IPL history, depending on previous records.
- Yuzvendra Chahal’s Heroics: The veteran leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, was the star of the show with the ball for PBKS. He picked up crucial wickets at critical junctures, including the important scalp of Rinku Singh, finishing with an impressive four-wicket haul for just 28 runs.
- KKR Batting Woes: Despite having a strong batting lineup on paper, Kolkata Knight Riders struggled to adapt to the disciplined bowling of Punjab Kings. They lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to build any significant partnerships.
- Shashank Singh’s Contribution: While the PBKS innings was largely underwhelming, Shashank Singh’s gritty 32 runs proved to be invaluable in the context of the low-scoring match.
Conclusion: A Memorable Victory for Punjab Kings
This Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match scorecard tells the story of a remarkable defensive effort by PBKS. In a match where runs were hard to come by, the Punjab Kings bowlers, led by the brilliant Yuzvendra Chahal, displayed exceptional skill and composure to secure a memorable victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders. This low-scoring thriller will surely be remembered as one of the most captivating encounters of the IPL season.
