Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: In a high-stakes encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a memorable four-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, with captain Shreyas Iyer anchoring a challenging 191-run chase.
After opting to bowl first, PBKS found themselves under pressure as CSK posted a daunting 190/8 on a sluggish, spin-friendly track, thanks to an explosive 88 off 47 balls from all-rounder Sam Curran. Despite strong bowling spells by Yuzvendra Chahal (4/42), Arshdeep Singh, and Marco Jansen (2 wickets each), CSK’s total looked formidable.
However, Punjab’s reply was led expertly by skipper Shreyas Iyer, who smashed 72 off 41 balls in a composed, aggressive knock that set the tone. He was ably supported by opener Prabhsimran Singh’s quick-fire 54. The duo stitched together a pivotal stand that blunted the CSK bowling attack and kept the asking rate within reach. PBKS sealed the win with two balls to spare.
Ponting Applauds Leadership and Hunger
Speaking at the post-match presentation, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting was full of praise for Iyer.
“Shreyas started this tournament in a form that I’ve never seen him in before… He’s hungry for success, and I think he proved that to everybody tonight,” said Ponting.
He emphasized Iyer’s mental transformation and influence in the dressing room:
“Just look at him in the eye—you can see that hunger. He wants to bring success to this team and franchise. That rubs off on everyone around him.”
Praise for Chahal’s Impact
Ponting also highlighted the performance of veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal:
“Yuzi is a wicket-taker. He backs himself to get any batsman out, and that belief showed tonight. That spell will boost his confidence for the remainder of the tournament.”
Dharamsala Awaits
Punjab Kings now head to their second home ground, Dharamsala, where they will play the next three matches.
Ponting is optimistic about the upcoming games:
“We know the conditions well—we had a pre-season camp there. Hopefully, we come away with three wins from Dharamsala.”
PBKS will next lock horns with the Lucknow Super Giants at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday, May 3, with the match starting at 7:30 PM IST.