Mullanpur (Punjab) [India]: They say the best thing about time is that it changes. Often used to comfort others during difficult moments, this phrase has never rung more true for Punjab Kings (PBKS) and their captain, Shreyas Iyer.
From heartbreak in Kolkata to triumph in Mullanpur, PBKS — still chasing their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy — have continued to surprise, entertain, and etch their name into the tournament’s history. In back-to-back seasons, they’ve played roles in two of IPL’s most iconic moments: the highest run-chase and now, the lowest total ever defended.
𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎. 𝙄𝙎. 𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙀𝙈𝘼 🎬#PBKS have pulled off one of the greatest thrillers in #TATAIPL history 😮
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 15, 2025
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/sZtJIQpcbx#PBKSvKKR | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/vYY6rX8TdG
It was nearly a year ago at Eden Gardens that PBKS, led by Jonny Bairstow’s unforgettable performance, pulled off a record 262-run chase — the highest in T20 history — against a Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) side captained by none other than Shreyas Iyer. Fast forward to IPL 2025, and Iyer now leads a rejuvenated PBKS side that has just defended a mere 111 runs — the lowest ever defended in the IPL — against that very same KKR at Mullanpur. It’s a poetic full-circle moment, highlighting how drastically fortunes can flip in cricket.
Last season, PBKS were struggling with only two wins in eight games when they stunned everyone with that chase in Kolkata. KKR had piled up a monstrous 261/6, thanks to explosive fifties from Phil Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71). But PBKS responded with fearless batting — Bairstow smashed 108, Prabhsimran Singh added 54, and Shashank Singh struck 68. The total was chased down with eight wickets and eight balls to spare, rewriting T20 history.
Now, one season later, PBKS has morphed into a determined, well-rounded team under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting. Iyer, fresh off a Champions Trophy win with India, is leading a side rich with Indian firepower: Prabhsimran Singh, six-hitter Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal — alongside international stars like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai. All are proven match-winners and key to PBKS’s resurgence.
KKR, on the other hand, appear a shadow of their former self. Despite flashes of brilliance, they’ve only managed three wins from seven matches. Much of their downfall can be traced to their batting woes and the breakup of their potent opening pair — Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. Salt’s move to RCB has hurt them badly, while Narine’s risky style hasn’t yielded the same success as last season, with just 130 runs in six innings, compared to 276 last year.
Quinton de Kock’s poor form has added to their struggles, and the middle order — Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell — has been inconsistent. It has often fallen on skipper Ajinkya Rahane (221 runs in seven matches) and vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer (121 in five innings) to steady a volatile batting unit.
Also SEE: Punjab Kings Make IPL History By Defending Lowest Total To Defeat KKR
KKR’s bowlers have shown heart — the pace duo of Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, and spin pair of Varun Chakravarthy and Narine, have done their part. Today at Mullanpur, Harshit Rana’s incredible 3/25 spell wrecked PBKS’s top order after a quick start by Priyansh Arya (22 off 12) and Prabhsimran Singh (30 off 15). Varun (2/21) and Narine (2/14) kept up the pressure. But a loose shot from Rahane with the team at 62/3 triggered a collapse that saw KKR bowled out for just 95.
“The best thing about time is that it changes.” This win serves as a reminder of that — and a powerful statement from PBKS. They are no longer the underachievers. They’re contenders.
Will KKR fix their faltering middle order? Can PBKS ride this momentum to their first IPL title?
Only time will tell.