Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 25: In an explosive display of batting, Punjab Kings (PBKS) posted a massive total of 243/5 against Gujarat Titans (GT) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match on Tuesday, with captain Shreyas Iyer leading the charge with an unbeaten 97 off just 42 balls.
Gujarat won the toss and opted to bowl first, but their bowlers were unable to contain the aggressive PBKS batting lineup. The innings got off to a rapid start with debutant Priyansh Arya, who helped the team reach 50 in just 4.3 overs. Arya played a quickfire knock of 47 off 23 balls, blasting seven boundaries and two sixes before falling to Rashid Khan, leaving Punjab at 79/2.
Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai made an instant impact, hitting a six off Rashid Khan on the first ball he faced. However, his innings was cut short as he was dismissed for 16 off 15 balls by Sai Kishore, who struck twice in quick succession by trapping Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck on the next delivery.
Marcus Stoinis then joined Iyer at the crease, and together they put on a crucial 57-run stand before Stoinis was dismissed for 20 by Sai Kishore. By the 17.4 over mark, Punjab had crossed 200 runs, with Iyer and Shashank Singh providing the finishing touch. The pair’s explosive 81-run partnership propelled PBKS to a daunting total. Iyer remained unbeaten on 97, while Shashank played a fiery cameo, smashing 44 off just 16 balls, including attacking Mohammed Siraj in the final over to push the score past 240.
For Gujarat, Sai Kishore was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 30 runs. Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada each picked up one wicket, but the rest of the GT bowlers struggled to contain Punjab’s aggressive batting attack.
With a steep target of 244 to chase, Gujarat Titans will need a herculean effort to secure their first victory of the season.
Brief score: Punjab Kings 243/5 (Shreyas Iyer 97*, Priyansh Arya 47; Sai Kishore 3/30) vs. Gujarat Titans