The 31st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 witnessed an exciting low-scoring contest as Punjab Kings (PBKS) edged past Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 16 runs at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
Punjab Kings’ Innings Recap: 111 All Out (15.3 Overs)
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Punjab Kings had a fiery start thanks to Prabhsimran Singh, who smashed a quickfire 30 off 15 balls at a blistering strike rate of 200.00. His partner at the top, Priyansh Arya, also chipped in with 22 off 12 deliveries.
However, the middle-order couldn’t capitalize on the strong start. Shreyas Iyer (captain) managed just 2 runs, and wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Shashank Singh (18 off 17) and Xavier Bartlett (11 off 15) tried to anchor the innings, but PBKS were bundled out for just 111 runs in 15.3 overs.
KKR’s bowlers were clinical, with Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora picking up 3 wickets each, while Anrich Nortje and Harshit Rana provided timely breakthroughs.
KKR’s Chase: 95 All Out (15.1 Overs)
Chasing a modest target of 112, Kolkata Knight Riders had a nightmare start, losing Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock cheaply. Ajinkya Rahane tried to stabilize but fell for 17.
The lone warrior in the KKR innings was Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored a fluent 37 off 28 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Andre Russell added a quick 17, but PBKS bowlers, especially Marco Jansen (2/17), Xavier Bartlett (2/18), and Arshdeep Singh (2/11), ensured KKR never got close.
In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders were dismissed for 95 runs in 15.1 overs, handing Punjab Kings a much-needed 16-run win.
Match Summary:
- Match: PBKS vs KKR, 31st Match, IPL 2025
- Venue: Mohali, April 15, 2025
- Result: Punjab Kings won by 16 runs
- Punjab Kings: 111/10 (15.3 overs)
- Kolkata Knight Riders: 95/10 (15.1 overs)
Top Performers:
- Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS): 30 (15)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): 37 (28)
- Marco Jansen (PBKS): 2/17
- Vaibhav Arora (KKR): 3/31
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 2/11
What’s Next?
This victory gives Punjab Kings a much-needed boost in the points table, while Kolkata Knight Riders will look to bounce back quickly and address their fragile top order.
