Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 28 as Punjab Kings pulled off the lowest-ever successful defence in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a gripping contest on Tuesday.
Set a paltry target of 112, KKR appeared in firm control at 71 for 3 in the 10th over, but crumbled under pressure to be bundled out for 95 in 15.1 overs, collapsing spectacularly to lose their final seven wickets for just 24 runs.
Chahal turned the tide single-handedly for Punjab with a mesmerising spell, claiming the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (17), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37), Rinku Singh (2), and Ramandeep Singh (0) — the latter two coming off successive deliveries in the 12th over. His performance earned him plaudits for orchestrating what seemed an improbable win.
Pacer Marco Jansen also played a pivotal role, returning figures of 3 for 17, while Xavier Bartlett, Glenn Maxwell and Arshdeep Singh claimed a wicket each to complete the rout.
The previous record for the lowest total defended in IPL history was 116 by Chennai Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab in 2009.
Punjab began their defence in earnest, with Jansen dismissing Sunil Narine (5) in the opening stages. Bartlett struck in the following over to remove Quinton de Kock (2), giving the hosts an early advantage.
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, in partnership with Raghuvanshi, attempted to rebuild, with Rahane showcasing his class with a six off Bartlett to push the side to 55 for 2 by the end of the powerplay.
However, the introduction of Chahal in the eighth over proved decisive. He trapped Rahane leg before, and in his next over, had Raghuvanshi caught brilliantly by Bartlett at backward point.
Venkatesh Iyer fell LBW to Maxwell in the 11th over after a lengthy review, adding to KKR’s woes. Chahal then delivered the knockout blows — deceiving Rinku Singh with a delivery that snuck between bat and pad before having Ramandeep Singh caught first ball.
From there, the writing was on the wall for KKR. Jansen dismissed Harshit Rana for a duck, and although Andre Russell briefly threatened with two sixes and a four in the 14th over, the effort was too little, too late. KKR still required 17 runs but had only two wickets in hand.
Arshdeep Singh then dismissed Vaibhav Arora off the final ball of the 15th over to end the innings.
Earlier, PBKS’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired spectacularly as they were skittled out for 111 — the third-lowest total in this edition of the IPL.
Only openers Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (30) made meaningful contributions. Nehal Wadhera (10), Shashank Singh (18), and Xavier Bartlett (11) were the only other batters to reach double figures.
Poor shot selection and reckless batting plagued the Punjab innings, which folded in 18.5 overs.
Harshit Rana starred with the ball for KKR, taking 3 for 25, while Varun Chakaravarthy (2 for 21) and Sunil Narine (2 for 14) also made key inroads.
Arya, who had struck a century in PBKS’s previous match against Chennai Super Kings, looked in good touch early, striking two boundaries off Anrich Nortje and a six off Rana. But the KKR pacer had his revenge as Arya holed out to Ramandeep Singh.
Ramandeep was central to the fielding effort, pulling off a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer for a golden duck. Josh Inglis (2) soon followed, bowled by Chakaravarthy.
Despite Prabhsimran Singh’s valiant effort, smashing two sixes off Rana, he too perished soon after, with Ramandeep taking his third catch of the innings.
At 54 for 4 by the end of the powerplay, PBKS were in deep trouble. But it was their bowlers — led by Chahal — who scripted a comeback for the ages.
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