Punjab Kings staged a clinical all-round performance to edge past Chennai Super Kings by four wickets in a high-scoring contest, thereby knocking the five-time champions out of contention for this season’s Indian Premier League play-offs.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s sensational four-wicket burst, which included a hat-trick, helped restrict CSK to 190. In response, composed half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh powered PBKS to 194 for 6 with two deliveries to spare.
Chahal returned figures of 4 for 32, turning the match on its head in the death overs. His final spell dismantled the CSK lower order, as the hosts crumbled, losing six wickets for just five runs, a collapse that would ultimately define the outcome.
Shreyas Iyer, continuing his fine form as captain, top-scored with a commanding 72 off 41 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and four sixes. He was ably supported by Prabhsimran Singh, who struck 54 off 36 balls with an array of audacious strokes, including scoops, reverse sweeps, and clean drives.
“Iyer towered over the others, rotating the strike with ease while getting the big boundaries to constantly ward off the pressure which CSK tried to build towards the end with wickets and dot balls,” the report stated.
A 72-run second-wicket partnership between Iyer and Prabhsimran laid the foundation for the successful chase, despite a few hiccups in the closing overs. Notably, Iyer’s aggressive 17th over against Matheesha Pathirana — yielding 20 runs — decisively swung the momentum in Punjab’s favour.
The openers had earlier provided a brisk start, with Priyansh Arya (23) and Prabhsimran scoring at a rate of nine an over. Prabhsimran had a stroke of luck when a DRS call upheld the on-field umpire’s not-out decision following an lbw appeal from Ravindra Jadeja.
CSK, now placed 10th on the table with just four points, were effectively eliminated from play-off contention. Punjab, on the other hand, climbed to second position with 13 points.
Earlier, CSK’s innings was anchored by Sam Curran, who notched his first half-century of the season with a spirited 88 off 47 deliveries, comprising nine boundaries and four sixes. He led the side’s recovery from 48 for 3 in the powerplay alongside Dewald Brevis (32), putting on 78 runs for the fourth wicket.
Curran launched a brutal assault in the 16th over, dispatching debutant Suryansh Shedge for 26 runs, including two sixes and two fours. The southpaw continued to dominate until the 18th over, when he was dismissed after gloving a bouncer from Marco Jansen.
The death overs belonged to Chahal. After being hit for a six by MS Dhoni (11), he dismissed the veteran on the next delivery. Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad followed in quick succession, the latter sealing Chahal’s second IPL hat-trick as CSK collapsed spectacularly.
With this defeat, Chennai’s long-standing dominance in the IPL was brought to an abrupt halt, while Punjab emerged as serious title contenders.
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