IPL 2025 Match 31 , PBKS vs KKR, PBKS Won By 16 Runs
In Match 31 of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) held their nerve to secure a gritty 16-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a tense, low-scoring contest at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. After opting to bat first, PBKS posted 111, but their bowlers turned the game on its head to bowl out KKR for just 95 runs.
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Match Details:
• Match: IPL 2025, Match 31 – PBKS vs KKR
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
• Date: April 15, 2025
• Toss: PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first
• Result: PBKS won by 16 runs
• Match Timing: All times in IST
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Punjab Kings Batting Performance:
PBKS openers started aggressively, with P. Arya smashing 22 runs off 12 balls, including 3 fours and a six, at a blazing strike rate of 183.33. His partner P. Singh was equally effective, scoring a quick-fire 30 off 15 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes at a 200 strike rate. However, a sudden collapse followed, triggered by Harshit Rana, who dismissed Arya, Singh, and skipper Shreyas Iyer — the latter falling for a duck.
Josh Inglis struggled to get going and was dismissed for 2 off 6 balls by Varun Chakaravarthy, while Nehal Wadhera added 10 off 9 before falling to Nortje. Glenn Maxwell couldn’t turn things around either, scoring only 7 runs off 10 balls before being bowled by Chakaravarthy.
Youngster Suryansh Shedge (4 off 4) and Samarth Singh (18 off 17) tried to steady the innings, but regular wickets kept pegging PBKS back. Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett added just 1 and 11 runs respectively, while Arshdeep Singh was unbeaten on 1 as PBKS were bowled out for 111 in just 15.3 overs. Extras added 5 runs to the total.
Kolkata Knight Riders Batting Performance:
Chasing 112, KKR got off to a nightmare start. Sunil Narine was dismissed in the very first over for 5, while Quinton de Kock followed soon after for 2, falling to Xavier Bartlett. Captain Ajinkya Rahane tried to anchor the innings with a composed 17 off 17 balls but was trapped LBW by Yuzvendra Chahal.
The most significant contribution came from young talent A. Raghuvanshi, who scored 37 off 28 balls, including 5 fours and a six. However, his dismissal in the 9th over proved to be a turning point. Venkatesh Iyer (7 off 4), Rinku Singh (2 off 9), and Andre Russell (17 off 11) couldn’t provide the finishing touch.
KKR’s lower order collapsed under pressure. Ramandeep Singh fell for a golden duck, Harshit Rana managed just 3 off 6, and Vaibhav Arora was out for a duck after facing 7 balls. Anrich Nortje remained not out on 0, but KKR were bundled out for 95 in 15.1 overs. Extras added 5 runs to the total.
Fall of Wickets:
PBKS –
1/39 (P. Arya), 2/39 (S. Iyer), 3/42 (J. Inglis), 4/54 (P. Singh), 5/74 (N. Wadhera),
6/76 (G. Maxwell), 7/80 (S. Shedge), 8/86 (M. Jansen), 9/109 (S. Singh), 10/111 (X. Bartlett)
KKR –
1/7 (S. Narine), 2/7 (Q. de Kock), 3/62 (A. Rahane), 4/72 (A. Raghuvanshi), 5/74 (V. Iyer),
6/76 (R. Singh), 7/76 (Ramandeep Singh), 8/79 (H. Rana), 9/95 (V. Arora), 10/95 (A. Russell)
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Conclusion:
In a match dominated by bowlers, Punjab Kings turned a seemingly below-par total into a match-winning one with a spirited bowling display. Yuzvendra Chahal’s brilliant spell, supported well by Marco Jansen and Bartlett, broke KKR’s back after a decent middle-order recovery. PBKS’ ability to defend 111 runs showcased their bowling strength and resilience under pressure.
For KKR, it was a missed opportunity. Despite Raghuvanshi’s promising innings, the rest of the batting lineup failed to click, crumbling under scoreboard pressure. The loss will sting for KKR, while PBKS will be buoyed by a thrilling win that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
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