In an electrifying IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens, Punjab Kings (PBKS) put up a commanding total of 201/4 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. It was a night to remember for PBKS fans as their top-order batters unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes, setting the stage for a high-octane second innings.
The stars of the show were young guns Prabhsimran Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who completely dominated the KKR bowlers.
- Prabhsimran Arya smashed a breathtaking 69 runs off 35 balls, lacing his innings with 8 fours and 4 sixes at an explosive strike rate of 197.14. Arya’s intent was clear from the first ball, and he kept the momentum going until he fell to a sharp catch by Vaibhav Arora off Andre Russell’s bowling.
- His opening partner, Prabhsimran Singh, was even more destructive, hammering 83 runs off 49 balls with 6 fours and 6 towering sixes, maintaining a sizzling strike rate of 169.39. Singh’s shot selection and timing were impeccable before he was dismissed by Vaibhav Arora.
After the departure of the openers, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer kept the scoreboard ticking with a handy 25 off 16 balls*, while Josh Inglis provided a late cameo with 11 off 6 balls*. However, star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (7 off 8 balls) and Marco Jansen (3 off 7 balls) couldn’t capitalize on the platform set, falling cheaply towards the death overs.
The KKR bowlers struggled for consistency on a flat Eden Gardens track:
- Vaibhav Arora was the standout, picking up 2 wickets for 34 runs in his 4 overs.
- Andre Russell and Varun Chakaravarthy also chipped in with a wicket each but were expensive.
- Others like Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, and Sunil Narine failed to stem the flow of runs, conceding at high economy rates.
The PBKS innings saw a steady fall of wickets:
- 120/1 (Prabhsimran Arya, 11.5 overs)
- 160/2 (Prabhsimran Singh, 14.3 overs)
- 172/3 (Glenn Maxwell, 16.4 overs)
- 184/4 (Marco Jansen, 18.3 overs)
With a daunting target of 202 runs, KKR now faces an uphill battle to chase down the total against a spirited PBKS bowling attack featuring the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
The stage is set for a thrilling second half at Eden Gardens. Will KKR rise to the challenge or will PBKS seal a memorable win? Stay tuned!
