Daijiworld Media Network- Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Apr 16: In one of the most remarkable turnarounds in IPL history, Punjab Kings successfully defended the lowest-ever total in the tournament — 111 runs — pulling off a sensational 16-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
The low-scoring thriller left Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer nearly speechless. "It is hard to express in words. I was just backing my instincts," Iyer said during the post-match presentation, lauding his team's mental strength and execution under pressure.
Punjab, after opting to bat, found themselves in deep trouble early on. KKR’s bowling unit, led by Harshit Rana with figures of 3 wickets, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine who took two each, skittled the hosts for just 111 in 15.3 overs.
However, the Punjab bowlers turned the match on its head. Yuzvendra Chahal spun a web with a career-best tournament performance of 4/28, while South African pacer Marco Jansen chipped in with three crucial scalps, restricting KKR short of the target and etching their name into the IPL record books.
"I personally felt when I went out to bat, the ball behaved unpredictably. One stayed low, another hit the toe of my bat. There was variable bounce and it was hard to score. We thought 111 could be enough if we bowled smartly — and it turned out to be true," Iyer explained.
He credited the team’s awareness of pitch conditions and their ability to adapt swiftly. "We asked our bowlers to keep the inconsistent bounce in mind. Once we got two wickets early, the pressure shifted."
Iyer also praised Chahal’s impact. "When Yuzi came in and started turning the ball, we felt the momentum shift. We kept an attacking field to force mistakes."
While the victory was a significant morale booster, Iyer urged his squad to remain level-headed. “It is important we stay humble and not get over-hyped with this win. We need to carry forward the positives and focus on the next game from ball one,” he concluded.
Following the dramatic win, Punjab Kings have climbed to fourth in the points table with eight points from six matches. Meanwhile, KKR slipped to sixth, having garnered six points from seven outings.