In a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire, the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) snatched a stunning four-wicket victory against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final over of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This dramatic win not only propelled the Punjab Kings higher up the IPL 2025 points table but also officially eliminated the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, from playoff contention, marking a significant shift in the tournament’s landscape.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer’s decision proved to be a masterstroke, albeit after an initial fightback from the Chennai Super Kings. The CSK innings began shakily, with Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen striking early blows to leave the home team struggling at 22 for 2 within the first four overs. Just as Ravindra Jadeja attempted to inject some momentum, he was dismissed, further denting CSK’s progress.
However, a resilient partnership blossomed between Sam Curran and Dewald Brevis, who counter-attacked with impressive shot-making. Their 78-run stand provided much-needed stability before Azmatullah Omarzai broke the partnership. Curran continued his onslaught, reaching a scintillating 88 off just 47 deliveries, his highest IPL score, which included nine boundaries and four towering sixes. Just when CSK looked poised to reach a formidable total, the complexion of the game dramatically altered, courtesy of Punjab Kings’ veteran leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Chahal turned the innings on its head in the 19th over, claiming an unprecedented four wickets, including a hat-trick. His victims included the dangerous MS Dhoni, Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad, dismantling the CSK lower order and restricting them to a total of 190 all out in 19.2 overs. Chahal’s remarkable spell of 4 for 32 not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also became a pivotal moment in the game.
Chasing a target of 191, the Punjab Kings got off to a solid start, courtesy of their in-form opening pair, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. They put together a fluent 44-run partnership before Khaleel Ahmed provided the breakthrough for CSK. Prabhsimran continued his impressive form, notching up his third half-century of the season, scoring a well-compiled 54 off 36 balls.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer then took center stage, anchoring the chase with a commanding innings. He expertly paced his knock, initially playing second fiddle to Prabhsimran before accelerating once the opener was dismissed. Iyer reached his fifth half-century of the season in just 32 balls and continued to dismantle the CSK bowling attack. His aggressive intent was particularly evident in the 17th over when he smashed Matheesha Pathirana for two sixes and a four, bringing Punjab Kings closer to the target.
A crucial 44-run partnership between Iyer and Shashank Singh further solidified Punjab’s position. However, a brilliant catch on the boundary by Dewald Brevis brought an end to Shashank’s cameo, injecting a late surge of hope into the CSK camp. Despite this, Shreyas Iyer continued his masterful innings, eventually falling for a well-deserved 72 off 41 balls in the penultimate over, leaving Punjab Kings needing just two runs off the final six deliveries.
The last over witnessed a few tense moments as Punjab Kings lost Suryansh Shedge, but Marco Jansen held his nerve, guiding the ball for a boundary off the fourth delivery to seal a thrilling four-wicket victory for his team. This stunning win, orchestrated by a brilliant all-round performance and led by a composed innings from captain Shreyas Iyer, not only secured two crucial points for Punjab Kings but also extinguished Chennai Super Kings’ playoff aspirations, making it a truly memorable encounter in the IPL 2025 season. Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and his Player-of-the-Match performance were instrumental in guiding his team to this sensational last-over triumph.