PBKS vs CSK, 22nd Match at Mohali, IPL, Apr 08 2025 - Match Result

11:38pm That will be all from us for tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and would love your company again tomorrow, with more IPL action lined up. Until then, this is goodbye from Raghav, Vairavan and myself (Shashwat). Take care, folks!

Priyansh Arya, Player of the Match: The feeling is out of this world. I am happy but I want to contribute more for the team. This is my way (of batting). Shreyas bhaiya told me to bat with intent. Even if I get out, there are no worries and just to play what I have in my mind. Have to play the situation also. When Nehal came in, I was thinking singles and doubles but he told me to back my first instinct and I played that way. All bowlers were very good, so I felt any bowler could cause me problems.

Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings captain: (If this is going to be their template of batting first) Absolutely. This is going to be the template, irrespective of the ground. We have variety in the batting line-up. Great hitters, great timers, scintillating to watch Priyansh bat from the outside. When I had a chat with him in the last game, he was a bit timid in his decision-making against Jofra. Tonight, he was backing his instincts. It was free-flowing and that is the mindset I want in everyone. Today, he kept on going, he was fearless and it was basically one of the top knocks I have seen in the IPL so far. (On Chahal being held back) That was a tactical call, because Dube had already played a few deliveries, and also Conway. With Yuzi coming in, we know how destructive he (Dube) can be. But Yuzi is a smart bowler. My instincts felt that pacers bowling slower balls into the wicket (would work), and we basically wanted pace against Dube. We delayed a bit but eventually, it worked out. (On the dropped catches) We were just talking right now, and we were saying we have not played our best game yet. Start of the tournament, some nerves are there. When we get fearless on the field…we need to go back, take some catches, do some group sessions. But we won the game, and that is most important.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chennai Super Kings captain: (On the dropped catches) In the last four games, that is the only point of difference. It has been very critical. Every time we are dropping the catch, the same batter is adding 20-25-30 runs extra. If you leave out the RCB game, the last three chases, it was a matter of one or two or maybe three hits. Sometimes you have to appreciate the way Priyansh played. He took his chances. It was high-risk batting and it came off really well for him. Even though we were taking wickets, they kept the momentum going. 10-15 (less we could have conceded), if we would have executed well, and at the end of the day, it also comes down to the dropped catches. Today was spot-on from a batting perspective. This is what we wanted. Our best batters, who can play pace very well, played up the order and had a brilliant powerplay. It was a better, improved performance and many positives. Want to take some positives out of it, and we were two or three hits away (from winning). He (Conway) is more of a timer of the ball, very useful up the order. When you have Jaddu, known for that (finishing) role particularly, you expect that. When you know the batter is struggling…initially he (Conway) was still timing it well. We waited and waited until (he started struggling). Told the guys we have to enjoy the fielding. If you are nervous, you will drop some catches. If you look to be a standout fielder, the first catch taken, the first boundary saved helps everyone. Batting and bowling, you can have a bad day, but in fielding, that is something we are trying to work on, but right now, it is not happening.

Shashank Singh: When I went to bat, we were five down. My role was to play with low risks and maximum rewards. Priyansh, the way he was batting, I knew we would get close. 200 was a par score on this surface. When you enter the field, it is about not looking at past performances. My role was to be there and maximise the scoring. (On Brian Lara and his advice) The way he told me about my batting, how I should go about my batting. I am someone who times the ball well. Lucky to have Ponting, he backs me well. He (Arya) does it for his state side and he does it for his state side. Very bright prospect for the franchise and for the country as well. We have a really good side to take it match-by-match. We have to win those moments and stay in the present.

11:12pm What is better than one high-scoring thriller? Two high-scoring thrillers, of course. This one, admittedly, may not have been as close as what unfolded at the Eden Gardens, but for a moment, for the briefest of moments, Dhoni, like he has done so often, had CSK dreaming. The reality, though, was that CSK had too many to chase, even when Dhoni walked in, and it transpired in exactly that fashion, with the five-time champions falling short by 18 runs.

Conway, playing his second game of the season, kept CSK afloat along with Dube, but neither could get the over-drive kick they would have wanted. Dube departed to Ferguson and Conway was retired-out later, which compounded a phase where CSK barely found the fence, with the asking rate also surging to improbable proportions.

A large chunk of the credit also has to go to the Punjab Kings. Arshdeep and Ferguson buckled down, bowling brilliant defensive overs. Chahal, called upon to bowl just one over, also conceded nine and that further tightened the screws, with Thakur closing out the game right at the death.

Last ball coming up

21 off 2. PBKS on the verge of going 3-1

27 off 4. Four legal balls and PBKS will be home

Shankar on strike

Thakur to face the last over. 28 needed off 6. Dhoni on strike. Surely PBKS' game? Around the wicket

Abhishek Rajput: "CSK gave away 3 20 run over, and they have 0. That's win-loss difference." -- Could be....

40 off 10. CSK need a boundary, like right about now

Dhoni back on strike. Up against one of India's finest death-bowlers in Arshdeep. 42 off 11

43 off 12. CSK still very much behind in this game. Arshdeep to bowl the 19th and he has a chance to close this game out (or at least take it further away from CSK). Jadeja on strike, with Conway having retired out

CSK need a lot more of these sixes from now until the end of the game. Okay, hang on. Looks like Conway is retiring out. Oh my - this is a massive decision!

22 balls since the last boundary, and that sums it up for CSK

Dhoni has not gotten going yet, and Conway seems to have lost his rhythm too

CSK need 59, and a miracle to win this from here. Ferguson to bowl out. Another good over, and that might be it for CSK