PBKS vs KKR, 31st Match at Mohali, IPL, Apr 15 2025 - Match Result

Punjab's players are still hugging it out in the middle. What a turnaround for Chahal, what a night for Shreyas Iyer after his second-ball duck. We were talking about KKR going No. 1 on NRR an hour ago. Just incredible scenes.

Rahane: "I'll take the blame, played the wrong shot, was missing, but it started from there. I didn't want to take a chance at the time, I wasn't sure as well. wicket was not that easy, 111 was chaseable, we batted really badly as a batting unit, bowlers did really well against a strong Punjab batting line up. I thought we were reckless, should take full responsibility as a unit. Too many things going through my head. Very disappointed. Need to keep myself really calm and think about what I'm going to talk to the boys."

I have almost never heard Ajinkya Rahane express himself in the manner he has just now.

Ricky Ponting: The heart rate is still up there ... two days agp we couldn't chase 240 off ... small chases like this, the wicket was easy. How about Chahal tonight? He actually had a fitness test beforee the game tonight ... I asked him if he was okay, he said he was ready to go ... even if we had lost that game, I couldnt have been prouder of us in the second half, the batting was poor, but ... if we had gone down in a close one, I thought this was a season defining moment. I reckon at the half way mark there weren't too many people around the world who would have defended that ... That might just be about the best win I've ever had as coach."

If Ponting is saying that it's the best game he's been part of as coach, that's got to count for a whole lot. Stay tuned for the presentation.

Mustafa Moudi : "So Chahal saved himself for this match. Last match Dhoni and tonight Chahal, once again proved - FORM IS TEMPORARY, CLASS IS PERMANENT!!"

Akshay: "Wonder how Varun judged this as a 180-190 wicket during the innings break!"

Shreyas Iyer at the presentation: "It's had to express in words, I saw the ball was turning a bit, asked Yuzi to control his breathing as much as possible, we needed to be attacking, I'm not able to talk, it's tough to digest this victory ... When I went out to bat i faced two balls, one stayed low, the other carried, there was variable bounce in the wicket ... we got to a decent total, considering we won by 16 runs ... the bounce wasn't consistent and the pace was variable ... Two wickets in two overs gave us momentum but their two batters took the momentum towards them, but when Yuzi started turning the ball, our expectations and hopes got higher, I wanted the fielders to be attacking around the batsmen so that they try different shots, and the tide turned towards us. We need to stay humble ...this win is going to give us a boost."

Chahal is the Player of the Match of course for 4-0-28-4.

Chahal: "I think it was a team effort, we wanted to stay positive, take 2-3 wickets in the powerplay, pitch wasnt easy. There was turn in the pitch as well. My first ball turned, so Shreyas said let's have a slip, we needed to take wickets to win this game because the runs were low. I always had self belief in myself. I always think about how to get the batters out, I varied my pace so that the batters had to put effort into hitting."

It's been a memorable game, thank you for keeping me company through it with your emails. I hope you enjoyed following it on Cricinfo as much as I did bringing it to you. Until the next one, goodnight!

The last time these two teams faced each other at Eden Gardens last season, Punjab pulled off the highest chase ever in the IPL. Now they are one wicket away from pulling off the lowest defence ever in the IPL. High drama. Russell stands between then and two points that looked so improbable one hour ago.

Jansen to bowl. Russell's got to go ...big! He wants new bats. Oh the new bats coming from the dug out are for Nortje! Nortje's previous bat did not fit through the umpire's gauge it seems.

17 runs have never seemed so far away in T20 cricket.

Hilly: "The statistics clearly says Dre Rus has 200 strike rate against Chahal. Where is the think tank?? "

17 to win off 36 for KKR, Russell is not on strike. Arshdeep to Arora.

Dhaval: "Keep calm and believe in Dre Russ."

Ashish: "Looks like Big Dave's analysis is coming true! No Moeen No win!"

anonymous: "Punjab and KKR is somehow turning out to always be absolute cinema.. last time, Punjab pulled off a near-impossible chase, and this time a near-impossible defence"

Jai: "Amazing figures for Yuzi so far. 4/12. It should have been 4/8 had that boundary on overthrow not conceded..."

The players are taking a time out now. This is all on Andre Russell now. He has the strike. KKR need 33 to win. Nortje to come. Dre Russ has got to do it in sixes.

Andrew: "With all the high scoring matches we have grown accustomed to, it is great to see low scoring thrillers!"

Punjab Kings are two wickets away from pulling off the lowest successful defence in IPL history.

Any Mathew : "Chahal and Maxwell should bowl out. Probably the match of the tournament. A low scorer thriller "

Aneesh: "still can't get over Rahane not reviewing a marginal LBW with 2 reviews in hand, that's where the entire downfall began "

35 to get off 49 balls, three wickets in hand. Slip and a silly point in place. Test match scenes in the IPL, Test match pressure, and Russell is in the thick of it.