Exactly a year after witnessing the highest T20 run-chase as KKR skipper, Shreyas Iyer leads PBKS to defend the lowest total in IPL history, showcasing how swiftly fortunes can change in cricket
Mullanpur (Punjab), April 16: In a poetic twist that underscores the unpredictable nature of cricket, Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off the lowest-ever successful defence in IPL history, restricting Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to 95 while defending just 111. Just a year ago, it was Iyer, as KKR skipper, who watched helplessly as his side was steamrolled during a record 262-run chase by the very same PBKS.
Today, he stood tall in Mullanpur, now as the captain of a rejuvenated Punjab side, alongside head coach Ricky Ponting, marvelling at the grit and turnaround spirit of his team.
“It’s hard to express in words… We wanted the field to be attacking, right in front of their face,” Iyer said, reflecting on the strategy that turned a modest score into a historic win.
🧨 From Collapse to Comeback
Last year at Eden Gardens, PBKS had chased 262/2, the highest-ever run chase in T20 history, thanks to Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shashank Singh. That was a high point in an otherwise middling season. Fast-forward to IPL 2025, and PBKS — under a new leadership core — are not just winning but rewriting records.
🧠 Iyer + Ponting = Belief & Balance
With Ricky Ponting bringing his World Cup-winning wisdom and Iyer emerging as a matured tactician fresh off an international trophy win, PBKS has transformed into a serious title contender. They’ve built a balanced squad featuring Indian firepower like Prabhsimran, Nehal Wadhera, Arshdeep Singh, and Chahal, along with proven overseas match-winners like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
“We had this belief. The ball was holding, and we kept our fields aggressive. This might be a season-defining win,” Iyer added post-match.
🏏 What Went Wrong for KKR?
KKR, on the other hand, look like a team in transition. The departure of Phil Salt to RCB has fractured their previously reliable opening duo with Sunil Narine, whose form too has nosedived. With Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer left to anchor a misfiring middle order, consistency has been elusive.
Even though Harshit Rana (3/25) and spinners Narine (2/14) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/21) bowled brilliantly to restrict PBKS, the batting let them down again. From 62/3, KKR collapsed to 95 all out, unable to withstand Chahal’s 4-wicket blitz.
🔁 Full Circle Moment
For Iyer, this match was a full-circle moment — from conceding history to making it.
“Last year, they chased 262 against us. This year, we defended 111. That’s cricket. That’s belief,” Ponting summed up, visibly emotional.
📈 Current Standings:
- PBKS: 4th place | 4 Wins | 8 Points
- KKR: 6th place | 3 Wins | 6 Points
Whether this marks a turning point in PBKS’s title drought or yet another chapter in IPL’s rollercoaster ride, one thing is certain — in cricket, as in life, the best thing about time is that it changes.