Punjab Kings defended their highest score in the Indian Premier League, winning against Gujarat Titans in match 5 of the 2025 season. PBKS rode on Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant unbeaten 97 to post a staggering score of 243/5. Their run rate was a whopping 12.15. In response, the Titans led by Shubman Gill ended on a score worth 232/5. They lost the match by 11 runs.
GT were very much in the run-chase but fell short in the end. GT lost the game in a crucial phase when Vyshak Vijay Kumar stole the show with his wide yorkers on display. On the other hand, Sherfane Rutherford, who started well in his knock of 46, fell flat in the 2nd half of his innings. He failed to try anything new and succumbed.
PBKS were boosted by Shreyas’ top-notch effort, who aided his side in a brilliant stand with Priyansh Arya, who hammered 47 runs from 23 balls. Shreyas continued to hold his fort from one end as GT pulled things back by getting Azmatullah Omarzai and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession. Marcus Stoinis (20) and Shashank Singh (44*) supported Shreyas as PBKS thrived in Ahmedabad. For GT, Sai Kishore picked three scalps. He was solid, conceding 30 runs from his 4 overs. Rashid Khan, who completed 150 IPL scalps, proved to be costly (1/48) alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
GT were off to a flier as Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill added 61 runs. Gill departed for a whirlwind 14-ball 33 in the 6th over. Jos Buttler joined Sudharsan and the two added 84 runs for the 2nd wicket. Sudharsan was dismissed in the run of play. He managed 74 runs from 41 balls. Buttler showed meat for his new side, scoring a 33-ball 54. When Buttler got out, GT needed 45 runs from the last 2 overs. The Titans managed 33 runs off the last two overs and lost three wickets which was the turning point.
For PBKS, Arshdeep Singh was excellent (2/36). Here are the heroes and zeroes of the GT vs PBKS contest.
Heroes
Shreyas Iyer: On his PBKS debut, captain Iyer led from the front with a magnificent 97*-run knock from 42 balls. Iyer, who came in at number three for his side, struck at 230.95. His knock was laced with nine sixes and five fours. Notably, Iyer missed out on a glorious century. He shared a 51-run stand alongside Priyansh Arya for the 2nd wicket. PBKS were 105/4 at one stage before Iyer and Marcus Stoinis shared a superb 57-run stand. This was followed by an unbeaten 81-run stand with Shashank. Iyer has raced to 3224 runs in the IPL at 33.23. This was his 22nd fifty. Overall, the Team India sensation surpassed 6000 career T20 runs (6071). He also went past 250 sixes in T20s.
Shashank Singh: Last season’s hero of Punjab Kings, Shashank, showed his mettle for the side once again as a finisher. Having been retained by the franchise, Shashank came in at a crucial stage and played a massive role in helping PBKS get past 240. His 44* from 16 balls had six fours and two sixes. He struck at 275. His blitz in the death overs made the difference for Punjab alongside Shreyas’ brilliance from the other end. The batter has raced to 467 runs in the IPL (SR: 167.98). 354 of his runs came in IPL 2024 (SR: 164.65).
Arshdeep Singh: The Indian left-arm pacer made the difference with the ball for Punjab, playing a key role in helping his side defend their total of 243. GT were cruising along with Sudharsan playing a gem of a knock for GT. However, Arshdeep ended the opener’s stay. A length ball angling down saw Sudharsan time his shot superbly but the man in the deep completed the catch. Arshdeep then got Rutherford, who departed for 46 off 28 balls. An outswinger which was full and wide of off, saw Rutherford looking to drive away from his body, but derived an inside edge on to off stump. Arshdeep also accounted for Rahul Tewatia run out.
Zeroes
Glenn Maxwell: The Aussie star was out for a duck off the very first ball he faced. He came in when his side was 105/3 and he departed without disturbing the scorecard. The first ball he faced saw him attempt a reverse sweep off Kishore as he missed the ball altogether. It was a fuller ball and it drifted in from wide of the crease, resulting in a clear LBW as Maxwell missed connecting the ball. This was Maxwell’s 19th duck in the IPL. It’s now the most in the competition’s history. Maxwell also posted his 35th duck in T20s. With the ball, he gave away 26 runs from 2 overs (1 wicket).
Prasidh Krishna: The lanky pacer was bought for INR 9.25 crore in the mega auction by GT. Despite minimal returns in the IPL, Krishna still fetched big bucks. But he stayed true to his IPL credentials of being expensive. He bowled just three overs and conceded 41 runs with his economy rate being 13.66. He bowled the 17th over of PBKS’ innings and conceded a whopping 24 runs. His good length balls wide of off stump was duly punished by Shreyas. He was smacked for three sixes and four in that over. Notably, Krishna’s economy rate in the IPL reads 8.99 and his average is a dismal 35-plus from 52 matches.
Mohammed Siraj: Former RCB pacer Siraj fetched INR 12.25 crore in the mega auction and his debut for GT ended on a sour note. Siraj proved to be expensive and went wicketless. He bowled 4 overs and conceded a staggering 54 runs with his economy rate being 13.50. He bowled 3 wide balls as well. His last over went for 23 runs where Shashank butchered him for 5 fours and a two. In the 15th over, he conceded 17 runs in which he conceded 2 sixes. Overall, he was smashed for 7 fours and three sixes in the contest.
