GT vs PBKS IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh Star as Punjab Kings Down Gujarat Titans in Run-Feast

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their era under new skipper Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting with an 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (March 25).

Captain Shreyas Iyer began his stint as Punjab Kings captain with a blistering 42-ball 97 not out, while Shashank Singh bludgeoned 44 off 16 balls as PBKS posted an imposing 243 for five. In reply, GT were restricted to 232 for five with Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler making a 41-ball 74 and 33-ball 54 respectively.

Chasing a massive 244, Gujarat got off to a strong start, with openers Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill putting together a 61-run stand. However, Glenn Maxwell provided Punjab with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Gill for 33.

Sudharsan continued to dominate, playing a blistering knock of 74 off 41 balls, which included five fours and six sixes. But, his innings was cut short by left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, leaving Gujarat at 145/2 in 12.3 overs.

Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford then built a 54-run partnership, keeping Gujarat in the hunt. with his smart medium pace bowing, impact sub Vyshak Vijaykumar ensured PBKS had their nose ahead by conceding just five runs in the 15th over.

Buttler reached his half-century but was bowled for 54 by Marco Jansen. Rahul Tewatia followed but managed only six runs before being run out. With Gujarat still needing quick runs, Rutherford fought valiantly till the end, scoring 46 off 28 balls with four boundaries and three sixes.

However, Arshdeep Singh struck again, dismissing him to put Punjab on the brink of victory. Arshdeep was the standout bowler for Punjab, finishing with figures of 2/36 in his four overs. Jansen and Maxwell chipped in with a wicket each, helping Punjab Kings secure their first win in the tournament.

Earlier, caring very little for reputation, Priyansh Arya (47 off 23) went after the GT bowling from the get go. Arya, who was bought by PBKS for Rs 3.8 crore at the last IPL auction, clobbered Mohammed Siraj over deep square leg for his first six and followed it up with a four.

Kagiso Rabada made the first breakthrough when he had Prabhsimran Singh caught in the deep, paving the way for new PBKS captain Iyer's entry into the middle. Arya carried on his attack with skipper Iyer before he fell to Rashid Khan, the magician from Afghanistan.

While Sai Kishore struck to remove Azmatullah Omarzai, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, Iyer and Shashank did not stop. Iyer struck as many as 9 sixes and 5 fours but could not get to his maiden IPL hundred, as Shashank took 23 runs off the final over to end the PBKS innings on a high note.

Shashank hit six fours and two sixes during his brilliant cameo. The GT bowling at the death left a lot to be desired as PBKS amassed 135 runs in the last eight overs. GT's fielding was also not up to the mark on the night.

(With imputs from Agencies)