GT vs PBKS Turning Point: What Changed The Course of IPL 2025 Match 5 as Punjab Beat Gujarat in Ahmedabad?

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Punjab Kings (PBKS) opened their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (March 25).

Put into bat first, skipper Shreyas Iyer went on a six-hitting spree to make 97 not out and help Punjab Kings post 243 for five in their allotted 20 overs batting alongside Shashank Singh, who smashed an unbeaten 44 in his 16-ball cameo.

Iyer led from the front with a stunning 42-ball 97 not out which featured nine sixes and five fours, helping Punjab Kings inch closer to 250-run mark even though a few others disappointed. At the top, young Priyansh Arya scored 47 off 23 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

For the Titans, R Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 3 for 30 in his four overs, while Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan claimed a wicket-a-piece, but the experienced overseas stars produced expensive figures of 40 plus runs.

In response, captain Shubman Gill and his opening partner B Sai Sudharsan provided the perfect start for Gujarat Titans with the pair adding 61 for the first wicket before the former departed for 33 off 14 balls.

Sudharsan kept GT alive in the chase with a 41-ball 74, batting alongside Jos Buttler, who carried on the charge for the home side with a swift innings. Buttler and Impact Sub Sherfane Rutheford shared a quick 40-run stand to take GT to 169/2 in 14 overs. But the game saw a slight change from there.

What was the turning point in Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings match in IPL 2025?

PBKS brought in pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar as an impact substitute just before the 15th over and the Karnataka star repaid the team management's faith with some excellent death bowling. Although he was not among the wickets, Vyshak's tight overs forced GT batters into making errors.

Needing 75 in the last 6 overs, Vyshak in tandem with Marco Jansen tightened the scoring of PBKS with the lanky South African all-rounder forcing Buttler (54 off 33 balls) into playing one on to the stumps at the end of 18th over, leaving GT with 45 to get from the final 2 overs.

Rutherford kept GT within reach batting alongside Rahul Tewatia, but Vyshak's wide yorkers kind of did the trick for Punjab Kings after GT were left to chase 27 off the final over delivered by Arshdeep Singh.

Arshdeep, who had already claimed the wicket of Sudharsan earlier, removed Tewatia run out off the first ball, but conceded 8, including a six from Rutherford, in the next two balls. With 19 need off 3, Arshdeep cleaned up the dangerous Rutherford for 46 off 28 balls.

GT vs PBKS turning point: In the end, PBKS restricted GT to 226/5 in their allotted 20 overs with the introduction of Vyshak as impact substitute at the right time proving vital in their season opening win and a victorious start to the Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting era.