PBKS vs KKR: Preity Zinta Hugs Chahal as Punjab Defend IPL’s Lowest Total to Script Historic Win Over Kolkata

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PBKS vs KKR: In a night that rewrote the script of underdog victories in IPL folklore, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) stunned the high-flying Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 31 of IPL 2025 by defending a mere 111 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

And at the heart of this extraordinary heist was none other than Yuzvendra Chahal-PBKS's unlikely hero, who turned the tide and, in turn, won hearts, including that of a jubilant Preity Zinta.

With the odds heavily stacked against them, Punjab turned adversity into adrenaline. As KKR tumbled for 95 all out in 15.1 overs, history was created-the lowest total ever defended in IPL history. And leading this act of defiance was the wily leg-spinner Chahal, whose sensational spell of 4/28 broke the back of the KKR batting.

From being benched and underused in the earlier games, Chahal stepped up like a true match-winner when it mattered most. Just a game ago, he had leaked 56 runs in four overs. But on Tuesday night, he bowled like a man possessed.

"It is a team effort. We wanted to be positive and we felt if we get 2-3 wickets in the powerplay then it will be good. We saw their spinners turn it and it helped us. When I bowled the first ball, it turned, Shreyas asked me if I wanted a slip, we wanted to be attacking as we had less runs and the only way we could win was by taking wickets," Chahal said at the post-match presentation.

He struck gold when he trapped Ajinkya Rahane LBW, and followed it up with the dismissal of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, caught smartly by Xavier Bartlett at backward point. The real drama unfolded in the 12th over when Chahal foxed the dangerous Rinku Singh, cleaning him up beautifully before removing Ramandeep Singh for a golden duck on the very next delivery. The Punjab crowd roared, and so did the team owner.

Preity Zinta, the effervescent co-owner of Punjab Kings, couldn't hide her joy. Dressed in red and grinning ear to ear, she ran onto the field post-match to hug the match-winner Chahal, a moment that summed up the emotional high of this win. The camaraderie between owner and player underlined what IPL is all about-drama, heart, and unforgettable moments.

"In the last game I conceded 56 for 4 overs, but I had full confidence and backed myself and my abilities," Chahal added.

He went on, "I always have the mindset of how to get the batters out, I varied my pace and if they have to hit, they will have to make an effort. When you win such a game, the team's morale will be high. It's my first man of the match for Punjab, I'm confident if I keep backing my skills and believe in myself, then I will get success."

It was a collective bowling masterclass. Marco Jansen complemented Chahal's brilliance with a fiery spell of 3/17, while Bartlett, Glenn Maxwell, and Arshdeep Singh chipped in with a wicket each. KKR had cruised to 71 for 3 in 9.1 overs and looked set to cruise to victory. But then came the collapse-seven wickets fell for just 24 runs in a shocking six-over stretch.

Earlier in the evening, the PBKS innings was nothing short of a catastrophe. Opting to bat first, their top order folded like a pack of cards. Harshit Rana was lethal, claiming 3/25, while Sunil Narine (2/14) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/21) spun a web around the PBKS batters. Only Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (30) showed some fight.

Captain Shreyas Iyer's golden duck, Josh Inglis bowled through the gate, and poor shot selections meant Punjab could muster only 111-all out in just 18.5 overs. It looked like a cakewalk for KKR.

Sunil Narine (5) and Quinton de Kock (2) fell early to Jansen and Bartlett respectively. But Rahane and Raghuvanshi brought some stability. At 55/2 after the powerplay, the match looked all but over. But then came Chahal, turning spin into a sword, and leaving the KKR camp dazed.

Venkatesh Iyer's controversial LBW decision by Maxwell, upheld after a long third umpire review, added to the collapse. Chahal's double strike in the 12th over-Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh gone in two balls-was the moment of the match.

Even Andre Russell's late burst of two sixes and a four couldn't pull KKR out of the quicksand. Arshdeep's clever final over removed Vaibhav Arora, and the fairytale was complete.

With this win, PBKS not only bagged two crucial points but also reignited their campaign. Most importantly, they reminded everyone of cricket's timeless unpredictability. And in a tournament where big scores and big names dominate headlines, this was a story of grit, belief, and a team that didn't give up-even when 111 looked like a death sentence.

As Preity Zinta hugged Yuzvendra Chahal under the floodlights of Mullanpur, one thing was certain-the magic of IPL 2025 had truly arrived.