Table of Contents
The IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) turned into one of the most unforgettable matches in Indian Premier League history. What appeared to be a comfortable chase for the defending champions quickly transformed into a dramatic collapse as Punjab Kings defended the lowest total ever successfully protected in IPL history. The game showcased disciplined bowling, brilliant captaincy, and remarkable fielding under pressure.
In this article, you’ll find the complete match summary, full scorecard, batting and bowling performances, fall of wickets, match result, Player of the Match, key highlights, major records, head-to-head record, recent meetings, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about this thrilling encounter.
Match Summary
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Indian Premier League 2025 |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur |
| Date | 15 April 2025 |
| Toss | Punjab Kings won the toss and batted first |
| Punjab Kings | 111 all out in 15.3 overs |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 95 all out in 15.1 overs |
| Result | Punjab Kings won by 16 runs |
| Player of the Match | Yuzvendra Chahal |
Despite scoring only 111 runs, Punjab Kings produced a sensational bowling performance. Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen led the attack, while the entire bowling unit maintained relentless pressure to script one of the greatest comeback victories in IPL history.
Full Match Scorecard
Punjab Kings First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyansh Arya | 22 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 30 | 15 | 2 | 3 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Inglis | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Nehal Wadhera | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Shashank Singh | 18 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| Marco Jansen | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Harpreet Brar | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 11 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Extras: 6
Total: 111 all out (15.3 overs)
Kolkata Knight Riders Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | 3 | 25 | 3 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 21 | 2 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 14 | 2 |
| Vaibhav Arora | 3 | 26 | 2 |
| Andre Russell | 1.3 | 18 | 1 |
Punjab’s innings began aggressively, but Kolkata’s bowlers staged an excellent recovery. Harshit Rana struck early, while Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine applied pressure through the middle overs, preventing any meaningful partnerships.
Kolkata Knight Riders Second Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Quinton de Kock | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 17 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 37 | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Rinku Singh | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Russell | 17 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| Ramandeep Singh | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Harshit Rana | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vaibhav Arora | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Extras: 8
Total: 95 all out (15.1 overs)
Punjab Kings Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| Marco Jansen | 3.1 | 17 | 3 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 3 | 30 | 1 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4 | 28 | 4 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 2 | 9 | 1 |
KKR looked firmly in control early in the chase before Yuzvendra Chahal completely changed the game’s direction. Marco Jansen then finished the job with accurate fast bowling, ensuring Punjab completed an extraordinary victory.
Fall of Wickets
Punjab Kings
| Score | Batter | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Priyansh Arya | 3.1 |
| 39 | Shreyas Iyer | 3.3 |
| 54 | Josh Inglis | 5.2 |
| 74 | Prabhsimran Singh | 8.4 |
| 76 | Glenn Maxwell | 9.2 |
| 79 | Nehal Wadhera | 10.1 |
| 95 | Marco Jansen | 12.1 |
| 101 | Harpreet Brar | 13.5 |
| 111 | Shashank Singh | 15.2 |
| 111 | Xavier Bartlett | 15.3 |
Kolkata Knight Riders
| Score | Batter | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Quinton de Kock | 1.2 |
| 7 | Sunil Narine | 1.4 |
| 62 | Ajinkya Rahane | 7.5 |
| 72 | Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 9.1 |
| 74 | Venkatesh Iyer | 9.4 |
| 76 | Rinku Singh | 10.2 |
| 79 | Ramandeep Singh | 10.6 |
| 95 | Andre Russell | 14.4 |
| 95 | Harshit Rana | 15.0 |
| 95 | Vaibhav Arora | 15.1 |
The collapse from a winning position became the defining feature of the match. Once Rahane and Raghuvanshi were dismissed, Punjab’s bowlers never allowed Kolkata to regain momentum.
Match Result
Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs.
The victory was remarkable because Punjab defended just 111 runs, setting a new IPL record for the lowest successfully defended total in tournament history. It also gave Punjab one of the most memorable wins in franchise history.
Player of the Match
Yuzvendra Chahal
Bowling Figures: 4 overs, 28 runs, 4 wickets
Chahal’s spell changed the course of the contest. He removed key middle-order batters just as Kolkata appeared to be cruising toward victory. His variations in pace and clever use of flight forced mistakes from experienced batters and shifted all the pressure onto the chasing side.
Key Moments
Fast Start by Punjab
Punjab raced to nearly 40 runs within the opening overs thanks to aggressive batting from Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh.
Kolkata’s Bowling Fightback
Harshit Rana and Sunil Narine slowed the scoring rate dramatically, while Varun Chakravarthy’s accurate spin prevented Punjab from rebuilding.
Rahane and Raghuvanshi Build the Chase
A steady partnership appeared to put Kolkata comfortably ahead. Their calm approach suggested the modest target would be chased with ease.
Chahal Sparks the Collapse
The experienced leg-spinner dismissed Ajinkya Rahane before removing more middle-order batters in quick succession, turning the match completely around.
Jansen Finishes the Job
Marco Jansen cleaned up the lower order with disciplined pace bowling, sealing one of IPL’s greatest comeback victories.
Match Highlights
- Punjab Kings defended just 111 runs.
- Yuzvendra Chahal claimed four crucial wickets.
- Marco Jansen picked up three wickets.
- Harshit Rana took three wickets for KKR in the first innings.
- Kolkata lost wickets regularly after reaching a comfortable position.
- Punjab recorded the lowest successful title defense total in IPL history.
- The match demonstrated how disciplined bowling can outweigh batting-friendly conditions.
Records Broken During the Match
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Lowest total defended in IPL | Punjab defended 111 runs |
| Best comeback of IPL 2025 | Punjab recovered after being bowled out cheaply |
| Chahal’s impact | Four-wicket haul in a low-scoring thriller |
| One of IPL’s lowest successful defenses | Added to tournament history |
| Rare collapse | KKR failed to chase one of the season’s smallest targets |
The game became an instant IPL classic because it challenged the belief that low totals cannot be defended in modern T20 cricket. Punjab’s bowlers proved that disciplined execution, pressure, and fielding can overcome even the smallest target.
Head-to-Head Record
| Matches | Kolkata Knight Riders Wins | Punjab Kings Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 21 | 13 | 0 |
Historically, Kolkata has dominated the rivalry. However, Punjab’s victory in this contest demonstrated that past records carry little weight once the match begins.
Recent Meetings
| Season | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | Punjab Kings | Won by 16 runs |
| IPL 2024 | Punjab Kings | Won by 8 wickets |
| IPL 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Won by 5 wickets |
| IPL 2023 | Punjab Kings | Won by 7 runs (DLS) |
| IPL 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Won by 5 wickets |
Recent seasons have produced highly competitive matches, with momentum shifting between both franchises.
Major Records
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Highest Partnership | Rahane and Raghuvanshi steadied KKR before collapse |
| Best Bowling | Yuzvendra Chahal (4 wickets) |
| Best Pace Bowling | Marco Jansen (3 wickets) |
| Best KKR Bowling | Harshit Rana (3 wickets) |
| Most Significant Record | Lowest total successfully defended in IPL history |
The statistics tell only part of the story. The defining feature was Punjab’s unwavering belief despite defending an extremely low score
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 meeting between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings will be remembered as one of the greatest low-scoring contests in the tournament’s history. Punjab Kings transformed what looked like a losing position into a landmark victory through disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and outstanding leadership. Yuzvendra Chahal’s match-winning spell and Marco Jansen’s finishing burst ensured that defending just 111 runs became a historic achievement. While Kolkata Knight Riders dominated large portions of the game, their dramatic batting collapse highlighted how quickly momentum can change in T20 cricket, making this encounter one of the defining matches of the IPL 2025 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings?
Punjab Kings won by 16 runs after successfully defending 111 runs, creating a new IPL record for the lowest successfully defended total.
2. Who was named Player of the Match?
Yuzvendra Chahal received the Player of the Match award for his outstanding spell of 4 wickets for 28 runs.
3. What was Kolkata Knight Riders’ final score?
KKR were bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs while chasing 112.
4. Why is this match considered historic?
It became historic because Punjab Kings defended the lowest total ever successfully protected in IPL history, highlighting one of the greatest bowling performances under pressure.
5. Which bowlers made the biggest impact?
Yuzvendra Chahal led the attack with four wickets, Marco Jansen claimed three wickets, and Arshdeep Singh provided early breakthroughs. For Kolkata, Harshit Rana’s three wickets helped bowl Punjab out for just 111.