PBKS Knock CSK Out of IPL Play-Off Race With 4 Wicket Victory in Chennai
Chennai witnessed high drama on Wednesday as Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a thrilling four-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), effectively knocking the five-time champions out of the IPL 2025 play-off contention. A sensational hat-trick by Yuzvendra Chahal and well-crafted fifties from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh proved decisive in sealing the fate of the match and CSK’s campaign.
Batting first after losing the toss, CSK posted 190 all out, thanks to a gritty half-century from Sam Curran. However, Chahal’s game-changing final spell saw CSK collapse from a dominant position to lose six wickets for just five runs, with the leg-spinner completing his second IPL hat-trick.
In response, PBKS chased down the target with two balls to spare, scoring 194/6. The victory not only pushed them to second place on the points table with 13 points but also confirmed CSK’s elimination, who now sit 10th with only four points to their name.
Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat, putting together a critical 72-run partnership for the second wicket. Prabhsimran’s 54-run knock was laced with audacious strokes including scoops, reverse sweeps, and powerful drives. Despite an early DRS scare while attempting a reverse sweep off Ravindra Jadeja, he survived and capitalized on the lifeline to reach his third half-century of the season.
Iyer, leading from the front, continued his consistent form, notching his fourth fifty as captain. He rotated strike with ease and shifted gears at the right moments, including a momentum-defining 17th over off Matheesha Pathirana that went for 20 runs. Two sixes and a four from Iyer in that over sealed the game in PBKS’s favour, even though late wickets added some drama in the final overs.
Earlier, CSK had a solid recovery after losing three wickets in the powerplay. Sam Curran played a captain’s knock, bringing up his first half-century of the season under pressure. Walking in at a precarious 48/3, he built a steady 78-run stand with Dewald Brevis for the fourth wicket. The duo helped CSK recover their innings and accelerate towards the back end.
Curran’s assault began in the 16th over as he took apart young Suryansh Shedge for 26 runs, including two sixes and two boundaries. He kept the scoreboard ticking even as PBKS pacers resorted to wide full-tosses and slower balls to contain the damage. Eventually, Curran fell for a well-made 67, edging a bouncer from Marco Jansen in the 18th over.
With CSK poised to cross the 200-run mark, Chahal stepped up in the penultimate over. After being hit for a six by MS Dhoni on the first ball, he had the former CSK skipper caught at long-off on the very next delivery. He then dismissed Deepak Hooda and substitute Anshul Kamboj in quick succession before having Noor Ahmad miscue one to long-on, completing a rare hat-trick. His four-wicket burst dismantled the CSK lower order and kept them to a slightly under-par total.
Chahal's clinical spell 4/29 proved to be the turning point of the match, keeping PBKS within a chaseable total and giving them the edge they needed in the second innings.
The defeat brings a premature end to CSK’s campaign, while PBKS gain vital momentum as they aim to secure a top-two finish. For Iyer’s team, the mix of seasoned match-winners and young talent appears to be peaking at the right moment in the tournament.
As the tournament nears its final phase, Punjab Kings have not only established themselves as serious title contenders but also dealt a fatal blow to a once-mighty CSK, whose campaign this season has been one of missed opportunities and inconsistent performances.
