Match Report: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2025, Match 5 – March 25, 2025
On a balmy evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Punjab Kings (PBKS) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a pulsating 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the fifth match of the season. Played on March 25, 2025, this high-scoring thriller saw Punjab’s new captain, Shreyas Iyer, lead from the front with a breathtaking 97 not out, setting the stage for a total that proved just beyond Gujarat’s reach despite a valiant chase. The clash was a tale of explosive batting, tactical shifts, and a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Punjab Kings Set a Mammoth Target
Gujarat Titans won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping to exploit early conditions under the lights. However, their bowling plans unraveled quickly as Punjab’s batsmen took charge. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and debutant Priyansh Arya provided a fiery start, stitching together 62 runs in the powerplay. Arya, making his IPL debut, was a revelation, smashing 47 off 23 balls with seven fours and two sixes, his fearless strokeplay setting the tone. Gujarat’s pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna struggled for control, conceding 136 runs for just one wicket in their 13 overs.
Shreyas Iyer, walking in at No. 3, turned the game into his personal showcase. His 42-ball 97 was a masterclass in controlled aggression, laced with nine sixes and five fours. He found the boundary with ease, targeting the death overs with ruthless precision. Shashank Singh joined the party late, hammering an unbeaten 44 off 16 balls, including six fours and two sixes, as Punjab plundered 87 runs in the last five overs. R Sai Kishore was the lone bright spot for Gujarat’s bowling, picking up 3 for 30, but the rest of the attack faltered, allowing Punjab to post a daunting 243 for 5—the highest total ever at this venue in the IPL.
Gujarat Titans’ Brave Chase Falls Short
Chasing 244, Gujarat needed their top order to fire, and they got off to a rollicking start. Shubman Gill, the captain, blazed 33 off 14 balls, while Sai Sudharsan played the anchor role with a classy 74 off 41 deliveries. Their 61-run powerplay set the tone, but Punjab struck back when Glenn Maxwell dismissed Gill, halting the early momentum. Jos Buttler, Gujarat’s new recruit, kept the chase alive with a brisk 54 off 33 balls, partnering Sudharsan in a 103-run stand that threatened to turn the game.
However, Punjab’s bowlers tightened the screws in the middle overs. Arshdeep Singh, despite an expensive start, returned to remove Sudharsan in the 13th over, triggering a mini-wobble. Sherfane Rutherford’s arrival injected urgency, his 46 off 28 balls—including four fours and three sixes—keeping Gujarat in the hunt. With 62 runs needed off the last four overs, the game hung in the balance. Impact substitute Vijaykumar Vyshak proved the difference-maker for Punjab, bowling a tight 17th over conceding just five runs, piling pressure on Gujarat’s batsmen.
The penultimate over saw Marco Jansen dismiss Buttler, and Arshdeep’s final over sealed the deal. Rutherford fell to an inside edge onto his stumps, and despite Rahul Tewatia’s late flourish—a six and a four—Gujarat finished at 232 for 5, falling 11 runs short. Arshdeep ended with 2 for 36, while Vyshak’s composure under pressure earned Punjab their first points of the season.
Key Moments and Performances:PK vs GT Match 5 IPL 2025
Shreyas Iyer’s knock was the heartbeat of Punjab’s innings. His selfless approach shone through as he encouraged Shashank Singh to go for glory in the final over, sacrificing a chance at his maiden IPL hundred. For Gujarat, Sai Sudharsan’s 74 was a classy effort, but their inability to capitalize on a strong powerplay—scoring just 18 runs in the 7th to 9th overs—proved costly. Arshdeep Singh’s late strikes and Vyshak’s impact sub role tilted the game decisively.
Post-Match Reflections:PK vs GT Match 5 IPL 2025
Shubman Gill rued the missed opportunities, noting, “We had our chances, but conceding too many at the back end and a slow middle phase cost us.” Shreyas Iyer, named Player of the Match, praised his team’s aggression: “It was magnificent to watch Shashank bat, and I just told him to play his shots—no worries about my hundred.” The win marked a dream start for Iyer as Punjab’s captain, while Gujarat will look to regroup after a chase that promised much but delivered heartbreak.
In a tournament already brimming with run-fests, this match underscored the IPL’s evolving landscape—243 wasn’t safe, yet Punjab’s bowlers held their nerve. On March 25, 2025, Ahmedabad witnessed a classic, and Punjab Kings walked away with a victory that signaled their intent for the season ahead.
