Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings began their IPL 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, securing an 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans in a high-octane encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium. A scintillating knock from captain Shreyas Iyer (97*), supported by Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh, propelled Punjab to a formidable total of 243/5 in 20 overs.
Opting to bowl first, Gujarat Titans soon found themselves on the receiving end of a brutal batting assault. Iyer anchored the innings masterfully, missing out on a well-deserved century but ensuring his team posted a daunting target. The aggressive middle-order contributions kept the scoreboard ticking, leaving Gujarat with a mammoth chase.
Gujarat’s response started cautiously, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan navigating the early storm against Punjab’s pace duo, Arshdeep Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai. But just as Gill began shifting gears, Glenn Maxwell made an instant impact, dismissing the Gujarat skipper in the final over of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler, making his Gujarat debut after a long stint with Rajasthan Royals, played a watchful role early on, allowing Sudharsan to take the lead. The left-hander picked up momentum, reaching his seventh IPL fifty off 31 balls. His innings flourished with five boundaries and six maximums before Arshdeep sent him back on 74, dealing a critical blow to Gujarat’s chase.
Needing a spark, Gujarat introduced Impact Player Sherfane Rutherford, who provided a glimmer of hope with a quick-fire cameo, smashing Marcus Stoinis for two sixes and a four. But Punjab’s death bowling turned the tide, conceding just 12 runs in the next two overs and keeping the equation heavily in their favor.
With 70 runs required from the final five overs, Buttler’s half-century kept Gujarat in the hunt, but his dismissal by Marco Jansen left the Titans with an uphill battle. Rahul Tewatia arrived at the crease with an improbable task ahead, only to be dismissed first ball as an unfortunate deflection off Rutherford’s straight drive hit the stumps.
Arshdeep then put the finishing touches on Punjab’s stellar night, clean-bowling Rutherford and sealing a well-earned victory. Punjab’s balanced display—powerful batting, sharp bowling, and clutch moments—secured them an ideal start to the season, while Gujarat will need to regroup after a tough opening loss.