Shreyas Iyer enjoys playing at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The last time he captained an IPL side here, he lifted the trophy. On Wednesday, he returned to seal another crucial result — this time ensuring Punjab Kings stayed firmly in the race for the IPL 2025 playoffs. The defeat also officially knocked Chennai Super Kings out of contention for a top-four spot.
Iyer scored a match-winning 72 off 41 balls and guided his team home in a 191-run chase with two balls to spare.
He came to the crease after Punjab had already posted 44 in the first 28 balls, thanks to another explosive start by the opening duo of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Arya cracked five boundaries in his 23 before edging one behind off Khaleel Ahmed while attempting another.
Prabhsimran continued his rich vein of form with proactive strokeplay — stepping down the pitch, sweeping confidently, and keeping the scoreboard ticking. He added 72 runs with his captain to set up the chase before falling in the 13th over.
As it happened |CSK vs PBKS Highlights
The slow, black-soil surface didn’t allow for free hitting, but Iyer made sure the CSK bowlers couldn’t dictate terms. He rotated strike smartly and attacked both spin and Sam Curran’s slower cutters. He also took on Matheesha Pathirana, hammering two sixes off him to collect 20 runs in the 18th over.
A 12-ball 23-run cameo from Shashank Singh ensured Punjab needed just two off the final over. Despite two late wickets, the Kings crossed the finish line comfortably.
Earlier, Curran and Dewald Brevis brought the kind of aggression and intent CSK had lacked through the season. Curran, in particular, had a night to remember, smashing 88 off 47 balls.
The pair added 78 for the fourth wicket after Chennai had lost three batters by the end of the PowerPlay. They targeted Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar’s spin, forcing Iyer to revert to pace.
But the pacers missed their lengths, often going short, which allowed the batters to stay back and hit through the line. One such lapse cost Punjab 26 runs in the 16th over, with Curran smashing Suryansh Shedge for two sixes and two fours.
Just when it seemed CSK would breach the 200-mark, Iyer brought back Chahal for the 19th over. MS Dhoni launched the first ball for six but fell on the next, caught at long-off. One ball later, Deepak Hooda miscued a shot to point. Anshul Kambhoj and Noor Ahmad fell on the final two deliveries as Chahal sealed his second IPL hat-trick in spectacular fashion.
Super Kings collapsed from 172 for four to 190 all out — losing six wickets in the space of 11 deliveries. That slide ultimately proved decisive.
