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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 got off to a less than ordinary start for the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, Yuzvendra Chahal. The experienced leg-spinner was finding it hard to contain the batters and wasn't getting crucial wickets in the middle overs, something which is known for providing often. But against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he became a lethal weapon for Punjab Kings (PBKS) taking four wickets to help them defend lowest score in league's history. After the match, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting revealed that Chahal had a fitness test as he picked up a shoulder injury in the previous game. Ponting recalled grabbing Chahal and asking him whether he is fit, the leg-spinner replied '100 per cent' and the rest as we say is history.
"The heart rate is still up there. I'm 50 years now and don't need more game like these. Defending 112, with 16 runs up our sleeves. We actually said to the guys at the halfway mark that these really small chases , like these, are sometimes the hardest. The wicket wasn't easy, as you can see that right through the game, it was definitely holding up, but what about Chahal tonight? How good a spell of bowling was that!" Ponting told the broadcasters after PBKS' thrilling 16-run win at home.
"He actually had a fitness test before the game today with his shoulder injury he picked up in the last game and I grabbed him out of the warm-up and looked him in the eye and said, 'Mate are you okay?' He said coach I am 100 percent right, let me out there, yeah what a spell of bowling! Even if we had lost that game, I couldn't have been proud of the way we went about the second half."
Chahal's stroke of luck and then everything falls in place
Chahal was introduced in the eighth over. KKR were 60 for 2 after seven overs with captain Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi in the middle. Rahane started by trapping Rahane in front of the stumps. The KKR captain thought he was out and did not opt for review even through the impact was outside off. That was the stroke of luck Chahal needed to get going. He bowled slower in the air and Raghuvanshi went for a shot he shouldn't have. The thick outside edge meant he was caught at backward point.
Then Glenn Maxwell got into the act and dismissed Venkatesh Iyer. Chahal continued and got the prized wicket of Rinku Singh. The left-handed batter was deceived by the flight and was stumped out. On the next ball, Ramandeep Singh went for a paddle and was caught by Shreyas Iyer who moved from first slip to leg slip.
Russell's cameo in vain
Chahal took four wickets for 12 runs in three overs and gave KKR a good chance. He went for 16 runs against Andre Russell in the 14th over but it was time for the support cast to play the role. Marco Jansen dismissed Russell in the 16th over to bowl out KKR for 95 and scripted history at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
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