Punjab Kings Outlast Gujarat Titans
New faces continued with their remarkable performances in the first week of IPL 2025. In Ahmedabad, it was Punjab Kings' new skipper, Shreyas Iyer, who grabbed the headlines. He displayed a fantastic batting display, helping Punjab secure a winning start against a strong Gujarat Titans side.
Captain Iyer Leads the Charge
Shreyas Iyer wanted to bat at No. 3, he showed exactly why, smashing his IPL career-best score of 97 not out off just 43 balls. He was totally switched on, hitting nine sixes and taking the attack to key bowlers like Rashid Khan. Knowing chasing is often easier in Ahmedabad due to dew, Iyer focused purely on maximizing the team's total. He even turned down the chance to face the final over for a potential century, telling his partner Shashank Singh to keep hitting – a true captain's prioritising the team.
New and Old Faces Chip In
It wasn't just Iyer. Young opener Priyansh Arya made a promising start, hitting boundaries against quality pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada in the powerplay. Later, Shashank Singh provided the perfect finish, clobbering 23 runs off Siraj in the final over to push Punjab to their second-highest IPL total ever.
Titans Fight Back
Gujarat Titans weren't going down without a fight. Sai Sudharsan, continuing his excellent form at this ground, played beautifully for his 74 off 41 balls. Jos Buttler, batting at No. 3 for his new team, also contributed a solid fifty. During the middle overs, the Titans were actually scoring faster than Punjab, looking well on course for victory.
The Game-Changing Spell
Punjab brought on Vijaykumar Vyshak as an impact substitute, and his spell proved decisive. Despite heavy dew making it tricky, Vyshak focused solely on bowling yorkers or full deliveries. His clarity and execution were brilliant; over two crucial overs, he conceded just 10 runs, completely sucking the momentum out of the Titans' chase. While Punjab scored 77 in their last four overs, the Titans could only manage 44, thanks largely to Vyshak's tight bowling.
While the Titans chased hard, Punjab held their nerve. Iyer set it up, and Vyshak sealed it – its cricket you never know.
