A 47-ball 88 from Sam Curran nearly propelled Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a formidable total against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, Yuzvendra Chahal’s late four-wicket spell, including a hat-trick in the 19th over, curtailed CSK’s innings at 190.
CSK’s innings wavered on a tricky, two-paced black-soil pitch. Although a target of 191 might be a challenge for PBKS, CSK were on track for a higher score before Chahal’s intervention. The pitch conditions suggested a potentially challenging chase for Punjab’s deep batting line-up.
Chennai’s innings ended in a dramatic collapse. Chahal had been sparingly used until the 19th over due to the presence of left-handers. Yet, with left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar and Chahal himself held back, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer opted for the legspinner against the spin-wary MS Dhoni. Dhoni struck a six before being caught out, initiating a flurry of wickets. Chahal then dismissed Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad in consecutive deliveries, achieving his hat-trick.
Shivam Dube, noted as CSK’s proficient spin-hitter, found himself stranded at the non-striker’s end during Chahal’s decisive over. He faced a dilemma about whether to control the strike. Entering the final over, Dube managed a boundary but was dismissed shortly after, leaving CSK to rue a lower-than-expected finish, as they lost five wickets for six runs in just seven balls.
Before this, CSK seemed in good stead despite early setbacks. Curran’s innings was resilient, characterised by nine fours and four sixes amidst challenging pitch conditions. A pivotal moment came during the 16th over, when Iyer persisted with Suryansh Shedge, a military-medium bowler. Curran capitalised on the move, smashing 26 runs off the over, signalling a missed opportunity for a strategic shift back to spin.
PBKS sorely missed Glenn Maxwell, who is sidelined with a broken finger, possibly affecting the rest of his season. Though Maxwell has faced struggles with the bat, his offspin has been a valuable asset, particularly against left-handers like CSK’s.
The match setup leaves Punjab Kings in an exciting pursuit. CSK set the groundwork but fell short, largely due to Chahal’s pivotal spell, and they’ll now watch eagerly to see if their total can be defended.
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Karthik Krishnaswamy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
