Match Report: PBKS vs CSK – IPL 2025
🧾 Toss and Pitch Report
Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and elected to bowl first, considering the dew factor and their chasing strength. The pitch at the PCA Stadium had a light grass covering, promising early seam movement but likely to settle into a true batting wicket.
Pitch Type: Balanced with some early swing
Dew Factor: Moderate (expected to influence second innings)
Weather: Clear skies, 25°C
🟡 CSK Innings: 182/6 (20 overs)
CSK, under the new Captain of Ruturaj Gaikwad, came out with a clear plan: build a strong platform in the powerplay and explode in the final overs using their powerful middle order.
🏏 Key Batting Performances
🔸 Ruturaj Gaikwad – 64 (42)
Leading from the front, Gaikwad displayed his class with a measured half-century. He timed the ball beautifully, scoring primarily through classical drives and precise cuts. His innings held the CSK innings together, especially after losing early wickets.
Highlights: 7 fours, 2 sixes – dismissed by Sam Curran in the 13th over trying to clear long-on.
🔸 Shivam Dube – 43 (22)
Once again showing his worth as a middle-order powerhouse, Dube counter-attacked with a flurry of boundaries against spin and pace. His brutal assault on Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar swung momentum back in CSK’s favor.
Highlights: 3 sixes in an over, a 55-run stand with Moeen Ali
🔸 Moeen Ali – 28 (17)
Moeen chipped in with a cameo that ensured CSK finished on a strong note. His aggressive approach took pressure off Dube and exploited the short leg-side boundary.
❌ Fall of Wickets:
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Conway – 7 (b Arshdeep)
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Rizvi – 11 (b Rabada)
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Gaikwad – 64 (b Curran)
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Moeen – 28 (c & b Harpreet)
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Dube – 43 (b Rabada)
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Pretorius – 6 (run out)
🏹 PBKS Bowling Summary:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 32 | 1 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 29 | 2 |
| Sam Curran | 4 | 34 | 1 |
| Harpreet Brar | 3 | 36 | 1 |
| Rahul Chahar | 3 | 28 | 0 |
| Livingstone | 2 | 19 | 0 |
🔴 PBKS Innings: 164/8 (20 overs)
Chasing 183 was always going to be challenging, especially against CSK’s varied bowling attack. PBKS began with aggression but lost crucial wickets at regular intervals, failing to build a lasting partnership.
🏏 Key Batting Performances
🔸 Shikhar Dhawan – 41 (34)
The PBKS captain tried to anchor the innings with his trademark flicks and drives. However, the absence of solid support at the other end forced him into riskier shots, and he was eventually trapped LBW by Jadeja.
🔸 Liam Livingstone – 37 (20)
The Englishman reignited hope with a whirlwind knock that included some monstrous sixes off Moeen and Pathirana. However, his dismissal to Theekshana in the 16th over was the turning point.
Highlights: 4 sixes, including a 104m hit over deep midwicket.
🔸 Jitesh Sharma – 28 (17)
Tried his best to bridge the gap after Livingstone’s fall but succumbed to the scoreboard pressure.
❌ Fall of Wickets:
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Prabhsimran – 6 (b Mukesh)
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Bairstow – 9 (b Pathirana)
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Dhawan – 41 (b Jadeja)
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Curran – 10 (c Rizvi b Ashwin)
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Livingstone – 37 (b Theekshana)
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Jitesh – 28 (b Pathirana)
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Brar – 2 (run out)
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Rabada – 3 (b Tushar)
🎯 CSK Bowling Summary:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mukesh Choudhary | 4 | 26 | 1 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 31 | 2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 4 | 22 | 1 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 28 | 1 |
| Ashwin | 2 | 13 | 1 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 2 | 18 | 1 |
🔥 Key Moments That Defined the Match – Who won PBKS vs CSK
✅ 1. Gaikwad-Dube Partnership
With the scoreboard reading 74/3 in the 11th over, CSK looked in trouble. The 55-run stand in 4.3 overs between Gaikwad and Dube took the game away from PBKS. They targeted the spinners with calculated aggression.
✅ 2. Livingstone’s Dismissal
When Livingstone was in full flow, the required rate had dropped to under 10. But Theekshana’s deceptive carrom ball induced a mistimed slog, caught brilliantly by Moeen running in from long-on.
✅ 3. Dhoni’s Influence
Though not playing, MS Dhoni was heavily involved as mentor. Cameras caught him frequently chatting with Ruturaj, guiding bowling changes and field placements.
✅ 4. Pathirana’s Death Overs
PBKS needed 34 off 3 overs with Jitesh and Rabada at the crease. Pathirana’s mix of yorkers and slower deliveries conceded just 6 runs in the 18th over, essentially sealing the game.
🧠 Tactical Masterclass
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Spin Strangle: CSK bowled 12 overs of spin, conceding only 69 runs and taking 3 wickets.
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Right Matchups: Ashwin was introduced precisely when Curran walked in — the off-spinner got him with a flighted delivery, caught at long-off.
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Death Over Planning: Pathirana and Tushar stuck to wide yorkers and slower balls, preventing any late flourish from PBKS.
🏆 Player of the Match: Shivam Dube – 43 (22)
His aggressive yet controlled innings gave CSK a late surge. Combined with a diving catch and a tight over, Dube’s all-round effort was instrumental in CSK’s win.
📊 Match Stats – Who won PBKS vs CSK
| Category | CSK | PBKS |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | 182/6 | 164/8 |
| Top Scorer | Gaikwad (64) | Dhawan (41) |
| Best Bowler | Pathirana (2/31) | Rabada (2/29) |
| Sixes | 10 | 8 |
| Fours | 16 | 13 |
| Partnerships Over 50 | 1 | 0 |
| Dot Balls Bowled | 41 | 37 |
🧩 Points Table Impact
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CSK moved to 2nd place with their third win in four matches.
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PBKS remained at 6th place, struggling to maintain momentum this season.
Who won PBKS vs CSK