Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by 11 runs. Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 97. Punjab moved to third place, while Gujarat slipped to eighth in the points table.
GT vs PBKS: The fifth match of IPL 2025 was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Punjab Kings made a b start to their campaign by defeating Gujarat Titans by 11 runs. In this high-scoring encounter, Punjab Kings, batting first, posted a massive 243/5. Shreyas Iyer played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 97 runs for Punjab, while Shashank Singh's explosive 44 runs off 16 balls propelled the team to a large total.
Gujarat Titans' Struggling Innings
Chasing a challenging 244, Gujarat Titans started well but ultimately fell short. Sai Sudharsan top-scored with 74 runs, while wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler played a blistering 54 off 33 balls. However, Punjab's bowlers tightened their grip in the final overs, restricting Gujarat to 232/5 in 20 overs, securing an 11-run victory.
Punjab's Win Causes Major Shift in Points Table
With this win, Punjab Kings jumped to third place in the IPL 2025 points table. Previously lower in the standings, Punjab's victory secured a spot in the top four. Sunrisers Hyderabad remains at the top, having defeated Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs, maintaining their top position with a net run rate of +2.200. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured second place after defeating KKR by 7 wickets in their first match, boasting a net run rate of +2.137.
Punjab Kings' victory pushed Chennai Super Kings down to fourth place. CSK had won their first match against Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets, but Punjab's win ousted them from the top three. Delhi Capitals now sits in fifth place after securing 2 points by defeating Lucknow Super Giants by 1 wicket; however, their net run rate fell short of Punjab's.
Gujarat Titans Suffer Setback, Slip Down Points Table
Following their defeat, Gujarat Titans dropped to eighth position in the points table. The team is still searching for its first win and struggles with a poor net run rate of -0.550. This loss also impacted teams like Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals, as they remain in lower positions.
Coach Ponting Expresses Disappointment
Gujarat Titans coach Ricky Ponting appeared visibly frustrated in the dugout during the match. His team's inability to secure a win despite getting close to the target left Ponting disappointed. He questioned the team's strategy and the batsmen's shot selection. Gujarat must now learn from its mistakes and improve in upcoming matches to climb the points table.
