Punjab Kings (PBKS) would be booming with confidence after winning the match by 16 runs against KKR while defending the target of 112 runs. The shrewd leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the destroyer in chief who grabbed a 4-wicket haul and conceded 28 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled to a particular gameplan and, most importantly, didn’t bowl any freebies.
KKR on the other hand would be shell shocked given they failed to chase 112 runs. The batting line up not only fell like a pack of cards but their shot selection was highly questionable. KKR became a victim of their ultra-attacking mindset given the factor when less than run a ball was required in last 10 overs requiring 50 runs to win the match.
Ricky Ponting hails PBKS & Yuzvendra Chahal
Ricky Ponting was having an interaction with the broadcasters after the match. PBKS head coach pointed out that Yuzvendra Chahal had a shoulder injury and there was fitness test being done. Ricky Ponting was quite delighted and remarked that this can be his best win in IPL as a head coach.
“The heart rate is up. Probably over 200. I don’t need that at the age of 50. Tells you how funny the game is. The other day we could not defend 245. How good was Chahal. We had a fitness test for him today. He picked up a shoulder injury. But before the game, he told me, ‘Coach, I am 100% ready to play’. I would have been proud even if we did not win. Just how we went about in the second half,”
“The wicket was holding up a bit, but not many would have given us a chance at the halfway stage. The match-ups tonight suggested that Jansen and Bartlett were the better choice with the new ball. This could be a season-defining moment. I have coached a lot in the IPL. But this might be my best win,”Â
Yuzvendra Chahal an asset
Yuzvendra Chahal was a part of SRH encounter in which PBKS failed to defend 245 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal is quite an under-rated spinner who has 211 IPL wickets to his name and 96 in T20Is. The way Yuzvendra Chahal pulled the game towards PBKS was quite mind boggling.
Yuzvendra Chahal first got rid of the big fish Ajinkya Rahane in 8th over which proved to be the turning point. Chahal was mixing the speed quite brilliantly. KKR’s Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi & Ramandeep Singh took PBKS’s star spinner lightly.
Andre Russell whacked Yuzvendra Chahal around the park in the 14th over by scoring 16 runs as his figures were damaged; he though proved to world cricket that he is not done yet, in his previous 5 matches, he had taken 2 wickets only but this spell can perhaps open the door of Indian cricket again.
Also Read:Â PBKS vs KKR: Shreyas Iyer’s PBKS’ Iconic Win Over KKR Breaks Records