Sam Curran’s explosive 88 off 47 balls was overshadowed by Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, while fifties from Prabhsimran and Iyer ensured Punjab’s victory.
CSK’s Playoff Hopes End with Defeat to PBKS in Must-Win Match
Chennai Super Kings’ playoff hopes were officially dashed after a four-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in their must-win match on Wednesday. Despite entering the game with slim chances, CSK’s hopes were extinguished, leaving them with four matches to spare.
Shreyas Iyer was the standout performer for PBKS, scoring 72 off 41 balls (5×4, 3×6), including a match-changing 20-run assault in the 17th over against Matheesha Pathirana. Iyer’s knock, combined with contributions from Prabhsimran Singh (54 off 36 balls) and cameos from Priyansh Arya (23 off 15) and Shashank Singh (23 off 12), helped PBKS chase down the target of 191. Sam Curran’s 88 off 47 balls, along with a solid 78-run stand with Dewald Brevis, had put CSK on track. However, a stunning four-wicket haul from Yuzvendra Chahal, including the season’s first hat-trick, derailed their innings.
PBKS defended the lowest-ever total in IPL history, but their real strength lies in chasing targets. Iyer anchored the chase, steering PBKS to victory. CSK’s innings, on the other hand, began slowly, with the openers and key players like Ravindra Jadeja falling early. Jadeja, who had looked promising, was dismissed while attempting to cut a delivery from Brar. At 48/3 after just 5.5 overs, Curran and Brevis steadied the ship, with Curran’s half-century and Brevis’ intelligent shots against the spinners offering some hope. However, the middle-order collapse and Chahal’s brilliance sealed CSK’s fate, ending their playoff dreams.
CSK’s Collapse Sees Chahal Claim Second IPL Hat-Trick, Ending Hope of Big Total
Brevis was dismissed off the first ball after the second strategic timeout by Omarzai, but not before he had set the platform for a big CSK total. Sam Curran then shifted gears, taking 26 runs off Suryansh Shedge’s 16th over, including a crunching cover drive and a couple of leg-side boundaries. With CSK accelerating to 10 runs per over, a score of 200 seemed within reach.
However, hopes of reaching 200 were dashed by Yuzvendra Chahal, who claimed four wickets in the 19th over. The over began with a towering six from MS Dhoni, but Dhoni fell on the very next ball attempting another big shot. Deepak Hooda, who had taken two runs off the following delivery, was quickly followed by Shivam Dube at the other end. Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad fell off successive deliveries, giving Chahal his second IPL hat-trick and the first of the season.