From 262 to 111: Punjab Kings flip script on Kolkat Knight Riders again in IPL

Mullanpur: Last year, they rewrote history by scaling the highest peak. This year, they dug deep and held firm at the lowest point.

In a stunning twist of fate, Punjab Kings — now led by Shreyas Iyer — defended just 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders, pulling off the lowest successful defence in Indian Premier League history. A year after chasing 262 in a blaze of sixes, they did it with grit, guile, and a little bit of magic in Mullanpur.

From Eden Gardens to their new home ground, Punjab have served up unpredictable cricket — equal parts chaos and brilliance. Last season, it was Jonny Bairstow’s 108 that powered their chase of the highest-ever T20 target. This time, it was Yuzvendra Chahal’s four-for and Marco Jansen’s steely death bowling that helped Punjab pull off the unthinkable.

And at the heart of it all? Shreyas Iyer. A season ago, he stood stunned in purple and gold as Bairstow and Co. ran riot in Kolkata. Now, in red and gold, he stood tall with coach Ricky Ponting as the captain of a “never-say-die” Punjab side that defended a total many would’ve laughed off at the halfway mark.

Punjab were rocked early after opener Prabhsimran Singh’s brisk start was undone by a burst from Harshit Rana, who removed Prabhsimran, Priyansh Arya and Iyer himself in quick succession. It felt like a knockout punch, but the hosts clawed their way to 111 — not a total, but a challenge.

That challenge became a statement. Chahal spun a web in the middle overs, finishing with 4 wickets, while Jansen nailed the final act by removing Andre Russell for his third wicket, sealing a 16-run win.

“It is hard to express in words,” said Iyer at the post-match presentation. “I saw the ball turn a bit and asked Yuzi to control his breathing. We needed to be attacking, and the right players were in the right places. The bounce was inconsistent — we had that at the back of our minds and the bowlers executed it brilliantly.”

Both of Punjab’s dramatic victories over Kolkata have come with the odds stacked against them. Last season, they had won just two of their previous eight matches when they pulled off the 262 chase. This time, they were bundled out for 111 on a slow track, only to fight back with renewed belief.

“Two wickets in two overs gave us momentum,” Iyer added. “I wanted the field to be attacking, right in their face. We just didn’t let up. It’s important we stay humble and take the positives forward.”

Punjab have now climbed to fourth in the standings on net run-rate, with the top five teams all locked on eight points — a reminder of how fine the margins are in this year’s IPL.

Last year, Punjab won a high-scoring slugfest. This year, they won a gritty, low-scoring war. Same opponents, opposite scripts, same result — a Punjab Kings triumph.

And for Shreyas Iyer, it’s not just a win. It’s redemption. From watching a record chase unravel his old team to leading a record defence with his new one — it’s clear that change may be the only constant, but resilience defines who survives it.

— With inputs from agencies