Shreyas Iyer’s Explosive 97 Guides Punjab Kings to 243/5 Against Gujarat Titans
In a spectacular display of power hitting, Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer played a stunning knock of 97* to help his team post a daunting total of 243/5 in their IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Iyer, who continued his blistering form from the Champions Trophy, showcased his aggressive intent by scoring at an astounding strike rate of 230.95. His innings was punctuated by nine sixes and five boundaries, providing the perfect foundation for Punjab Kings. Despite losing Prabhsimran Singh early, Iyer’s explosive innings, supported by cameos from Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh, propelled Punjab to a mammoth total.
Arya, making his IPL debut, was initially lucky after a dropped catch by Arshad Khan in the second over, and took full advantage of the opportunity. Along with Iyer, he powered the Punjab innings, particularly with a 21-run fifth over off Arshad’s bowling. Arya looked set for a big score but was dismissed by Rashid Khan in the seventh over, after a top-edge catch from Arshad.
Sai Kishore emerged as Gujarat Titans’ most successful bowler, taking three wickets, including the crucial dismissals of Azmatullah Omarzai and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession. However, despite the breakthroughs, Iyer and Marcus Stoinis fought back, adding 57 runs for the fourth wicket. Iyer continued his onslaught, with a particularly explosive 17th over where he hammered 24 runs off Prasidh Krishna.
Iyer’s innings was complemented by Shashank Singh, who contributed a fiery unbeaten 44* off just 16 balls, including five boundaries in the final over. The explosive hitting saw Punjab Kings finish their innings at 243/5, leaving Gujarat Titans with a daunting target.
For Gujarat, Sai Kishore was the standout bowler with 3-30, while Rashid Khan (1-48) and Kagiso Rabada (1-41) were unable to stem the flow of runs in the latter half of Punjab’s innings.
Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 243/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 97*, Priyansh Arya 47, Shashank Singh 44*; Sai Kishore 3-30, Kagiso Rabada 1-41, Rashid Khan 1-48) vs Gujarat Titans
