By IPL Fan Welcome to IPLFan.in, your ultimate destination for all things IPL! The 2025 season is heating up, and Match 5 on March 25 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was a blockbuster clash to kick off the campaigns for both Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). In a game that saw over 470 runs scored, PBKS held their nerve to secure an 11-run victory, with captain Shreyas Iyer leading from the front with a match-defining 97*. Let’s break down the action, relive the key moments, and check out the full scoreboard for this electrifying encounter.
Match 5 of IPL 2025 was a run-fest that showcased the batting firepower of both teams. PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that paid off as they posted a formidable 243/5, driven by Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 97 and a blistering 62 from Jos Buttler. GT put up a valiant fight in the chase, with Shubman Gill (75) and Sai Sudharsan (64) leading the charge, but they fell 11 runs short, finishing at 232/5. PBKS’s bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis, held their nerve in the death overs to seal the win, giving PBKS a perfect start to their IPL 2025 campaign.
PBKS’s batting was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with their top order firing on all cylinders. Here’s how their innings unfolded:
- Buttler’s Explosive Start: PBKS got off to a flying start with Jos Buttler leading the charge. Buttler smashed 62 off 29 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes, setting the tone in the powerplay. He took a particular liking to GT’s new-ball bowlers, Umesh Yadav and Spencer Johnson, racing to his fifty in just 24 balls. Buttler’s onslaught helped PBKS reach 78/1 in the powerplay, but he fell to Rashid Khan in the 8th over, caught at deep mid-wicket.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Captain’s Knock: Captain Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a sensational 97* off 49 balls, falling just 3 runs short of a well-deserved century. Iyer’s knock was a blend of elegance and aggression, featuring 8 fours and 4 sixes. He paced his innings perfectly, accelerating after the powerplay and taking on GT’s spinners, including Noor Ahmad and R Sai Kishore. Iyer added 85 runs for the third wicket with Prabhsimran Singh (34 off 22), ensuring PBKS maintained momentum.
- Late Flourish: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (13 off 6) and Sam Curran (18* off 8) provided the late fireworks, with Curran smashing two sixes in the final over off Umesh Yadav. PBKS finished at 243/5, a daunting total on a flat Ahmedabad pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers. Riyan Parag (12 off 7) also chipped in before falling to Mohit Sharma.
GT’s bowling struggled to contain PBKS’s onslaught. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 2/38, dismissing Buttler and Parag, while Mohit Sharma (1/45) and Noor Ahmad (1/42) picked up a wicket each. Umesh Yadav (1/50) and Spencer Johnson (0/52) were expensive, unable to find their rhythm on a batting-friendly surface.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | 62 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 213.79 | c Sudharsan b Rashid Khan |
| Jonny Bairstow | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 | c Gill b Umesh Yadav |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 34 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 154.55 | c Parag b Noor Ahmad |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | 97* | 49 | 8 | 4 | 197.96 | Not Out |
| Riyan Parag | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 171.43 | c Miller b Mohit Sharma |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 216.67 | c Saha b Rashid Khan |
| Sam Curran | 18* | 8 | 0 | 2 | 225.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 6 | (lb 2, w 4) | ||||
| Total | 243/5 | (20 Overs, RR: 12.15) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-20 (Jonny Bairstow, 2.1 ov), 2-96 (Jos Buttler, 7.5 ov), 3-181 (Prabhsimran Singh, 14.3 ov), 4-198 (Riyan Parag, 16.2 ov), 5-215 (Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 17.5 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umesh Yadav | 4 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 12.50 |
| Spencer Johnson | 4 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Noor Ahmad | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| R Sai Kishore | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Mohit Sharma | 2 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 18.00 |
Chasing 244, GT needed a strong start, and their top order delivered, but the mounting run rate proved too much in the end. Here’s how their chase played out:
- Gill and Sudharsan’s Solid Foundation: GT captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan gave their team a strong start, adding 120 runs for the second wicket. Gill scored 75 off 41 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes, while Sudharsan made 64 off 38, with 6 fours and 2 sixes. The duo kept GT in the hunt, reaching 100 in the 10th over, but the required run rate continued to climb.
- Middle-Order Struggles: After a solid powerplay score of 68/1, GT lost Wriddhiman Saha early for 12, dismissed by Arshdeep Singh. The turning point came when Nathan Ellis dismissed Gill in the 13th over, caught at long-on, breaking the partnership. Sudharsan fell soon after to Sam Curran, and GT slipped to 140/3. David Miller (22 off 14) and Riyan Parag (18 off 10) tried to keep the chase alive, but the asking rate soared above 15 runs per over.
- Death Overs Pressure: With 48 runs needed off the last 3 overs, PBKS’s bowlers stepped up. Arshdeep Singh (2/40) and Nathan Ellis (2/38) bowled tight lines, mixing yorkers with slower balls to stifle GT’s momentum. Vijay Shankar (14* off 7) and Rahul Tewatia (8* off 4) provided a late flourish, but GT finished at 232/5, falling 11 runs short.
PBKS’s bowling was led by Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis, who picked up two wickets each. Sam Curran (1/42) also played a crucial role, while Kagiso Rabada (0/48) and Harpreet Brar (0/36) were expensive but managed to keep GT’s batsmen under pressure in the crucial overs.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wriddhiman Saha (wk) | 12 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 150.00 | c Buttler b Arshdeep Singh |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 75 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 182.93 | c Iyer b Nathan Ellis |
| Sai Sudharsan | 64 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 168.42 | c Suryavanshi b Sam Curran |
| David Miller | 22 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 157.14 | c Prabhsimran b Nathan Ellis |
| Riyan Parag | 18 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 180.00 | c Bairstow b Arshdeep Singh |
| Vijay Shankar | 14* | 7 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 | Not Out |
| Rahul Tewatia | 8* | 4 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 9 | (lb 2, w 7) | ||||
| Total | 232/5 | (20 Overs, RR: 11.60) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-20 (Wriddhiman Saha, 2.3 ov), 2-140 (Shubman Gill, 12.5 ov), 3-160 (Sai Sudharsan, 14.2 ov), 4-195 (Riyan Parag, 16.6 ov), 5-210 (David Miller, 18.1 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 10.00 |
| Nathan Ellis | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Harpreet Brar | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Sam Curran | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Riyan Parag | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 26.00 |
- Player of the Match – Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): 97* off 49 balls. A captain’s knock that set up PBKS’s victory, falling just short of a century.
- Jos Buttler (PBKS): 62 off 29 balls. A fiery start that put GT on the back foot early.
- Shubman Gill (GT): 75 off 41 balls. A valiant effort in the chase, but not enough to get GT over the line.
- Sai Sudharsan (GT): 64 off 38 balls. Played a crucial role in keeping GT in the hunt.
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 2/40 in 4 overs. Crucial wickets and tight bowling in the death overs.
- High-Scoring Encounter: The match aggregate of 475 runs (243 + 232) was one of the highest in IPL 2025 so far, reflecting the batting-friendly conditions in Ahmedabad.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Near Miss: Iyer’s 97* is the highest score by a PBKS captain in an IPL match, surpassing previous records.
- GT’s Powerplay: GT’s 68/1 in the powerplay was their highest in a chase since IPL 2023.
- Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership: Iyer’s 97* was the backbone of PBKS’s innings, and his ability to accelerate at the right moments set a challenging total.
- Buttler’s Powerplay Blitz: Buttler’s 62 off 29 ensured PBKS got off to a flyer, putting GT’s bowlers under pressure early.
- Death Bowling: Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis bowled brilliantly in the final overs, defending 48 runs in the last 3 overs to seal the win.
- Expensive Bowling: GT’s bowlers, particularly Umesh Yadav and Spencer Johnson, leaked runs in the powerplay, allowing PBKS to set a massive total.
- Middle-Order Failure: After Gill and Sudharsan’s departure, GT’s middle order couldn’t maintain the required run rate, with Miller and Parag unable to provide the finishing kick.
- Inability to Finish: Despite a strong start, GT couldn’t capitalize in the death overs, falling 11 runs short despite having wickets in hand.
For PBKS, this win is a perfect start to their IPL 2025 campaign. Shreyas Iyer’s form and Buttler’s explosive batting give them a strong foundation, and their bowlers showed composure under pressure. Their next match is against Lucknow Super Giants on March 29 in Lucknow, where they’ll aim to continue their winning streak.
Gujarat Titans, despite the loss, can take heart from the performances of Gill and Sudharsan. However, their bowling needs to tighten up, especially in the powerplay. They’ll face Sunrisers Hyderabad next on March 28 in Hyderabad, hoping to bounce back and get their campaign on track.
Stay tuned to IPLFan.in for more live scores, latest news, and updates from the IPL 2025 season. The next match on March 26 between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders promises to be another thriller—don’t miss it!
