In a dramatic low-scoring IPL 2025 encounter between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at New Chandigarh, PBKS pacer Xavier Bartlett committed an embarrassing fielding blunder that added insult to injury for the home side. The error came during KKR’s chase of a modest 112-run target and became the talk of the match on social media.

While fielding at fine-leg, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett collected the ball comfortably, only to let it slip from his hands during the throw. The ball then rolled past him to the boundary, resulting in four runs. Due to the nature of the error—occurring after a clean collection—the umpires awarded it as an overthrow. With KKR batters Venkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi already completing a single, the team ended up with five runs from the mishap.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer appeared visibly displeased, as Bartlett’s lapse summed up a disappointing outing in the field.

Earlier, defending champions KKR showcased their bowling prowess by bundling out PBKS for just 111 in 15.3 overs. The home team, despite an aggressive start from openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, faltered quickly under pressure.

Harshit Rana’s pace proved decisive, as he removed both Priyansh and Shreyas Iyer in the same over. Ramandeep Singh’s sharp fielding also played a key role in keeping PBKS under check. Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje then continued the damage, leaving PBKS reeling at 86/8 within 11 overs.

Shashank Singh (18) and Bartlett (11) offered slight resistance, but it wasn’t enough to lift the score past 111.

KKR’s bowling unit delivered clinical performances, with Harshit finishing with 3/25, Varun 2/21, and Narine 2/14. Vaibhav Arora and Nortje chipped in with a wicket each.

The internet was quick to react to Bartlett’s blunder, with many users calling it one of the worst fielding errors of the season. Comments such as “Even a child won’t make such mistake” surfaced widely, adding a touch of humour to an otherwise forgettable match for PBKS.

In a thrilling IPL 2025 encounter, Punjab Kings pulled off one of the most astonishing wins in the tournament’s history by defending the lowest-ever total in a full 20-over match. Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal turned the game on its head with a sensational 4-wicket performance, helping Punjab defend a mere 111 runs against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

Punjab’s bowling brilliance overshadows early collapse

Despite being bowled out for just 111 in 15.3 overs at Mullanpur, Punjab’s bowlers, led by Chahal’s 4/28, dismantled Kolkata’s batting lineup, restricting them to just 95 in 15.1 overs. The previous lowest defended total was 116, set by Chennai Super Kings in 2009.

Kolkata appeared to be cruising at 62/2, but Chahal’s introduction changed the course dramatically. He dismissed captain Ajinkya Rahane LBW — a call Rahane did not review despite ball tracking suggesting it was missing off-stump. Chahal then sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh (stumped), and Ramandeep Singh (golden duck) in quick succession.

Social media buzz: RJ Mahvash calls Chahal a “talented man”

Chahal’s match-winning effort sparked a flurry of admiration online, notably from RJ Mahvash, who posted a photo with Chahal on her Instagram story. She captioned it, “What a talented man! Highest wicket-taker of IPL for a reason! Asambhav!” Her post quickly went viral, adding to the leg-spinner’s limelight.

Punjab climb into top four as Chahal wins Player of the Match

Punjab’s victory lifted them into the top four of the 10-team table with four wins from six matches. Head coach Ricky Ponting hailed the performance, calling it “the best win” of his IPL coaching career. Notably, Chahal played the match after passing a fitness test due to a shoulder injury he sustained earlier.

Kolkata’s late fight falls short

Despite a late attempt by Andre Russell, who smashed two sixes and a four off Chahal, Punjab’s bowlers held their nerve. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen claimed key scalps, including Russell’s wicket, which led to wild celebrations at the home ground.

Early sparks but no fire from Punjab batters

Earlier in the day, Punjab started strong with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh adding 39 in just over three overs. However, Harshit Rana’s 3-wicket burst and disciplined spells from Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine dismantled the middle and lower order.

Despite the batting collapse, Punjab’s bowlers, especially Chahal, ensured a dramatic turnaround that is likely to be remembered for years.

In a dramatic twist of events in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) found themselves at the receiving end of an unexpected defeat, failing to chase a modest total of 112 against Punjab. What caught the internet’s attention, however, was not just the result — but a candid moment between Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer after the match.

Following the low-scoring thriller, Rahane, captain of KKR, was caught on camera telling Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer, “Kya faltu batting kari humne” (What a disastrous batting effort from us), a brutally honest admission of his team’s dismal performance with the bat. The remark has since gone viral, echoing fans’ frustrations over KKR’s unexpected collapse.

From highest chasers to lowest defenders

In a surprising turnaround compared to last season, Punjab — who once chased down the highest target in IPL history — now etched their name in the record books for successfully defending the lowest total in league history. This dramatic reversal occurred against the very same opponent — Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite gritty attempts by young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi and power-hitter Andre Russell, KKR fell short, succumbing to disciplined bowling led by Yuzvendra Chahal, who claimed a four-wicket haul on a pitch that offered inconsistent bounce and plenty of challenges for batters.

The LBW that changed the game

A pivotal moment came when Ajinkya Rahane was adjudged LBW while attempting to sweep Chahal. The on-field umpire raised the finger quickly, but replays later revealed that the ball had struck Rahane outside the line of off stump. Had he opted for a review, he would likely have been declared not out.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rahane shared his reasoning for not taking the review. “As a batter, I thought I could save the review for later. The communication between me and Raghuvanshi wasn’t very clear,” he admitted. He also accepted that a lack of decisive input from the non-striker contributed to the missed review opportunity, but added, “No complaints. Apart from that, we also were pretty bad as a batting unit. That was the reason we lost today.”

The statement reflects both accountability and a moment of tactical oversight, as Kolkata missed a golden opportunity to climb the points table.