Aakash Chopra lauds Yuzvendra Chahal’s spell in PBKS’ IPL 2025 win vs KKR

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Yuzvendra Chahal after Punjab Kings registered a memorable 16-run win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at New Chandigarh on Tuesday.

PBKS was skittled out for 111 runs as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. However, the home team was able to bundle out KKR at 95 to steal a win from the jaws of defeat.

Yuzvendra Chahal played a key role in the win, returning with impressive figures of 4-28 in his quota of four overs. The leg-spinner accounted for Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh.

“Yuzi Chahal bowled well because there were revolutions on the ball, and he bowled slightly slow. The ball was drifting in the air. It was going away from the left-handers and turning after pitching. The off-spinner’s ball goes away from the right-handers and then pitches and comes in. That’s the ideal off-spin dismissal,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra hailed Chahal for bowling the right line against KKR to reap the rewards.

“For a leg-spinner, the ball should go towards the leg side for the right-handers and outside the off-stump for the left-handers, and then pitch and turn. The great Shane Warne used to do that, and Chahal bowled like that and picked up wickets,” he added.

On the other hand, the renowned commentator reckons the pitch was good to bat on but both teams could not bring their best.

“Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock got out. When Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were playing, Raghuvanshi played a pick-up shot that went for a 70-meter six, Rahane chipped the ball for a straight six, and then Raghuvanshi hit a four towards cover. The pitch was very, very good to bat,” he said in the same video.

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane decided not to review his LBW dismissal despite the impact being outside the off-stump.

“The ball was coming nicely onto the bat and going nicely from the bat as well, or else such good shots wouldn’t have been hit. Then came spin and a moment which was the turning point of the match. A leg-before decision was given, Rahane didn’t review that, and the ball had hit him slightly outside the off-stump,” Chopra observed.

The former KKR player reckons Rahane’s wicket was the turning point in the match as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

“Stroke of luck. You can call it poor umpiring as well. Rahane is too sweet. He felt what would happen if they lost a review. That became the turning point. Angkrish Raghuvanshi got out to Yuzi’s ball. Rinku Singh also got out, and Venkatesh Iyer fell prey to Glenn Maxwell. Ramaneep Singh came and got out,” he added.

Punjab Kings will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Friday.