PBKS vs KKR IPL 2023 Match Report: Arshdeep, Bhanuka impress as Punjab win by DLS method

Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 runs (DLS) in their first match of IPL 2023 in a match that was affected by rain. With KKR needing 46 runs in the last 24 balls of the PBKS vs KKR match, umpires had to stop the match as the rain started pouring in at Mohali Stadium.

KKR captain Nitish Rana won the toss and decided to field first on a wicket which he thought will support the bowler early in the innings. With Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav in the bowling ranks, KKR looked for a great start with the ball.

Great start by Bhanuka Rajapaksa | 1sr Inning | PBKS vs KKR

Prabhsimran Singh started the inning well for Punjab but had to go back to the dressing room while facing a leg-side ball from Tim Southee. But, it was Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shikhar Dhawan who made sure that Punjab gets off to a brilliant start in the first inning.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa was superb with a shot-making and even attacked Sunil Narine in the powerplay. Meanwhile, Dhawan looked to hit the gaps and support Rajapaksa from the other end. Both Rajapaksa and Dhawan took the team's total past 100 but Umesh Yadav struck at the right time to give KKR a huge break. Rajapaksa departed right after competing first fifty of his IPL career.

With 100-up in ten overs, Punjab Kings' batters kept on attacking the KKR bowlers. Jitesh Sharma continued his domestic form and scored a quick-fire 21 from 11 balls before perishing to Tim Southee.

But, post that, Punjab Kings failed to capitalise on the start they had. Soon after Jitesh Sharma's departure, captain Shikhar Dhawan was sent back to the pavilion after a well-made 40 from 29 balls by Varun Chakravarthy.

Varun Chakravarthy and Umesh Yadav then bowled a few tight overs in the middle overs to stop the PBKS' momentum. However, a 15-run over from Tim Southee took their score to 191. Although the score looked good, they would have felt 15 short in the innings break after the start they had.

KKR's poor start to the chase

KKR's inning was delayed due to a light issue at the Mohali stadium. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings replaced Rajapaksa with Rishi Dhawan using the impact player rule.

Sam Curran's first over went for 13 as KKR's opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mandeep Singh looked ready for the chase. But, Arshdeep Singh had some other plans.

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Arshdeep first bounced out his state teammate Mandeep Singh and then picked up Anukul Roy who was surprisingly sent at number three by KKR management. KKR then sent Venkatesh Iyer as their impact player to join Gurbaz in the PBKS vs KKR clash at Mohali.

Two back-to-back good overs from Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh restricted Iyer and Gurbaz from having any kind of momentum. As a result of that, Nathan Ellis got rid of Gurbaz and suddenly the scoreboard said 35/3 for KKR. Captain Nitish Rana definitely was not expecting to come to the crease that early in the chase.

Rana and Iyer tried to put up a partnership knowing that they had Andre Russell and Rinku Singh to come after them. Rana departed after scoring 24 from 17 and Rinku could only add 4 to the scoreboard. That meant everything was in the hands of Andre Russell to give KKR a miraculous win.

Russell gives KKR a hope | PBKS vs KKR

Russell started muscling the ball over the boundary and suddenly the KKR dressing looked hopeful. Back-to-back 18-run overs from Nathan Ellis and Sam Curran took the required run rate below 12 but KKR lost Russell at a crucial moment. Sam Curran got the big fish out. A short off-cutter from the most expensive IPL player in the last auction roared after sending Russell (35 from 19) and KKR's hope back to the coffin.

While a drizzle started at Mohali, Shardul Thakur smacked one out of the park to give his all-rounder status a go. But, Arshdeep made all the difference by taking Venkatesh Iyer's wicket as the drizzle started getting heavier. Iyer could not control the short ball from Arshdeep and provided an easy catch to point. Narine came in and smacked a six to make sure KKR stays in the game.

But, the rain god had some another plan as the umpires had to stop the game. With 46 needed from 24 balls, KKR were 7 runs behind PBKS by the DLS method. At, 7.50 pm umpires decided that that was enough for them to decide the winner and Punjab won the match by 7 runs while Arshdeep Singh bagged the player of the match award for his 3/19.