Watch: Ravi Ashwin concedes 21 runs off single over in PBKS vs CSK clash

Match 22 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Mullanpur on Tuesday, April 8 witnessed veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin conceding 21 runs off his first over at the hands of a red-hot Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera.

However, Ashwin bounced back in style, dismissing both Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell in his very next over to drag CSK back into the contest. The five-time IPL champions were coming into this game after securing just one win in four matches and languishing near the bottom of the table. PBKS, usually the underdogs of the tournament, were placed fifth under the new leadership of Shreyas Iyer. 

The incident took place when Ashwin was brought into the attack in the sixth over, with PBKS already going all out. Arya, who was earlier dropped by Khaleel Ahmed, had run through the CSK bowlers, scoring a quick 19-ball fifty, one of the fastest against CSK.

Ashwin’s over began with Arya hitting a boundary over square leg, followed by a double and a single. Wadhera joined the party, hammering a massive six over mid-wicket off his very first ball. Arya, who came back on strike, sent the final ball over the long-off fielder to reach his fifty. By the end of the over, Ashwin’s figures read 0/21, and PBKS were striking at over 10 runs per over.

Reintroduced in the eighth over, Ashwin made a strong comeback. On his second delivery, he outfoxed Wadhera with a delivery that drifted high up in the air and landed safely into Dhoni’s gloves. Four balls later, Ashwin scalped the dangerous Maxwell, completing a sharp caught-and-bowled dismissal. Ravindra Jadeja followed it up with a tight over that cost only six runs.

By the end of the 13th over, PBKS had reached 151/5, with Arya single-handedly anchoring the innings. His century came off just 39 balls, featuring seven fours and nine sixes. Despite losing early wickets in the form of Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Wadhera, and Maxwell, all falling inside the first eight overs PBKS has now crossed the 200-run mark.