Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the tactics they added in their IPL 2025 win against the Mumbai Indians (MI) as well. He also added that PBKS took the courageous decision to bowl first as well. However, PBKS restricted MI to 184/7 and then achieved the target with 7 wickets and 9 deliveries in hand.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The biggest story is that they changed their tactics. You need courage to do that. Something was consistently working fine for you, and that’s your strength. You bat first and outbat the opposition. However, they said that it’s not working out. So they would bowl first. After that, their bowling tactics were outstanding. Everyone was given a role, and a plan was made against every batter.”

ALSO READ: “I did get a couple of hints” – AB de Villiers on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

“They realized that the side boundaries were slightly big. So they could bowl slower short balls. They kept the square fielders back and the mid-on fielder up. They had mid-on in the circle for Suryakumar Yadav all through. How do you do that? If Suryakumar Yadav plays nearly 40 balls and doesn’t score 75 runs, it’s a massive win,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the PBKS bowlers restricted the MI batters well, with Ryan Rickelton (27 off 20) getting dismissed in the powerplay and Rohit Sharma scoring 24 runs in 21 deliveries as well.

“They bowled incredibly well. No batter got the freedom to play, whether it was the powerplay overs where Ryan Rickelton got out, or Rohit Sharma, who batted very slow. Eventually, he was caught in the deep off Harpreet Brar’s bowling. Will Jacks played one or two good shots, but then he fell prey to Vijaykumar Vyshak. Vyshak was very, very good. He started the season and has ended the season as well, if we talk about the league phase. He was outstanding then in Ahmedabad, and he is outstanding now in Jaipur,” Chopra shared.

ALSO READ: “He is the most successful Indian Test captain” – Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli

“Harpreet Brar bowled restrictively continuously. He too picked up a wicket and dismissed the Mumbai Indians’ legend, Rohit Sharma. 22 or 23 runs came in the 19th over, and Arshdeep Singh gave only three runs in the last over. He was phenom. They (MI) were at least 20 runs short. 184 was never going to be enough,” Aakash Chopra concluded.