Match overview
Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in a close IPL T20 on 31 March 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. Punjab, chasing 163, were cruising at 55/1 after the powerplay but lost 5 wickets in the middle overs and found themselves under pressure entering the death. They recovered to post 165/7, getting there with a death-overs contribution of 44 runs from just 1 wicket. C Connolly was named Player of the Match. Gujarat Titans had posted 162/6, which proved four or five runs light on a surface that typically offers more in the first innings.
Gujatat set their total with a solid powerplay of 54/1 and a productive middle phase of 74/2, but the final four overs returned only 34 runs for 3 wickets. At a venue where death-overs batting averages 42 runs, Gujarat fell below par in the most important phase of their innings. Punjab capitalised on the shortfall, though not without a fight.
For Punjab, this result extends their head-to-head lead over Gujarat to 4 wins from 7 meetings and avenges Gujarat's 3-wicket victory at this same ground in 2024. It also provides a confidence boost to a side that had won only 2 of their last 5 matches coming into this fixture.
Venue and conditions
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh is a relatively new IPL venue, with 14 matches in the data set. The average first-innings score of 175 suggests batting is generally good here, while the average second-innings score of 165 points to some advantage for teams defending; the 10-run gap between first and second innings averages is worth keeping in mind when assessing totals. Gujarat's 162/6 came in below both benchmarks, which may have made Punjab's chase more manageable than the raw target suggested.
Powerplay scoring averages 56 runs at Mullanpur, so both sides' powerplay totals of 54 and 55 were broadly on trend. Where the match diverged from venue norms was in Gujarat's death overs: 34 runs from their final four overs was eight below the average of 42. Punjab's 44 in the corresponding phase was above average, and that swing of roughly 10 runs across the death is effectively where the match was decided.
Toss winners choose to field 71% of the time at this ground. Punjab Kings followed that pattern after winning the toss, electing to bowl first. Chase success sits at exactly 50% in 14 matches, meaning there is no strong statistical lean towards either strategy at Mullanpur. What matters more is how a side manages the middle overs: five of the seven wickets Punjab lost in their chase fell between overs 7 and 16.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live coverage available via Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers. Sky's coverage of the IPL typically starts around 15:30 or 19:30 BST depending on the slot, so check the Sky Sports schedule for specific start times. Highlights are usually available on the Sky Sports app shortly after the match concludes.
Recent form
Gujatat Titans arrived at this match having lost three of their last five IPL games in 2025, with wins only against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. That run of results reflected some inconsistency across all phases, and their inability to push beyond 162 at a venue averaging 175 in the first innings was consistent with a side searching for fluency.
Punjab Kings' recent form was similarly patchy: three defeats in five matches before this fixture, including two losses to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their win here, though nervy, showed a capacity to see out tight chases when it matters. Two of their last five results before this match were wins over Mumbai Indians, so there is some evidence of the side performing at home or against familiar opponents. A win by 3 wickets against Gujarat keeps them in the conversation for the play-offs, with the head-to-head record now in their favour should it become a tiebreaker later in the season.
