Senior India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal continued to prove his dominance in the middle overs and underlined the value of wrist spin in T20 cricket, as Punjab
Kings restricted Gujarat Titans to 162/6 in the first in Match 4 of IPL 2026 at Mohali.
On Tuesday (March 31), the leg-spinner, now the most prolific wicket-taker in overs 7-15 in IPL history, leads an elite list with 138 wickets at an average of 25.34 - ahead of stalwarts like Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra and Rashid Khan. His ability to break partnerships in the middle phase continues to set him apart in the league.
Most wickets in overs 7-15 in IPL
• Yuzvendra Chahal - 138
• Ravindra Jadeja - 136
• Piyush Chawla - 132
• Amit Mishra - 126
• Rashid Khan - 102
(Stats: CricViz)
GT innings: Gill, Buttler anchor; late push takes Titans past 160
Gujarat Titans rode on a steady top-order effort, with Shubman Gill (39 off 27) and Jos Buttler (38 off 33) laying the foundation after a cautious start. The duo ensured GT did not lose early wickets but struggled at times to accelerate against disciplined bowling.
The middle phase saw Punjab's bowlers apply the brakes effectively, preventing Gujarat from breaking free. However, a late flourish from the lower middle order ensured GT crossed the 160-mark, finishing at 162/6 in 20 overs.
Middle overs remain decisive battleground
Chahal's record highlights a broader trend in IPL cricket - the middle overs (7-15) are often where matches are won or lost. Teams that dominate this phase, either through wickets or run control, tend to dictate the final outcome.
With PBKS needing 163 to win, the role of spinners and change-up bowlers in the middle overs will once again be crucial, especially on a surface that showed signs of grip.
