Gourav Choudhary's all-round show powers Bathinda Royals to 7-wicket win
Synopsis
Bathinda Royals were three down for 54 chasing 177 — then Gourav Choudhary took over. His 76 off 45 and an unbroken 126-run stand with Ridham Satyawan turned a wobble into a seven-wicket win, capping a day where Choudhary had already taken three wickets with the ball. A complete all-round performance to open the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 campaign.
Key Takeaways
Bathinda Royals defeated Mohali Kings by seven wickets in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 opener on 31 August at I.S.
Bindra Stadium, Mohali .
Gourav Choudhary claimed 3 wickets with the ball and scored 76 off 45 in the chase — the match's standout all-round performance.
Mohali Kings were restricted to 176/9 ; Aryan Bhatia top-scored with 48 off 37 .
Bathinda slipped to 54/3 before an unbroken 126-run fourth-wicket stand between Choudhary and Ridham Satyawan (51* off 40) sealed the win.
Sumit Sharma also took 3 wickets for the Royals, sharing bowling honours with Choudhary.
Bathinda Royals launched their Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Mohali Kings by seven wickets at the I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on Monday, 31 August. The victory was built on a standout all-round display by Gourav Choudhary, who claimed three wickets with the ball before top-scoring with a blistering 76 off 45 balls in the chase.
Mohali Kings Bowled Out of Momentum
Bathinda Royals elected to bowl first and made an immediate impact. Gourav Choudhary drew first blood on the very first ball of the innings, dismissing Gurmehar Sara for a duck. Sumit Sharma followed up by removing Manpreet Johal (11 off 19) and Anmolpreet Singh (8 off 10), leaving Mohali Kings reeling at 34/3 by the seventh over.
A steadying 55-run fourth-wicket partnership between captain Ramandeep Singh and Aryan Bhatia temporarily halted the slide. However, Bathinda's bowlers kept returning to take wickets at regular intervals, restricting the Kings to 176/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Aryan Bhatia top-scored for Mohali with 48 off 37 balls, while Choudhary and Sharma each finished with three wickets apiece.
Royals Wobble Before Choudhary and Satyawan Take Over
Chasing 177, Bathinda found themselves in trouble at 54/3, their top order failing to fire. What followed was a masterclass in match-finishing. Gourav Choudhary anchored the recovery alongside Ridham Satyawan, the pair starting cautiously before shifting gears to pile pressure on the Mohali bowling attack.
The duo forged an unbeaten 126-run fourth-wicket stand — the decisive passage of play in the contest. Choudhary's 76 off 45 set the tempo, while Satyawan's composed 51* off 40 balls ensured the Royals crossed the line with three wickets in hand.
Choudhary's All-Round Effort the Difference
Choudhary's contribution with both ball and bat marked him as the standout performer of the match. His early breakthrough in the powerplay disrupted Mohali's batting plans, and his counter-attacking innings in the chase rescued Bathinda from a precarious position. Notably, the 126-run unbroken partnership is one of the largest fourth-wicket stands in this edition of the tournament.
What This Means for the Campaign
The win gives Bathinda Royals a confident start to their Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 campaign. A seven-wicket victory — even after a mid-chase wobble — signals batting depth and bowling consistency that will be tested in the matches ahead. For Mohali Kings, the inability to defend a competitive total of 176 will be a concern heading into their next fixture.
Point of View
First with the ball in the powerplay and then with the bat in a crisis. For Mohali Kings, conceding 126 runs in an unbroken partnership after taking three top-order wickets points to a middle-overs bowling problem that will need fixing fast. A total of 176 should have been defendable on this surface.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 opener?
Bathinda Royals won the opening match of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026, defeating Mohali Kings by seven wickets at I.S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on 31 August. The win was built on Gourav Choudhary's all-round performance.
What did Gourav Choudhary do in the match?
Gourav Choudhary took three wickets with the ball, dismissing Gurmehar Sara for a duck on the very first delivery, and then scored 76 off 45 balls to anchor the chase. He also shared an unbroken 126-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ridham Satyawan.
What was Mohali Kings' total in the match?
Mohali Kings posted 176/9 in their 20 overs. Aryan Bhatia was their top scorer with 48 off 37 balls, while captain Ramandeep Singh contributed a steadying partnership during the middle overs.
How did Bathinda Royals chase down the target?
Bathinda were in trouble at 54/3 before Gourav Choudhary and Ridham Satyawan added an unbroken 126 runs for the fourth wicket. Satyawan finished unbeaten on 51 off 40 balls as the Royals reached the target with three wickets remaining.
Where was the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026 opener played?
The match was played at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali on 31 August 2026, the home ground of Mohali Kings and one of Punjab's premier cricket venues.
