The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 season kicked off with a thrilling encounter at the National Stadium in Karachi on April 12, where Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans in a close four-wicket win. The Kings successfully ran after 235 points during the second-largest PSL run chase that ended in 19.2 overs.

The match belonged to English player James Vince, who hit an outstanding 104 runs from his 57 deliveries. Vince maintained his stability to guide the batting performance after the team lost early wickets. Khushdil Shah delivered 60 runs through his 37 balls over alongside Vince throughout the fifth-wicket partnership. Karachi Kings recorded a new record for fifth-wicket partnerships with the 142-run stand that shifted the whole game toward their victory. Abbas Afridi launched into the match opener by smacking a six from Chris Jordan when the Karachi Kings inaugurated their season.

James Vince is the Dawlance Reliable Player of the Match for his game-changing performance against the Multan Sultans! 💙❤️#YehHaiKarachi | #KingsSquad | #KarachiKings pic.twitter.com/PH2U9FQl5a

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) April 13, 2025

Also Read: ISL vs PES: Head to Head breakdown of PSL 2025

The announcement about the Player of the Match prize became the central topic immediately following the match conclusion. The unusual Player of the Match prize consisting of a boxed hair dryer triggered widespread online reactions when Vince received it. The official X account for Karachi Kings celebrated Vince's “game-changing performance,” but fans expressed conflicting opinions regarding the matter. The Player of the Match reception resulted in various reactions from users who saw the hairdryer reward as both comical ("Isse accha koi Medal hi de dete yr") and less exciting than IPL trophies.

A Strong Start, Despite the Drama

The off-field prize became secondary when Vince delivered a match-winning century that proved greater than all other achievements. Mohammad Rizwan scored 105* off 63 balls to lead Multan Sultans to a difficult total until Ben Stokes hit 113*, making the Kings start PSL 2025 with assurance. Three struggling seasons resulted in a revitalized cricket direction for the team under team captain David Warner.