Shreyas Iyer delivered a captain’s performance for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls to steer Punjab Kings (PBKS) into their second-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) final with a five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 on Monday. With this victory, Punjab ended an 11-year wait to return to the IPL summit clash, their last appearance dating back to 2014.
Chasing a daunting target of 204 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Punjab held their nerve and crossed the finish line with six balls to spare, thanks to Iyer’s clean hitting and composed leadership. His innings, laced with power and poise, capped off a memorable night for the franchise and etched his name in the IPL history books.
Punjab’s pursuit of 204 began on a jittery note. Prabhsimran Singh fell cheaply to Trent Boult for 6, and Priyansh Arya’s quickfire 20 off 10 balls was cut short by Ashwani Kumar, leaving PBKS at 55/2 in 5.1 overs. The innings found its footing with Josh Inglis (38 off 21) joining Iyer in a fluent partnership, until Inglis was dismissed by Hardik Pandya at a key moment.
With the match in the balance, Iyer forged a crucial 84-run partnership with Nehal Wadhera, who played a mature knock of 48 off 33 balls. Although Wadhera fell just short of a half-century, his contribution ensured Punjab kept pace with the required run rate.
Despite a late hiccup in the form of Shashank Singh’s run-out, Iyer stayed calm and in control. Punjab brought up 100 in 10.3 overs and crossed 150 in the 16th, keeping the pressure firmly on Mumbai. The victory was sealed in the 19th over when Iyer lofted a massive six to finish the game, remaining unbeaten and firmly stamping his authority on the contest.
Iyer’s leadership achievements now stand unmatched—he becomes the first player to lead three different franchises to the IPL final: Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 (where he lifted the trophy), and now Punjab Kings in 2025. He now has the rare opportunity to become a two-time IPL-winning captain with two different teams.
For MI, the usually dependable Jasprit Bumrah had an off day, conceding 40 runs in his four overs. Ashwani Kumar took 2/55, while Boult and Pandya picked up a wicket each but couldn’t contain Punjab’s charge.
Earlier, MI posted a competitive 203/6 after being put into bat. Jonny Bairstow (38 off 24), Tilak Varma (44 off 29), and Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 26) anchored the innings, while Naman Dhir’s blistering cameo—37 off 18 balls—provided a strong finish.
Punjab’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Azmatullah Omarzai claiming 2/43. Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Marcus Stoinis, and Yuzvendra Chahal each picked up a wicket to keep MI from breaching the 210 mark.
With this thrilling win, Punjab Kings head into the final with belief, momentum, and a captain in red-hot form. A franchise long seen as underachievers now stands just one victory away from their maiden IPL crown—powered by the brilliance of Shreyas Iyer.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians 203/6 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 44, Tilak Varma 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 2/43).
Punjab Kings 207/5 in 19 overs (Shreyas Iyer 87, Nehal Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2/55).
