Sports Desk
1 & 2 June , Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist and Research Analysist
In a thrilling Qualifier 2 match played at Ahmedabad, Punjab Kings made their way to the IPL final for the first time since 2014, crushing Mumbai Indians’ dream of winning a sixth IPL title. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a heroic innings, smashing an unbeaten 87 runs at a strike rate of 200, leading Punjab to a memorable five-wicket win.
Match Delayed by Rain, Mumbai Sets a Big Target
The match started with a slight delay due to rain. After winning the toss, Punjab Kings decided to bowl first. Mumbai Indians got off to a decent start with Jonny Bairstow and Rohit Sharma opening the innings. Rohit was dropped early but got out for just 8 runs. Bairstow then partnered with Tilak Varma to stabilize the innings.
Bairstow scored 38 runs off 24 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes before getting out in the 7th over. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav took charge and attacked the Punjab bowlers. Suryakumar scored a quick 46 off 26 balls, taking his season total past 700 runs. Soon after Surya’s dismissal, Tilak Varma was also dismissed by Jamieson after scoring 44 runs.
In the final overs, Naman Dhir played a fiery knock of 37 runs in just 18 balls, including 7 boundaries. He got good support from Hardik Pandya and Raj Bawa. Mumbai Indians ended their innings at a strong total of 203 for 6 in 20 overs.
Punjab Off to a Shaky Start
Chasing 204 runs, Punjab Kings lost opener Prabhsimran Singh early for just 6 runs. However, Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis counter-attacked and kept Punjab in the game. Josh Inglis was especially aggressive, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for 20 runs in one over. But Priyansh was dismissed for 20 runs, and Inglis followed soon after scoring 38 runs off 21 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera Steer Punjab’s Chase
After the fall of the openers, captain Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera built a solid partnership. Iyer looked in great touch, smashing three consecutive sixes off Reece Topley to show his intent. Nehal also entertained the crowd with his smart shots before getting out for 48 runs off 29 balls, which included 4 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Punjab still needed 23 runs from the last two overs. That’s when Shreyas Iyer took complete control. He hammered four sixes in the 19th over bowled by R Ashwin, turning the game in Punjab’s favor. With just a few runs needed in the final over, Punjab comfortably chased down the target with an over to spare.
Shreyas Iyer: The Star of the Night
Shreyas Iyer remained not out on 87 runs off just 41 balls. His explosive knock included 5 fours and 8 sixes. It was his captain’s knock that brought Punjab into their second-ever IPL final after a gap of 10 years. His calm under pressure and powerful hitting made all the difference in this high-stakes match.
Punjab Kings Ready for the Final Showdown
With this dramatic victory, Punjab Kings have booked their place in the IPL 2025 final. The team will now be aiming to win their first-ever IPL title. Their fans are excited and hopeful as the team looks stronger than ever, led by an in-form captain and supported by impactful players. The final promises to be a cracker of a game.