Punjab Kings are just one step away from their maiden IPL title after a dominant performance in Qualifier 2, defeating five-time champions Mumbai Indians by six wickets. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a sensational knock, scoring an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls to lead Punjab into their first IPL final since 2014. It was a statement of resilience and brilliance from a team that had been written off just days earlier.
Shreyas had boldly declared that Punjab hadn’t lost the war after a humbling defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1. On Sunday, he backed up his words with one of the most memorable innings of IPL 2025, guiding Punjab to a successful chase of 204, a total never before chased against Mumbai Indians in tournament history. His explosive innings, filled with flair and composure, included eight sixes and five fours, striking at over 212.
A Measured Start After Qualifier 1 Collapse
Punjab approached the chase cautiously after their disastrous batting show in the previous match. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya took their time before Prabhsimran fell early for 6. Josh Inglis brought momentum but departed in the eighth over, leaving Punjab at 72 for 3. Nehal Wadhera then joined Shreyas Iyer, and together they stitched a crucial 84-run partnership.
The turning point came when Wadhera took on Hardik Pandya, followed by a 19-run over off Reece Topley, where Shreyas launched three sixes. Though Wadhera fell for 48 and Shashank Singh was run out soon after, Shreyas held firm.
A Captain’s Finish for the Ages
Needing 31 from 18 balls, Shreyas stayed calm under pressure. Against Jasprit Bumrah, he pulled off what AB de Villiers later called the “shot of the tournament,” guiding a yorker past the keeper for four. He followed up by hammering Ashwani Kumar for four sixes in the penultimate over, sealing the victory with six balls to spare.
Mumbai’s fairytale comeback this season ended in heartbreak, while Punjab now prepares to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. Shreyas Iyer’s heroics have not only reignited Punjab’s dream but also reminded fans of the power of calm leadership and fearless cricket.
