Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer delivered one of the greatest individual performances of this IPL season, slamming an unbeaten 87 to pull off a stunning 204-run chase against Mumbai Indians (MI), sealing the Qualifier 2 with an over to spare and sending the five-time champions crashing out of IPL 2025.
In a knock as cold-blooded as it was clinical, Iyer dismantled MI’s death bowling with ice in his veins, hammering 26 runs off the penultimate over from young Ashwani Kumar — including four sixes — to complete the win in 19 overs.
Notably, the franchise he dumped from the tournament tonight is the one he plays for in Ranji Trophy cricket — Mumbai. And yet, there were no celebrations. Just a quiet hug to Marcus Stoinis, and a walk off the field like a man who had seen it all.
Earlier, it was a game of fluctuating fortunes. Punjab lost Priyansh Arya early, but Josh Inglis and Nehal Wadhera steadied things with aggressive strokeplay, taking on Jasprit Bumrah in particular, who conceded 20 runs in the fifth over, a rare off-day for the MI spearhead.
Inglis struck a brutal 38 off 21 balls before falling to a top-edge off Pandya, caught by Johnny Bairstow. Wadhera continued to motor on, playing some audacious strokes, including a pulled six and a straight loft off Ashwani Kumar. He looked good for a fifty, but perished for 48 (29), caught by Mitchell Santner.
With the equation still steep and wickets tumbling, Iyer absorbed all pressure, stitched mini partnerships, and then launched into overdrive.
He toyed with the field placements, hitting sixes over wide long-off, long-on, and deep square-leg with alarming regularity. Bumrah’s pinpoint yorker was ramped to the third man boundary, a shot that will be replayed all season.
The crucial moment came in the 18th over when PBKS needed 26 off 12. Iyer tore into Ashwani Kumar — six, dot (reviewed for non-wide), six, dot (wasted review by MI), six, and then another six to close the over and the game.
Pandya dropped to his haunches, devastated. Iyer remained statuesque.
Preity Zinta, in the owners' box, jumped with joy, her trademark smile lighting up the night.
Nita Ambani, meanwhile, slumped into her seat as MI’s campaign ended with heartbreak.
Final Score: PBKS 207/4 in 19 overs (Iyer 87* off 41, Wadhera 48 off 29) beat MI 203/6
Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer
Punjab now await their opponent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, while Mumbai Indians will go back to the drawing board, undone by brilliance, and calm, by one man’s bat, and his stoicism.
