Iyer Force Awakens: Punjab Kings Script a Regal Chase to Seal IPL Final Spot

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 700 Views

Punjab Kings have stormed into the IPL 2025 final after a thrilling five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Skipper Shreyas Iyer led from the front with an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls, ensuring Punjab’s second-ever final appearance afte...

Match Summary

Punjab Kings chased down Mumbai’s 203-6 with an over to spare, finishing at 207-5.
Shreyas Iyer’s blistering knock included eight sixes and five fours, marking his sixth half-century of the season.
Rain delayed the match by over two hours, but a full 20-over contest was completed.

Mumbai’s Innings: A Strong Start but a Faltering Finish

Jonny Bairstow (38 off 24) and Tilak Varma (44) provided Mumbai with a solid foundation.
Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 26) kept the momentum going, but Punjab’s bowlers tightened the grip in the death overs.
Naman Dhir’s late cameo (37 off 18) pushed Mumbai past the 200-mark, but they fell short of a truly imposing total.

Punjab’s Chase: Iyer’s Heroics Seal the Deal

Punjab lost Prabhsimran Singh early for six, followed by Priyansh Arya for 20.
Josh Inglis (38 off 21) and Nehal Wadhera (48 off 29) steadied the innings before Iyer unleashed his match-winning assault.
Even Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t contain Punjab’s charge, finishing wicketless for 40 runs in four overs.

Iyer’s Winning Speech: Calmness Under Pressure Shreyas Iyer reflected on his approach during the high-stakes chase, emphasizing the importance of staying composed. "I always say to myself and to my colleagues in the team that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, the better the results. Today was a right example where I was focusing more on my breathing rather than sweating out there," he shared.

He also highlighted the team’s resilience after their earlier loss to Bengaluru. "Just throw the imagination and also the hiccup in the bin and not think too much about where we went wrong because throughout the season we've been playing amazing," Iyer remarked.

Historic Final Awaits

Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on June 3 in Ahmedabad.
Neither team has ever won the IPL trophy, making this a historic showdown.
Bengaluru returns to the final after runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016.

Looking Ahead With Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru both vying for their maiden IPL title, the final promises to be an electrifying contest. Will Iyer’s leadership guide Punjab to glory, or will Bengaluru finally break their title drought?

Sources: Business Standard, Indian Express, MSN, Outlook India, Sky Sports, Times Now.

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