Preity Zinta Leads Jubilant Celebrations as Shreyas Iyer Seals Qualifier 1 Spot for Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta was over the moon celebrating when captain Shreyas Iyer hit the winning six to seal a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians and secure PBKS's position in Qualifier 1 of Indian Premier League 2025. The victory is a milestone for the franchise, who are in the IPL playoffs for the first time in 11 years, their previous appearance in 2014.

 

Emotional Moments in Jaipur

The game in Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium witnessed Preity Zinta enthusiastically cheering from the stands. When Iyer ended the game in style, Zinta jumped on her feet, embracing the skipper in an emotional moment later. She even hugged head coach Ricky Ponting after a celebratory selfie, capturing the magnitude of the moment.

 

Shreyas Iyer's Impact

Shreyas Iyer, bought for a record INR 26.75 crore in the super auction, has proven worth his money by guiding PBKS to a second-place finish in the league. With him as the skipper and under Ponting's tutoring, the side has had an impressive turnaround, winning nine of 14 matches this season. Iyer's calmness and leadership were in full display as he went unbeaten, ending the chase with a six against Trent Boult.

 

Preity Zinta's Hailing

Post-match, Zinta showered Heaps of praise on Iyer, addressing him as "captain fantastic" and praising the combination of him and coach Ricky Ponting. "We are fortunate that we have Shreyas Iyer. He has been an excellent captain and a wonderful leader. And Ricky Ponting as a coach, their combination has done wonders for us," Zinta informed broadcasters. She expressed excitement about playing the upcoming Qualifier 1 at their home ground in Mullanpur and credited the team’s hard work and fan support for their success.

 

Key Performances

While Iyer's finishing flourish made headlines, the pursuit was established by a 109-run stand between Priyansh Arya (62 off 35) and Josh Inglis (73 off 42), which took the match away from Mumbai Indians. Not only did the victory secure a playoff spot but also gave PBKS a top-two finish, having two chances to make it to the final.

 

What's Next

Punjab Kings will next play either Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur on May 29. They will seal their spot in the IPL 2025 final if they win.

 

Sources: Hindustan Times, Times of India, CricTracker, India Today, Rediff