Shreyas Iyer’s Heroics Propel Punjab Kings to Second IPL Final, End 11-Year Drought

With a record-breaking captain’s knock, Shreyas Iyer leads Punjab Kings past Mumbai Indians to secure a thrilling five-wicket win in Qualifier 2.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat), June 2: Shreyas Iyer’s masterful 87* off 41 deliveries lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday, guiding Punjab Kings (PBKS) to their second-ever IPL final—and their first in eleven years—with a five-wicket triumph over five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2.

Chasing a daunting target of 204, Punjab began cautiously, losing Prabhsimran Singh early to Trent Boult’s precise delivery for just 6 runs. But Priyansh Arya quickly brought the chase to life, hammering 20 runs in just 10 balls before falling to Ashwani Kumar, leaving PBKS at 55/2 in 5.1 overs.

Josh Inglis (38 off 21) then partnered with Iyer, adding valuable runs with clean striking, including five boundaries and two towering sixes. However, Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya halted his innings, pulling MI back into contention.

As the tension rose, Nehal Wadhera entered the fray and put together a game-changing 84-run stand with Iyer. Wadhera’s calm yet attacking 48 runs laid a strong foundation before he was dismissed by Ashwani Kumar. Shashank Singh’s brief stay (2 runs) added a hiccup, but Iyer’s composure never wavered.

Punjab reached 100 in 10.3 overs and crossed 150 in 15.1 overs, maintaining the chase with unwavering determination. In the 19th over, with a towering six, Iyer sealed the victory—bringing up the team’s first final since 2014 and adding another proud chapter to his leadership legacy.

With this feat, Iyer becomes the first captain to lead three different franchises to IPL finals—Delhi Capitals (2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (2024), and now Punjab Kings (2025). His calm presence and astute captaincy have been a consistent theme, and he now stands just one win away from a second IPL trophy.

The defeat left MI reeling, with their bowlers unable to contain Punjab’s charge. Jasprit Bumrah had an off day, conceding 40 runs in his four overs, while Ashwani Kumar claimed 2/55. Boult and Pandya chipped in with a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Punjab onslaught.

Earlier, Mumbai’s innings had showcased a mix of aggression and elegance. Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow opened aggressively but Rohit fell early for just 8. Bairstow anchored the innings with a quickfire 38 off 24, while Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added crucial 44-run knocks each. Naman Dhir’s late cameo (37 off 18) lifted MI to a competitive 203/6 in 20 overs.

For Punjab, Azmatullah Omarzai led with 2/43, while Jamieson, Stoinis, Vyshak, and Chahal each took a wicket, keeping the Mumbai innings from running away.

Brief Scores:

• Mumbai Indians: 203/6 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 44, Tilak Varma 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 2/43).
• Punjab Kings: 207/5 in 19 overs (Shreyas Iyer 87*, Nehal Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2/55).

With their final berth secured, Punjab Kings now eye a historic first IPL trophy. As they prepare to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the summit clash on June 3, one thing is clear: under Shreyas Iyer’s confident leadership, PBKS fans dare to dream bigger than ever.