Shreyas Iyer's Stellar Performance Leads Punjab Kings to IPL Final

Punjab Kings Triumph Over Mumbai Indians

In a thrilling Qualifier 2 match, Shreyas Iyer delivered an outstanding unbeaten 87, guiding Punjab Kings to a five-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians, securing a spot in the IPL final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 3. This marks Punjab's first title match since 2014, while Iyer aims for his second consecutive title as captain after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in 2024.

Chasing a formidable target of 204, Iyer showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable knock of 87 not out off just 41 balls, featuring five fours and eight sixes, as Punjab crossed the finish line with an over to spare.

After Mumbai set a challenging total, Punjab needed a steady hand, and Iyer rose to the occasion. Nehal Wadhera also played a crucial role, scoring 48 runs off 29 balls and forming a vital 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Iyer, despite facing two dropped catches.

Josh Inglis contributed significantly with 38 runs off 21 balls, helping stabilize the innings after the early dismissals of Prahsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Iyer's explosive batting was highlighted in the 13th over, where he dispatched three deliveries from Reece Topley for sixes, signaling Punjab's momentum.

Iyer concluded the chase emphatically, hitting four sixes in the 19th over bowled by Ashwini Kumar.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians had set a competitive score of 203 for six, thanks to solid performances from Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, both scoring 44 runs. Jonny Bairstow added 38, while Naman Dhir's late surge of 33 runs helped push the total past 200.

Despite an early setback with Rohit Sharma's dismissal, Mumbai maintained a strong scoring rate throughout the innings, reaching 65 runs in the powerplay. Suryakumar's aggressive batting kept the pressure on Punjab until he fell in the final over of Yuzvendra Chahal's spell.