In Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by five wickets to reach the final. Chasing a competitive total of 204 runs, PBKS finished the match in the 19th over, scoring 207/5 with six balls remaining.
The star of the innings was PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who played a stunning unbeaten knock of 87 runs from just 41 balls. His innings was full of power and calmness under pressure. He struck five boundaries and eight maximums at a strike rate of 212.19.
Iyer’s performance not only took PBKS to the final but also created history—he became the only captain to take three different teams into an IPL final: Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and now Punjab Kings in 2025.
“We Lost the Battle, Not the War” – Iyer Fulfils His Promise in Style
After getting defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1, Iyer had said, “We have lost the battle, but not the war.” He kept his promise and led from the front in this do-or-die match. He built a strong partnership with Nehal Wadhera, who scored 48 off 29 balls, keeping PBKS in the chase even after early wickets.
During the post-match presentation, Player of the Match Shreyas Iyer shared, “[On staying calm through his knock] I love such big occasions, and I always say to myself and my colleagues that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are and you’ll get the right results. Today I was focusing a lot on my breathing.” When asked about being with PBKS, Iyer said, “I am very comfortable around the management and everyone around me, and the environment is very positive.”
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