Shreyas Iyer delivered a captain’s masterclass as the Punjab Kings stunned the Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a dramatic IPL 2025 Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium, booking their place in the final for only the second time in franchise history.
Chasing a daunting 204 after a rain delay, Punjab Kings became the first team ever to successfully hunt down a 200-plus target against the five-time champions in the playoffs. Iyer anchored the chase with a sensational unbeaten 87, showcasing composure under pressure and launching a hat-trick of sixes off Reece Topley in a pivotal 13th over that swung momentum Punjab’s way.
Mumbai’s 203 for was built on strong contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (44), Tilak Varma (44), and Jonny Bairstow (38), but their bowlers couldn’t contain Iyer’s late assault. Nehal Wadhera’s crucial support and timely boundaries helped Punjab cross the finish line with just a few balls to spare.
With this victory, Punjab Kings advance to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final, while Mumbai’s campaign ends with a rare failure to defend a big total in a knockout match.
