New Delhi: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer produced a match-turning 41-ball-87 to steer his team past Mumbai Indians into the final of IPL 2025.
Chasing a target of 204 runs after opting to bowl, Punjab needed one of their top batters to come up with a big knock and their captain led from the front.
Iyer came into bat No.4 and then five boundaries and eight sixes to stay unbeaten and steer his team home with an over to spare. It is the first time in 11 years that Punjab have reached the final of the of the tournament.
They would face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on June 3 in Ahmedabad with both team looking battling for their maiden title in 18 years.
Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year and said he was glad to rise to the occasion when the stakes were high.
“I don’t know to be honest, I love such big occasions. I always say to myself and to my colleagues in the team that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, you get the big results,” the right hander said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“Today was a right example where I was focusing more on my breathing rather than sweating out there. All players need to be assertive and show that intent from ball one. The intent was stupendous and even for me, I had to take some time.
“From the other end, the batsmen were striking pretty well. I know the more time I spend on the field, the better I get and my vision also gets better.”
MI bowlers not up to the mark
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya also felt that Iyer’s knock made the difference in the outcome of the match.
“The way Shreyas batted, took his chances and some of the shots he played were really outstanding and I think they definitely batted really well,” the all-rounder said.
Pandya observed that his team’s bowlers failed to execute their plans despite having an handy total on the board and even their spearhead Jasprit Bumrah conceded 40 runs in his four overs.
“I think it was par, but it needed some great execution as a bowling unit which I think in these big games it really matters and as I mentioned they were really calm, put us under pressure and I think we were not able to execute the way we wanted,” he added.
“I will not put it on the wicket, if we had to something better it was maybe someone bowling right lengths or maybe right bowler at the right point, the result could have been a bit different.”
“Boom knowing the situation if even 18 balls are left, Jassi can be Jassi. And he can do something special and it just didn’t happen today.”
Shreyas Iyer produced a match-turning 41-ball-87-run knock to steer Punjab Kings past Mumbai Indians into the final of IPL 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
