Shreyas Iyer's Stellar Performance Leads Punjab Kings to IPL Final
Iyer's Captaincy Shines in IPL Qualifier
In a thrilling match held in Ahmedabad, Shreyas Iyer delivered a remarkable performance, scoring an unbeaten 87 runs off just 41 balls, which played a crucial role in Punjab Kings' (PBKS) five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the second qualifier of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This victory marks PBKS's return to the IPL final for the first time since 2014, ending an 11-year wait.
Facing a daunting target of 204 runs against the five-time champions, Iyer anchored the innings with a blend of skill and strength. Nehal Wadhera also made a significant contribution, scoring 48 runs off 29 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, forming a pivotal 84-run partnership with Iyer during the middle overs.
Wadhera expressed his excitement about playing in such a crucial match, stating, "I eagerly await games like this and couldn't be more thrilled to perform in a semi-final."
Having previously been part of the Mumbai Indians, Wadhera acknowledged that his familiarity with the team influenced his strategy, saying, "My experience with MI helped me adjust my batting approach for this match."
He praised Iyer's leadership during the chase, noting, "Shreyas was clear about his strategy, and I focused on hitting the ball when it was in my range. I aimed to convert those balls into boundaries, and it worked well."
Wadhera's aggressive batting helped maintain the momentum for Punjab, and by the time he was dismissed by Ashwani Kumar, PBKS had already surpassed 150 runs, putting them in a strong position.
He also commended Iyer's ability to manage pressure, stating, "Shreyas is a master at chasing and proved it once again today. I hope we can carry this momentum into the final against RCB."
Iyer's finishing touch and the contributions from the middle order allowed PBKS to secure the win with an over to spare, setting up a highly anticipated title match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Tuesday in Ahmedabad.