AHMEDABAD, India — In a thrilling encounter, Shreyas Iyer played an unbeaten knock of 87 runs off just 41 balls, leading Punjab Kings to a triumphant victory over Mumbai Indians by five wickets. This win in the rain-delayed Qualifier 2 propels Punjab into the Indian Premier League (IPL) final.
Iyer, the skipper, displayed a masterclass in aggressive batting, hitting eight sixes and five boundaries. This stellar performance took Punjab to their second-ever IPL final, where they will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday in Ahmedabad. Notably, neither Punjab nor Bengaluru has clinched the IPL title in their history.
Chasing a target of 204, Punjab reached 207-5 with an over to spare, despite the match’s start being delayed by over two hours due to rain. Fortunately, the game began at 9:40 p.m. local time without any reduction in overs.
Mumbai, after losing the toss, got off to a brisk start. Jonny Bairstow, who played a quickfire innings of 38 off 24 balls with two sixes, stepped up after Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply for eight runs. Bairstow and Tilak Varma established a solid partnership, adding 51 runs for the second wicket.
Varma, scoring 44, then teamed up with Suryakumar Yadav for a vital stand, which added 72 runs in seven overs. Yadav’s explosive innings of 44 off 26 balls included three towering sixes. This partnership positioned Mumbai for a massive total. However, Punjab’s wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal made a crucial breakthrough in the 14th over, and Azmatullah Omarzai from Afghanistan chipped in with two key wickets in the death overs, curtailing Mumbai’s momentum. Naman Dhir’s late 37 off 18 balls was also crucial, but Mumbai ended about 20 runs short on an excellent batting track.
During Punjab’s chase, left-arm pacer Trent Boult provided an early breakthrough for Mumbai by dismissing the in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh for six. His partner Priyansh Arya fell for 20 later. Josh Inglis contributed with a rapid 38 off 21 deliveries, maintaining the run-rate before Iyer took control, ably assisted by Nehal Wadhera’s 48 off 29 balls. Even Mumbai’s ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah struggled to make an impact, conceding 40 runs in his four-over spell without claiming a wicket.
Iyer reached his half-century in 27 balls for the sixth time this season and then ratcheted up the tempo, hitting the next 37 runs in just 14 balls. His assault, featuring four sixes on either side of his 50-mark, effectively sealed Mumbai’s fate.
The result brings back memories of Punjab’s last and only appearance in the IPL final in 2014, where they were defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru historically finished as runners-up in 2009, 2011, and 2016. This impending final presents a golden opportunity for either team to capture their maiden IPL title.