Shreyas Iyer's PBKS ousts Mumbai Indians, sets stage for IPL 2025 final

Shreyas Iyer's stellar performance in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a thrilling victory over Mumbai Indians (MI), securing their place in the final for only the second time since 2014.

Iyer's unbeaten 87 runs off 41 balls powered PBKS to chase down a challenging target of 204 in just 19 overs, showcasing his aggressive yet composed batting style.

This victory marks a historic milestone as Iyer became the first captain in IPL history to lead three different franchises to the finals, underlining his leadership prowess.

His partnership with head coach Ricky Ponting has been instrumental in transforming PBKS into a formidable side this season.

"Shreyas Iyer has let his bat do all the talking in the IPL 2025 season as he has amassed 603 runs in 16 matches for PBKS at an average of 54.82 and a strike rate of 175.80," highlighting his consistency and impact.

The win also ended Mumbai Indians' campaign, a team led by Rohit Sharma, who has previously guided MI to five IPL titles.

Former Indian cricketers have predicted that Iyer's leadership and batting form make him a strong candidate to captain Team India across formats soon.

With this victory, PBKS sets the stage for an exciting IPL 2025 final, aiming to clinch their maiden title since their last final appearance in 2014, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Iyer's rise and PBKS's resurgence have added a fresh narrative to the IPL, promising thrilling cricket ahead.

Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 87 off 41 balls propelled Punjab Kings to a 204-run chase in 19 overs, ousting Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2. PBKS reached the final for only the second time, with Iyer becoming the first captain to lead three different IPL teams to finals.