Image: Punjab Kings' victory and entering to the finals of IPL 2025 / © India Today
In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad on June 1, 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) outclassed Mumbai Indians (MI) by 5 wickets with 6 balls to spare, chasing 204 to secure a spot in their first IPL final since 2014. Despite rain delaying the start by two hours, the match unfolded on a batting-friendly pitch at Motera, where MI posted 203/6, powered by Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Naman Dhir. PBKS, led by a masterful 87* off 41 balls from Shreyas Iyer, chased it down clinically, overcoming MI’s bowling spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah.
MI, batting first after losing the toss, faced early rain interruptions but capitalized on a flat pitch to post 203/6 in 20 overs. Their innings were a tale of explosive starts, timely setbacks, and late flourishes, driven by Tilak Varma (44 off 29), Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 26), and Naman Dhir (37 off 18). Despite a strong platform, PBKS’s disciplined bowling and MI’s own errors kept the total within reach.
The innings began cautiously, with Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow managing 43/1 in the powerplay (6 overs). Arshdeep Singh (4-0-44-0) found swing but leaked runs, while Kyle Jamieson (4-0-30-1) struck early, dismissing Rohit for 8 (7 balls, 1×4) via a mistimed flick to deep backward square in the 3rd over. Marcus Stoinis (1-0-14-1) triggered the breakthrough, leaving MI at 30/1. Bairstow (38 off 24, 3×4, 2×6) and Tilak Varma steadied the ship, with Bairstow’s 79-meter six off Jamieson in the 2nd over showcasing intent. However, Vyshak Vijaykumar (3-0-30-1) outfoxed Bairstow with a knuckleball in the 7th, caught behind for 38, leaving MI at 70/2.
Suryakumar Yadav joined Tilak, and the duo accelerated. Tilak’s aggressive 44 (29 balls, 2×4, 2×6) included a lofted off-drive six off Vyshak in the 9th, while Suryakumar’s 44 (26 balls, 4×4, 3×6) featured a fine swept six off Yuzvendra Chahal (4-0-39-1) in the 10th. Their 72-run stand took MI to 131/2 by the 13th over, with Suryakumar crossing 700 runs for IPL 2025 (703 runs, 16 innings, 70.30 average, 166.98 SR). Chahal, however, struck back, dismissing Suryakumar in the 14th, caught at deep midwicket, and Jamieson removed Tilak in the same over, caught at mid-off, leaving MI at 142/4.
Hardik Pandya (15 off 13, 1×4) and Naman Dhir tried to rebuild, but Pandya fell to Azmatullah Omarzai (4-0-43-2) in the 18th over, caught off a slower bouncer. Dhir’s explosive 37 (18 balls, 7×4, 205.55 SR) kept MI ticking, with four boundaries in the 16th and 18th overs off Arshdeep and a lofted four off Omarzai in the 19th. However, Omarzai dismissed Dhir in the final over, caught at extra cover, curbing MI’s momentum. Raj Bawa (8* off 4) and Mitchell Santner (0* off 1) scrambled to 203/6, aided by a leg bye and a top-edged three in the last over.
MI’s innings saw 16 fours and 8 sixes, but sloppy fielding by PBKS, including a dropped catch by Omarzai and four overthrows, gifted extra runs. MI’s middle overs (7-15) yielded 91 runs at 9.00 RR, but losing set batters at key moments prevented a bigger score. Jasprit Bumrah’s looming threat (24 wickets vs. PBKS in T20s, 6.45 economy) gave MI hope to defend 203, a total they’d never lost defending in IPL history.
PBKS’s chase of 204 was a masterclass in pacing, led by Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 (41 balls, 5×4, 8×6) and supported by Nehal Wadhera’s 48 (29 balls, 4×4, 2×6). Despite early stumbles and Bumrah’s menace, PBKS finished at 207/5 in 19 overs, showcasing their batting depth and Iyer’s leadership. The chase, on a pitch favouring batters, was clinical, with Iyer’s second-highest IPL playoff score by a captain (behind David Warner’s 93* in 2016) sealing their first final in 11 years.
The powerplay saw PBKS reach 64/2, with Priyansh Arya (20 off 10, 2×4, 1×6) and Josh Inglis (38 off 21, 5×4, 2×6) attacking. Trent Boult (4-0-38-1) dismissed Prabhsimran Singh (6 off 9) in the 3rd over, caught at short fine, while Bumrah’s first over went for an uncharacteristic 20 runs, with Inglis hitting a six and two fours. Ashwani Kumar (4-0-55-2), MI’s impact sub, struck the first ball in the 6th, removing Arya, who caught at mid-off. Inglis fell to Hardik Pandya (2-0-19-1) in the 8th, caught behind off a 121kph off cutter, leaving PBKS at 72/3.
Iyer and Wadhera then took charge, adding 75 runs for the 4th wicket. Iyer’s aggression peaked in the 12th over against Reece Topley (3-0-40-0), smashing three consecutive sixes—over backward square, long-on, and straight—reducing the required rate from 12 to under 11. Wadhera’s 48 included a straight six off Ashwani in the 15th and a flicked four off Boult in the 14th, his 165.51 SR complementing Iyer’s precision. Ashwani, despite conceding 55 runs, dismissed Wadhera in the 15th with a wide yorker, caught at cover, leaving PBKS at 147/4, needing 57 off 30.
Shashank Singh (2 off 3) fell to a direct hit by Pandya in the 17th, run out at 173/5, but Iyer remained unfazed. Against Bumrah’s final over (4-0-40-0), Iyer cleverly opened the face for a four past short third and ran smart singles, keeping the chase on track. The 18th over, bowled by Ashwani, proved decisive as Iyer smashed four sixes, including three off slot balls and a free hit, reducing the equation to 10 off 10. His final six over long-on sealed the chase in 19 overs, finishing at 207/5. Iyer’s 87* featured a 212.19 SR, with 8 sixes showcasing his dominance, while Marcus Stoinis (2* off 2) played a minor role.
PBKS’s middle overs (7-15) saw 75 runs at 9.26 RR, with Iyer’s calculated aggression against spin (Santner, 2-0-15-0) and pace alike proving pivotal. MI’s bowling, despite Bumrah’s 144kph yorkers, lacked consistency, with Topley and Ashwani leaking runs at critical junctures. PBKS’s depth, with contributions from Inglis (180.95 SR) and Wadhera, ensured they never panicked, even after losing key wickets. The chase, completed with an over to spare, ended MI’s unbeaten streak defending 200-plus in the IPL. Iyer’s leadership, coupled with his ability to target big overs (12th and 18th yielding 19 and 26 runs), underlined PBKS’s transformation into title contenders, setting the stage for a thrilling final.
Coming to the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day was when Shreyas Iyer turned the heat up in the 13th over, smashing three consecutive sixes off Reece Topley to shift the momentum firmly in Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) favor. Chasing a steep target, PBKS were at 109/3 after 12 overs, needing 95 runs from 48 balls with a required run rate of 11.87. The asking rate was creeping up, and the pressure was on.
Then came Topley’s over. After Nehal Wadhera flicked a single, Iyer unleashed havoc, launching a slot ball over backward square for six, followed by a lofted cover drive over long-on, and then a stunning straight lofted shot down the ground. These back-to-back-to-back sixes brought 19 runs in the over, slashing the required rate to 10.85. PBKS’s score jumped to 128/3, with Iyer on 37 off 20 (2 fours, 3 sixes) and Wadhera on 27 off 18. Despite Topley sneaking in a wide yorker and a full toss that Iyer couldn’t capitalize on, the damage was done.
Coming in and winning the TCNI’s Hero of the Day award, Nehal Wadhera turned the tide for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a blistering 48 off 29 balls in their thrilling chase of 204 against a formidable bowling attack. At 72/3 after 7.5 overs, PBKS were under pressure, but Wadhera’s fearless knock, laced with four fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 165.51, shifted the momentum. Partnering with skipper Shreyas Iyer, who smashed an unbeaten 87 off 41, Wadhera stitched a crucial 84-run stand for the fourth wicket, taking PBKS from a shaky position to 156/4 by the 15.4th over.
His aggressive stroke play against pacers like Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah kept the required run rate in check, setting the stage for PBKS to finish at 207/5 in 19 overs, clinching a five-wicket win with an over to spare. Wadhera’s composure under pressure, especially in the middle overs, complemented Iyer’s fireworks and ensured PBKS stayed ahead of the game. Though dismissed by Ashwani Kumar, his impact was undeniable, transforming a daunting chase into a triumphant one.