Punjab Kings scripted a memorable triumph over Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier of the IPL 2025, securing a five-wicket win at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Chasing a steep target of 204, Punjab were anchored by a magnificent unbeaten innings from their captain Shreyas Iyer who scored 87 runs off just 41 balls. His authoritative knock, featuring five boundaries and eight towering sixes, ended in style with a six off Ashwani Kumar on the last ball of the 19th over, sealing Punjab’s passage into the final.
The moment Shreyas Iyer struck the winning runs, co-owner Preity Zinta leapt to her feet in celebration, her jubilant reaction quickly capturing the Internet’s attention as the IPL shared the viral video on social media.
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The victory was more than just a step into the final, it was a historic feat for Shreyas Iyer himself. He became the first captain in the IPL history to lead three different franchises to the tournament’s final and the first ever to make back-to-back finals with two different teams.
In the chase, Shreyas Iyer was well supported by Nehal Wadhera who scored a solid 48 and shared an 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Later, Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis combined for an unbroken 38-run stand, with Stoinis contributing just two runs but playing his part in holding the fort as Shreyas Iyer did the heavy lifting.
This significant win also marked a personal milestone for Shreyas Iyer, as it was his 50th victory as captain in the IPL. Only a handful of captains have led their teams to more wins than Shreyas Iyer — MS Dhoni (136), Rohit Sharma(87), Gautam Gambhir (71) and Virat Kohli (66) being the only names ahead of him on that list.
With this win, Punjab Kings now move on to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on Tuesday, once again at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The clash guarantees a new champion in the IPL history, as both the franchises have been part of the tournament since its inception in 2008 but have never lifted the trophy.