Shreyas Iyer plays captain's knock as Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians to enter second IPL final

There will be a new champion in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025 after Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 in the early hours of Monday (June 2) by five wickets at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Led by Shreyas Iyer, Punjab chased a massive target of 204 with six balls to spare as they now stand a win away from their maiden IPL title. Shreyas played a match-winning knock of 87 runs as Punjab now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 final.

Punjab in IPL 2025 final

Chasing 204 for victory in a rain-delayed last playoff, Punjab rode Iyer's 41-ball knock, laced with five fours and eight sixes, to achieve their target with six balls to spare in Ahmedabad.

Iyer hit the winning six as Punjab reached their second IPL final. It will be played at the same venue -- the world's biggest cricket stadium -- on Tuesday.

"I love such big occasions," player of the match Iyer said after in the post-match presentation close to 2am local time.

"I always say to myself and to my colleagues in the team that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, you get the big results."

The final will produce a new IPL winner with both Bengaluru, with star batter Virat Kohli, and Punjab hunting their first title in the T20 tournament.

Bengaluru secured their berth in the final after they beat Punjab in the first qualifier last week.

Punjab lost opener Prabhsimran Singh for six but Australian Josh Inglis set up the chase with quick scoring as he and left-handed opener Priyansh Arya put together 42 runs in 18 balls.

Arya fell for 20 and Inglis for 38 after three fours and two sixes.

Iyer and left-handed Nehal Wadhera, who hit 48, turned the tide in overs 13 and 14 as the captain smashed England left-arm quick Reece Topley for three straight sixes.

Mumbai 'under pressure

Wadhera departed in the 16th over to raise Mumbai's hopes, but Iyer stood firm as he finished with a masterclass.

"The way Shreyas batted, took his chances and some of the shots he played were really outstanding and I think they definitely batted really well," Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya said.

"I think it (the total) was par, but it needed some great execution as a bowling unit which I think in these big games really matters and as I mentioned they were really calm, put us under pressure and I think we were not able to execute the way we wanted."

The second qualifier began two hours and 15 minutes late due to persistent drizzle after the toss.

Punjab elected to field before rain forced the players indoors for more than two hours. Officials did not cut any overs when play resumed.

Five-time champions Mumbai, who posted 203-6, lost veteran opener Rohit Sharma for eight off Marcus Stoinis in the third over but England's Jonny Bairstow took on the opposition bowlers with regular boundaries.

Bairstow, who joined Mumbai ahead of the playoffs and played a key role in their win in the eliminator against Gujarat Titans, made 38 in a 51-run stand with the left-handed Varma.

Medium-pace bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak dismissed Bairstow, who attempted to play a scoop shot but fell caught behind.

Tilak Varma kept up pace with Suryakumar Yadav as the pair put on 72 runs. Both made 44 each.

The two fell in the space of three deliveries, but number six Naman Dhir hit an 18-ball 37 to boost the total, which in the end proved insufficient.