In a thrilling showdown, Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer delivered a dazzling unbeaten 87, propelling his team to their first Indian Premier League final in over a decade with a decisive win against the Mumbai Indians.
In a thrilling chase of 204, Shreyas unleashed a stunning display, hammering eight sixes in a blistering 41-ball innings. He sent Ashwani Kumar’s delivery soaring into the stands, clinching a commanding five-wicket victory with an over to spare.
Following a rain delay that pushed the match start time back by over two hours in Ahmedabad, Mumbai set a competitive total of 203-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both contributed solid innings of 44 runs, while Jonny Bairstow added a brisk 38 off just 24 deliveries.
The Kings are set to clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the highly anticipated final on Tuesday, which will unfold at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium.
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown as a new IPL champion is poised to emerge, with both teams vying for their first title in the tournament’s storied history.
“I thrive on these monumental moments,” declared Shreyas, the standout performer of the match.
“I consistently remind myself and my teammates that when the stakes are high, maintaining composure is key to achieving outstanding results.”
Punjab won the toss and opted to bowl first, a strategic decision made just before the rain arrived. Fortunately, no overs were lost in the process.
As the action kicked off, Australia’s all-rounder Marcus Stoinis struck early, dismissing India’s opener Rohit Sharma for a mere eight runs. Following that, Varma and Bairstow joined forces, putting together a solid partnership of 51 runs.
A notable partnership of 72 runs between Varma and Suryakumar propelled Mumbai into a solid position. Still, the momentum shifted dramatically as both players were dismissed within the span of just three deliveries.
Naman Dhir’s explosive 37 runs off just 18 balls propelled the five-time champions to a formidable total, showcasing his ability to deliver under pressure.
In a thrilling display, Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ignited Punjab’s innings with a blistering 38 runs off just 21 balls, featuring a remarkable 20 runs in a single over against India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah.
However, Mumbai responded strongly as skipper Hardik Pandya took the crucial wicket of Inglis. At that moment, they were slight favorites, especially after Nehal Wadhera was dismissed for 48, leaving the Kings with a challenging target of 48 runs off just 26 deliveries.
In a thrilling display of skill, Shreyas kept his team in the hunt, needing 23 runs off the final two overs. Shreyas escalated the intensity, hitting four sixes in the 19th over, resulting in a masterful finish.
The final sets the stage for a rematch of the initial qualifier, where RCB dominated the Kings with an impressive eight-wicket victory.
In a thrilling group stage showdown, both teams scored 19 points, but the Kings emerged victorious, clinching the top spot on net-run rate.
Punjab lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in their sole final appearance in 2014, while RCB experienced heartbreak in the showpiece event in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
Here are the scorecards.
Indian Premier League, Qualifier 2, Ahmedabad
Mumbai Indians 203-6 (20 overs): Suryakumar 44 (26), Varma 44 (29); Azmatullah 2-43
Punjab Kings 207-5 (19 overs): Shreyas 87* (41), Wadhera 48 (29); Ashwani 2-55
Punjab Kings won by five wickets
