IPL 2025 Qualifier 2: Shreyas Iyer’s Masterclass Knocks Mumbai Indians Out

The stage was set, the crowd was electric, and the stakes were high as the Punjab Kings (PBKS) took on the five-time champion Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. And what a match it turned out to be! Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain, played a knock for the ages, showcasing his big-match temperament and powering his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory.

A Sparkling Essay by Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls, including 5 fours and 8 sixes, was the defining moment of the match. His sparkling essay not only knocked MI out of the tournament but also gave PBKS a date with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. The 30-year-old batsman was in sublime form, playing some of the most breathtaking shots of the tournament.

A Crucial Partnership with Nehal Wadhera

Shreyas was ably supported by Nehal Wadhera, who chipped in with a crucial 48 off 29 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes. The duo put on a 84-run fourth-wicket stand, which proved to be the turning point of the match. Although they played out a few quiet overs, leading to the required rate to rise to nearly 12 an over, Shreyas was undeterred.

Turning the Tide in PBKS’ Favour

Shreyas turned the tide in PBKS’ favour by hitting fast bowler Reece Topley for three consecutive sixes in the 13th over. This onslaught not only changed the momentum of the match but also put MI on the back foot. Although MI fought back by dismissing Wadhera and Shashank Singh in quick succession, Shreyas remained unfazed.

A Nerve-Wracking Finish

The chase, with PBKS needing 41 from four overs, fell on Shreyas’ shoulders. The pressure was mounting, but the PBKS captain was up to the task. He smacked speedster Ashwani Kumar for a maximum, before guiding Trent Boult for two fours to the third-man fence. A spot in the summit clash was guaranteed once Shreyas saw off Jasprit Bumrah, the lone remaining MI threat.

MI’s Fighting Effort

MI, on the other hand, overcame tricky conditions to post a challenging total. On a pitch left moist due to rain, Jonny Bairstow (38), Tilak Varma (44), and Suryakumar Yadav (44) did well to keep the score moving at a healthy pace. Naman Dhir (37, 18b) came alive in the death to push MI past the 200-run mark.

Bairstow’s Aggressive Start

Bairstow carried the attack to the bowlers, until he was undone by a slower delivery from V. Vyshak. Suryakumar and Tilak put on a 72-run stand filled with exciting strokes. Suryakumar raised the roof by sweeping legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal for a six over fine-leg. Tilak delighted with straight sixes when the ball was overpitched.

A Double Strike by PBKS

PBKS came back into the game with a double strike. Chahal, who returned from a wrist injury, prised out Suryakumar with a full delivery. Soon after, fast bowler Kyle Jamieson dismissed Tilak with a clever cutter. MI captain Hardik Pandya walked in to big cheers, but failed to deliver. Pandya could not get it cleanly off the middle, and stuttered to a 13-ball 15.

A Delayed Start

Intermittent showers forced a delay in the start of the match. The high-scoring venue may have favoured teams batting first this IPL season, but given the unexpected showers, Shreyas made the right decision to field first.

The Road to the Final

With this thrilling victory, PBKS has set up a mouth-watering clash with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. Shrey

Content originally published by sportstar.thehindu.com