In a thrilling Qualifier 2 match of the IPL 2025 season, Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians to secure their place in the final after an 11-year gap. The high-stakes encounter was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where both teams fought hard to keep their championship hopes alive.
The match began at 7:30 PM local time. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Mumbai Indians into bat. Mumbai’s openers Rohit Sharma and Janneman Malan started the innings, but Rohit Sharma got out cheaply for 8 runs after being caught by Vaishak Vijaykumar. This early breakthrough put Mumbai under some pressure.
Janneman Malan steadied the innings with a solid knock of 38 runs. Following his dismissal, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav joined forces to rebuild the Mumbai innings. The duo put on 44 runs together before both fell in quick succession. Hardik Pandya contributed 15 runs, while Naman Ojha added a valuable 37 to the scoreboard. Raj Bawa chipped in with 8 runs toward the end. Mumbai Indians managed to post a competitive total of 203 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing 204 to win, Punjab Kings got off to a strong start with opening batsman Priyansh Arya scoring 20 runs. However, Prabhsimran Singh was dismissed early for 6 runs. Josh Inglis then took charge with a crucial 38-run knock, helping maintain the momentum. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a remarkable innings, smashing 87 runs, including 8 sixes, to dominate the bowling attack. His powerful hitting was the highlight of the chase.
Alongside Iyer, Nehal Wadhera contributed a steady 48 runs, helping Punjab edge closer to the target. Shashank Singh added a couple of runs before Punjab Kings reached the target in 19 overs, securing a well-deserved victory over Mumbai Indians.
With this win, Punjab Kings knocked out Mumbai Indians and advanced to the IPL 2025 final for the first time in 11 years. They will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final scheduled for June 3, 2025. The victory sparked jubilation among Punjab fans who have eagerly awaited their team’s return to the championship decider.
The match showcased some brilliant performances, especially from Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera, whose batting efforts were instrumental in chasing down a challenging total. Mumbai Indians fought valiantly but fell short despite setting a competitive score.
This IPL final promises to be an exciting contest between two talented teams, with Punjab Kings aiming to clinch their maiden IPL title after a long wait. Fans around the country and the world eagerly anticipate this grand showdown, hoping for a thrilling finish to the tournament.
