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Hardik Pandya lauds Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 and Punjab Kings’ calm performance in their five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2.
Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya lauded Shreyas Iyer for his “outstanding” strokeplay and also credited Punjab Kings (PBKS) for their composure under pressure.
Reflecting on MI’s five-wicket loss in the second Qualifier of IPL 2025 in Ahmedabad, Pandya admitted that his team fell short in executing their bowling plans effectively, which ultimately cost them the match.
In a dramatic Qualifier 2 of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured a five-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI), propelled by a stellar unbeaten 87 off 41 balls from captain Shreyas Iyer. This win marked PBKS’s first return to the IPL final in 11 years, setting up a title clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The match, delayed by over two hours due to rain, concluded after 1:30 a.m. local time. Despite the late finish, the full 20 overs were played. MI, after losing Rohit Sharma early, posted a competitive total of 203/6, thanks to contributions from Jonny Bairstow (38), Tilak Varma (44), and Suryakumar Yadav (44). However, PBKS’s chase was anchored by Iyer’s aggressive innings, which included eight sixes, and a crucial 84-run partnership with Nehal Wadhera (48). Iyer’s assault, particularly a 26-run over off Ashwani Kumar, sealed the victory with an over to spare .
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Post-match, MI captain Hardik Pandya took responsibility for the loss, stating, “I take the blame. Especially Shreyas, the way he batted, he took his chances and played really well. It was a par score, but it really needed great execution from the bowling unit. They were really calm and put us under pressure, and we were not able to execute the way we wanted” .
In addition to the on-field events, both teams faced penalties for maintaining slow over rates. This being MI’s third offense of the season, Pandya was fined INR 30 lakh, while PBKS captain Iyer faced a fine of INR 24 lakh for his team’s second offense .
The emotional intensity of the match was evident as Pandya was seen dropping to his haunches after the defeat, visibly distraught. In a touching moment, Iyer approached to console him, highlighting the sportsmanship between the two leaders .
As PBKS prepares for the final against RCB, both teams aim to clinch their maiden IPL title, promising an exciting conclusion to the 2025 season.
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