Punjab Kings scripted history on Sunday, June 1, as they defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a thrilling second qualifier of IPL 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing a challenging target of 204 runs, it was captain Shreyas Iyer who rose to the occasion with a match-winning knock that will be remembered for years.
Iyer remained unbeaten on 87 from just 41 deliveries. Displaying sheer dominance, he struck five fours and eight sixes during his innings, sealing the victory in style by smashing a six off Ashwani Kumar on the final ball of the 19th over. His innings not only powered PBKS into the final but also etched his name into the IPL record books.
Moments after Iyer hit the winning runs, co-owner Preity Zinta couldn’t contain her excitement. She leaped from her seat, celebrating joyously—a moment captured on camera and later shared by IPL on X. The video quickly went viral, reflecting the euphoria of a franchise that’s long waited for glory.
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The win marked a significant milestone for Iyer as well. With this achievement, he became the first captain in the history of the IPL to lead three different teams to the final, and also the first to make back-to-back finals with two different franchises.
Punjab Kings now prepare to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final on Tuesday, June 3, at the same venue. The upcoming showdown guarantees the crowning of a first-time IPL champion, as both RCB and PBKS—ever-present since the league’s inception in 2008—have yet to win the title.
