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Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings to a five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, securing a spot in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Punjab Kings team owner Preity Zinta with Salman Khan’s tweet from 2014 (AP and X)
Salman Khan’s tweet from more than a decade back was viral again on social media after Shreyas Iyer led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI), securing a spot in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Salman Khan had posted: “Zinta’s team won kya?”
Punjab Kings replied to the post on Monday.
ALSO WATCH | Preity Zinta’s Celebration After Shreyas Iyer Leads PBKS To IPL 2025 Final Breaks Internet
PBKS BEAT I
Chasing a target of 204 in a rain-delayed IPL 2025 qualifier 2 on Sunday, PBKS, spearheaded by Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off 41 balls, reached their goal with six balls remaining in Ahmedabad. Iyer’s innings, studded with five fours and eight sixes, culminated in a match-winning six, propelling Punjab to their second IPL final, scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue, the world’s largest cricket stadium.
“I love such big occasions,” said Player of the Match Iyer during the post-match presentation,which was held well after mid-night. “I always remind myself and my teammates that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you should be to achieve great results.”
The final guarantees a new IPL champion, with both RCB and PBKS vying for their first title in the 18 editions. RCB had secured their place in the final by defeating PBKS in the first qualifier last week.
Punjab’s chase began with the loss of opener Prabhsimran Singh for six. However, Australian Josh Inglis injected momentum, partnering with left-handed opener Priyansh Arya to add 42 runs in 18 balls. Arya was dismissed for 20, while Inglis contributed 38 with three fours and two sixes.
Iyer, alongside left-hander Nehal Wadhera (48), decisively shifted the momentum in overs 13 and 14, with Iyer striking England’s left-arm pacer Reece Topley for three consecutive sixes. Wadhera’s dismissal in the 16th over offered Mumbai a glimmer of hope, but Iyer’s composed performance ensured victory.
Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya commended Iyer, saying, “The way Shreyas batted, took his chances, and played some outstanding shots. They were really calm, put us under pressure, and we couldn’t execute our plans as intended.”
The second qualifier commenced two hours and 15 minutes late due to persistent drizzle following the toss. Punjab elected to field first, and the rain delay did not curtail the number of overs.
Mumbai, five-time champions, posted 203-6, despite losing veteran opener Rohit Sharma for eight in the third over. England’s Jonny Bairstow, who joined Mumbai before the playoffs and played a crucial role in their win against Gujarat Titans, scored 38 in a 51-run partnership with left-hander Tilak Varma.
Bairstow was dismissed by medium-pace bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak attempting a scoop shot. Varma continued the momentum with Suryakumar Yadav, adding 72 runs. Both players scored 44 before falling in quick succession. Number six batsman Naman Dhir’s 18-ball 37 boosted the total but ultimately proved insufficient.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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