Falcons Face Defeat in T20 Mumbai League Final
In a disappointing turn of events for Shreyas Iyer, the SoBo Mumbai Falcons, under his leadership, faced a five-wicket defeat against Siddesh Lad's Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals during the T20 Mumbai League final held at Wankhede Stadium on June 12. This loss came just nine days after Iyer's Punjab Kings were defeated in the IPL 2025 final by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Match Highlights
Chasing a target of 158 runs, South Central successfully completed the task in 19.2 overs. Iyer, who batted at No. 3, struggled to find his rhythm and was unable to make a significant impact. The Falcons found themselves in a precarious position at 42 for 4, but a remarkable partnership between Mayuresh Tandel and Harsh Aghav helped them recover to a total of 157.
Key Performers
The duo of Tandel and Aghav combined for an impressive 85 runs off 49 balls for the fifth wicket, with Tandel scoring 50 runs off 32 balls and Aghav contributing 45 runs off 28. Earlier in the innings, opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi was dismissed for just 7 runs, and Ishan Mulchandani also failed to make a mark.
South Central's Chase
Vaibhav Mali was a standout performer for South Central, taking 2 wickets in his four-over spell. The Royals maintained their momentum as they began their chase with determination.
Lad and Sutar Lead the Charge
South Central's openers, Siddesh Lad and Sahil Bhagwanta Jadhav, set a brisk pace, scoring 32 runs in just 2.5 overs. Although both were dismissed early, their aggressive start laid the groundwork for the innings. Siddesh scored 15 runs while Sahil added a quick 22.
After reaching 42 for 2, the chase slowed down but remained on track. Chinmay Sutar played a crucial role, anchoring the innings with a composed 53 runs off 49 balls. Awais Naushad Khan provided the finishing touch, scoring 38 runs off 24 balls to secure the victory.
Post-Match Reflections
India's captain, Rohit Sharma, who was present as the T20 Mumbai League ambassador, presented the runners-up trophy to a visibly disappointed Iyer after the match. During the post-match presentation, Iyer expressed his feelings, stating,
"It's pretty hectic. Especially when you lose, it runs in your mind a lot."
He further added,
"Don't want to pinpoint any particular incident. Overall, the boys were brilliant with their efforts. We lost just one game en route to the final. Just a one-off game where you can't single out anyone - it's basically backstabbing and I don't enjoy that. We've learnt a lot.
"It's pretty common to feel dejected after a final loss. It must hurt them. But when they come back next year, they'll have that extra motivation and confidence. They should be proud of their effort."
