Punjab Kings stormed into the Indian Premier League final for the first time in 11 years, defeating Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a rain-delayed encounter at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Captain Shreyas Iyer delivered a match-winning performance, smashing an unbeaten 87 off 41 balls, including eight sixes, to chase down Mumbai’s target of 204 with an over to spare. His explosive hitting in the penultimate over sealed the victory as he sent Ashwani Kumar’s delivery soaring into the stands.

The match began over two hours late due to rain, but Mumbai made the most of their batting opportunity, posting 203-6. Tilak Varma (44), Suryakumar Yadav (44), and Jonny Bairstow (38 off 24) ensured a competitive total, while Naman Dhir’s late 37 off 18 balls provided additional firepower.

Punjab’s chase started aggressively with Josh Inglis hammering 38 off 21 balls, including 20 runs in a single over against Jasprit Bumrah. However, Mumbai hit back as Hardik Pandya dismissed Inglis, swinging the momentum briefly in their favor.

With 48 runs needed from the final 26 balls, Punjab looked under pressure, but Iyer’s brilliance turned the game around. His four sixes in the 19th over ensured his side would reach the final.

Punjab will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash on Tuesday, marking a historic moment as neither team has ever won the IPL trophy.

RCB secured their final spot after defeating Punjab in the first qualifier match, and the rematch promises a high-stakes battle.

Source: BBC

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