MI vs PBKS, Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad, IPL, Jun 01 2025 - Match Result

2.15am And then there were two. One of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings will lift the IPL trophy for the first time ever. Punjab Kings, demolished by RCB in Qualifier 1 came back with a massive show of strength today, and neither rain and nor a team with arguably the best T20 batter and the best T20 bowler could stop them from setting up a rematch that will have them licking their lips. We had to wait for more than two hours for the match to start, but once it did, what a game we were served up. But that's all we have for you today. You can head over to Alagappan Muthu's report for a more comprehensive summary of the game. This is Abhimanyu signing off on behalf of Ekanth, Ranjith and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo.

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer is also the player of the match! Here's what he had to say: "[On staying calm through his knock] I love such big occasions and I always say to myself and my colleagues that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are and you'll get the best results. Today I was focusing a lot on my breathing rather than sweating out a lot out there. [On their plan for the chase] All players need to be assertive and show the intent from ball one. It's just that [top order batters] weren't able to capitalise on their starts but the intent was stupendous. Even for me when I went out there I had to take some time, but the batsman at the other end he was striking pretty well. I know the more time I spend on the field, the better I play and my vision also gets better. [On recovering from the RCB loss] Just throw the imagination and hiccup in the bin and not think too much about where we went wrong because through the season we have been playing some amazing and the intent and positivity was imperative from the first game and one match cannot define us as a team. [On uncapped players doing well] I just let them be. I don't ask too much of them. I love the fearlessness they bring to the table and the ideas they share. Even if they haven't got that much experience I feel they have that brave nature and in such big occasions, it's important they need to gain more experience. [On being with PBKS] I am very comfortable around the management and everyone around me and the environment is very positive. I am just staying in the moment, cherish the situation, go to the dressing room and celebrate with team-mates getting into the final. But in my mind the job was only half done so I don't want to think too much about the final. Just go recover, get a massage and be in the right mind space. [Asked about seemingly being in a daze just before the presentation ceremony] I was locked in."

1.55pm I am still reeling from just how effortlessly Shreyas Iyer shifted gears today, and just how calm that PBKS chase looked. He's getting hugs from the owners and from Ricky Ponting. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians' season, such an improvement from the debacle last year, ends in heartbreak. They were almost down and out before they began a stirring run of wins to make it to the playoffs, where they also put in a statement performance against Gujarat Titans. But today, it just wasn't enough against the table-toppers. Maybe when Bumrah went for 20 in his first over (he only conceded 20 over his next three), the writing was on the wall. But MI stayed in it with Ashwani Kumar in particular bowling so well. But it was Ashwani who Shreyas tore into for four sixes that finished the game in the 19th over of a well constructed chase.

Mustafa Moudi : "Began with 97* and taken his side to the Final with 87*... going by the Trend Shreyas might score 77* in the Final !!"

Our stat-guru Sampath with a nugget: Shreyas Iyer's 87* is the second-highest score by a captain in the IPL playoffs, behind David Warner's 93* vs GL in the 2016 Qualifier 2.

Hardik Pandya: "Specially 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 but they were really calm and put us under pressure and we were not able to execute the way we wanted. [Should Bumrah have bowled the 17th over?] In hindsight it would have been different, but maybe a little too early."

Nehal Wadhera: "I just wait for such games and I couldn't be more eager to play such a knock in such a crucial match so it's really close to my heart. [On partnership with Iyer] The plan was pretty simple. I have been with MI for two years and played a lot with them so I knew what they would attack me with so I changed my batting. I am glad it worked out. If it was in my radar, I would just go with my shots. I wasn't trying to target a specific bowler but just trying to convert boundary balls. Iyer is a chase master and he proved himself today as well. Lot of learnings from him and I hope we take the momentum forward and win the game against RCB now."

giri: "Poor KKR who doesn't retain Shreyas, if he wins the final on Tuesday, it is a back to back trophy for him as a skipper"

Yash: "It will be a crime now if Shreyas isn't in the Indian T20I team !"

sandeep: "Iyer took DC to finals,DC stubbed him by replacing with Pant. KKR was taken to finals and won, they stubbed him. Now he has taken PBKS to finals and he is nowhere in Indian selectors list. He seems to be in bad luck."

1.40pm Shreyas Iyer was questioned for his shot selection when they crumbled for 101 in the first Qualifier against RCB. Today, they had to chase 204 and their openers did not get big runs like they have been all year. But Iyer, the Punjab Kings captain, stood tall with an innings of utter class and composure, paced to near perfection, to see his team get over the line without ever really looking like they were getting desperate, despite wickets at key moments. Former Mumbai Indians man Nehal Wadhera played a crucial hand too, but it's Shreyas Iyer, with an unbeaten 87 off 41, who can claim this win as his own, possibly, for, as cliched as it sounds, leading from the front and taking his team through for another shot at a maiden IPL title! He has captained two different franchises to two finals now in back-to-back years! MI are dejected, with Hardik on his haunches before Bumrah offers some words of consolation and a pat on the back.

Will Iyer finish it this over?

10 off 10 now!

Ashwani overstepped by a lot

Ashwani Kumar to bowl the penultimate over. Can he leave enough to defend off the final over?

Ram: "Shashank showing absolutely zero game awareness, that's very lazy from him"

As expected, Bumrah to bowl his last. This is the all-important over right now!

Marcus Stoinis. He will start off at the non-striker's end. Shreyas on strike as Boult runs in

Boult to bowl the 17th