Shreyas Iyer’s Heroics Take Punjab Kings to a Long-Awaited IPL Final
This wasn't just another playoff game — this was one of those rare cricket nights where a single player captures the imagination of everyone watching. Shreyas Iyer wasn’t just captain; he was a one-man storm that Mumbai Indians simply couldn’t contain. Punjab Kings have waited since 2014 for a taste of the IPL final, and it was Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls that finally broke that drought.
Chasing a tricky target, Punjab Kings looked under pressure after early wickets. But Iyer kept his cool, playing with a maturity and freedom that seemed to lift the entire squad. He punished mistakes, picked the right bowlers, and managed those pressure moments when IPL games are often lost. What really set the stadium buzzing was his audacious shot off Jasprit Bumrah – who else gets praised by AB de Villiers for a moment of genius? de Villiers called it the shot of IPL 2025, and anyone who saw it won’t argue. Iyer smashed a threatening Bumrah yorker into the crowd, showing just how dominant he had become.
Punjab’s chase was all about calculated risk. Once they crossed 150 in just over 15 overs, belief in the dugout switched from hope to expectation. Iyer steered them home with a six in the 19th over, finishing what he started and making it look somehow effortless. The atmosphere was pure relief, mixed with adrenaline, for Punjab Kings fans around the world.
A Captain’s Legacy – And a Price
Iyer’s story in the IPL reads like a modern fairytale with a few twists. He has now led not one, not two, but three different teams to the final—Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and now Punjab Kings in 2025. That’s unprecedented in IPL history. If he manages to go all the way with Punjab, he’ll join a nearly exclusive club of IPL captains to win titles with more than one team—a territory only Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma have ever entered.
This glittering chapter did come with a dark spot: Iyer was slapped with a ₹24 lakh fine for a slow over rate. It wasn’t his first offense this season, as Punjab have struggled to keep up on that front. The fine may sting, but for Iyer and his team, this night was worth it—the first IPL final in 11 years for a franchise that’s weathered its share of heartbreaks and near-misses. The victory set up a blockbuster final in Ahmedabad, with Iyer out to spoil Royal Challengers Bangalore’s party and make more IPL history.
Punters, pundits, and fans know one thing for sure—right now, everyone is talking about Shreyas Iyer and the fearless Punjab Kings. Whether he brings home the trophy or not, his match-winning 87* will be replayed every time people mention what it means to deliver under pressure in sport’s biggest moments.
Jun, 2 2025