IPL Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians by five wickets

Shreyas Iyer played a true captain’s knock just when Punjab needed it most — soaking up the pressure, picking the gaps and clearing the ropes with ease. His well-timed half-century has put Punjab within touching distance of the final.

But two quick wickets have added a twist. With 31 needed off the last three overs, it should still be Punjab’s game — but Iyer will have to finish what he started.

After 14 overs, both teams were virtually identical — Punjab 142/3, Mumbai 143/3 — leaving nothing to separate them. Jasprit Bumrah stepped up under pressure, delivering a miserly five-run over to swing momentum Mumbai’s way.

But Punjab struck right back, keeping the chase alive. Nehal Wadhera’s impressive knock — capitalising on an early dropped chance — has ended, to Ashwini Kumar, but not before he pushed Punjab closer to the finish line. It's too close for comfort now. After 16 overs, 163 for four, Shreyas Iyer is looking dangerous.

Shreyas Iyer has turned the momentum on its head with a stunning counterattack. A calculated assault on Reece Topley — including hat-trick sixes — yielded 19 runs, allowing Nehal Wadhera to shift gears as well. The duo followed it up with another 14 off Boult to bring the target within touching distance. Unless Jasprit Bumrah conjures up something special, Punjab look set to storm into the final. After 14 overs, they’re 142/3 — needing just 63 from 36.

Mumbai missed a golden chance to tighten their grip — Trent Boult put down a regulation running catch that could have shifted momentum firmly their way. Still, the asking rate has crept up to nearly 12 an over, and it’s only going to climb unless someone takes charge.

Nehal Wadhera is showing intent, but with 95 needed off 48 balls, Punjab will need more than just cameos. Shot selection is key from here — one mistake could swing it back Mumbai’s way. Punjab 109/3 after 12.

Punjab are once again paying the price for sticking to an all-out attacking approach. Josh Inglis, who was scoring freely, fell trying to force the pace against Hardik Pandya — edging behind off a ball that wasn’t there to hit. Earlier, Priyansh Arya too perished going for a big shot right after Inglis had taken 20 off Bumrah.

Lack of application is hurting the Kings. At the halfway mark, they’re 81 for 3 after 9 overs — and chasing 200-plus, this could prove costly.

Punjab will now rely heavily on Josh Inglis after losing both openers early in the chase. The partnership between skipper Shreyas Iyer and Inglis will be crucial if they are to stay in the contest — and possibly go the distance.

Inglis, unfazed by the pressure, is playing his natural attacking game. His 33 off just 13 balls — including a 20-run over off Jasprit Bumrah — has powered Punjab to 64 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

This one’s shaping up to be another thriller.

Punjab haven’t had the start they would’ve hoped for in this high-pressure chase. With a target requiring over 10 runs an over, the powerplay is critical to building early momentum — especially on a surface that’s not ideal for stroke-making.

To their credit, Mumbai have read the conditions well. Their bowlers, taking a cue from Punjab’s strategy, are using a mix of slower deliveries to good effect. The early loss of Prabhsimran Singh has already pushed Punjab on the back foot.

Much now rests on young Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis to steady the ship. After four overs, Punjab are 35 for 1, with 14 runs coming off the fourth over.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians made the most of Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bowl first, putting up a commanding 203 for 6 on a tacky surface that remained two-paced after a two-hour rain delay in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

From the outset, Mumbai’s top and middle order fired in unison — Jonny Bairstow, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir all chipped in to keep the scoring rate above 10 an over. For the record, Mumbai have never lost an IPL game after posting 200-plus.

Punjab did manage to pull things back in the death overs, taking three wickets between the 14th and 18th overs, but Dhir’s timely cameo ensured Mumbai didn’t lose momentum. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kyle Jamieson bowed well in the middle overs to halt Mumbai's momentum.

The 200-run mark gives Mumbai a huge psychological edge on a pitch that isn’t entirely batting-friendly. Punjab will now need a near-perfect effort to chase down the target — against one of the best bowling attacks in the league, and with the pressure of reaching only their second IPL final looming large.

Two wickets in three balls have swung momentum back Punjab’s way. After Suryakumar’s exit, Tilak Varma falls to a superb running catch by Priyansh Arya, ending another key stand. Kyle Jamieson is making a telling impact, but with Chahal having completed his spell, the onus is now on the rest of Punjab’s attack to contain Mumbai in the death overs. Mumbai are 145/4 after 15 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav falls for 44 off 26 to the returning Yuzvendra Chahal, who finally breaks through for Punjab. But the No 3 batter has already done his part, lifting Mumbai to 142/3 after 14 overs. Tilak Varma remains unbeaten on 44, with skipper Hardik Pandya joining him for the final flourish.

Suryakumar Yadav has silenced Chahal in style. After a quiet first over, the Mumbai star took the attack to the veteran spinner, smashing 14 runs and shifting the pressure back on Punjab.
With boundaries flowing and Mumbai cruising at 112/2 after 11, a total around 200 looks well within reach — especially with no dew tonight to aid the chase. Punjab must find a way to break this stand, or risk the game slipping away.

This Qualifier is on a knife’s edge. Bairstow’s dismissal gave Punjab a window to tighten the screws, conceding just eight runs in two overs. But Tilak Varma has wrested it back, taking 15 off Vyshak Vijayakumar’s second over to swing momentum Mumbai’s way again.
With Mumbai 88/2 after 9 overs, the next four will be decisive in tilting the balance in this high-stakes clash.

Vyshak Vijayakumar has delivered the much-needed breakthrough, removing the dangerous Jonny Bairstow just as he was starting to punish his former franchise. Bairstow, who was overlooked by Punjab at the auction despite a century last season, looked determined — but Vyshak’s clever variations did the trick.
Now, an exciting contest looms as Yuzvendra Chahal squares off against Suryakumar Yadav.

Mumbai Indians have made full use of the fielding restrictions, racing to 65/1 at the end of the powerplay. Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer made a bold call to bowl first — despite the fact that six of the seven matches here were won by teams batting first. The pitch is hard and run-rich, with an average first-innings score of 221, and after the rain, it’s expected to come on even better for batting.

Known for his proactive captaincy, Hardik Pandya threw a curveball by promoting Tilak Varma up the order to join Jonny Bairstow in the early assault. The move has paid off, with Suryakumar Yadav held back for after the powerplay. Mumbai have raced to 50/1 in 5 overs.

Rohit Sharma couldn’t capitalise on a dropped catch — dismissed trying to clear square leg off Stoinis. But the over was full of action, with 15 runs added despite the breakthrough. The pitch is showing signs of mischief — the ball isn’t coming on nicely, and the soft surface is already developing footmarks that could make batting trickier as it dries.
Mumbai are 30/1 after 3 overs.

With moisture in the pitch and in the air, Arshdeep Singh is getting the ball to talk early. He’s troubling the openers as play finally gets underway. After one over, Mumbai are 4 for no loss.

There’s relief — especially for Mumbai Indians — as the covers come off and players return to the field for warm-ups. A washout would’ve sent Punjab Kings into the final, thanks to their higher finish on the table. But with conditions improving, both teams, coaches, and support staff are out doing their final checks. Game on — almost, with the start in 15 minutes!

The rain continues to play hide and seek. Just as the players were ready to take the field, the showers returned, forcing them back indoors. Despite the downpour, the fans are holding firm in the stands, showing unwavering support. There's still a 30-minute window left to start the match without losing any overs.

Weather update: Good news — the rain has stopped and the Punjab players are out warming up. Officials are keeping a close watch as there are still puddles on the covers. No need to panic yet — there’s an official two-hour window available to delay the start if needed.

Toss Update: Punjab Kings’ skipper Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing potential early moisture on a pitch that was under covers due to overcast conditions in Ahmedabad.

There’s good news for Punjab — veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal returns to the XI. He has a strong record against Jonny Bairstow, while Arshdeep Singh will be eyeing Rohit Sharma’s wicket, given the opener’s struggles against left-arm pace.

Mumbai have made one change: Reece Topley replaces the injured Richard Gleeson. It has started to drizzle and the covers are back on, holding the start up for a little while.