Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis Lead PBKS to Historic IPL Final with All-Round Brilliance

Shreyas Iyer’s masterful unbeaten 87 off 41 balls and Josh Inglis’ audacious assault on Jasprit Bumrah powered Punjab Kings (PBKS) into their first IPL final in 11 years, as they chased down Mumbai Indians’ (MI) 203 with an over to spare in a high-octane Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad.

While Iyer’s composure formed the backbone of the chase, Inglis’ fearless approach against MI’s strike bowler Bumrah proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. With PBKS requiring momentum early in the innings, Inglis stepped up in the fifth over, smashing Bumrah for two sixes and two fours – a 20-run over that shifted the momentum squarely in PBKS’s favour.

PBKS bowling coach James Hopes hailed the collective effort of his team, particularly in restricting MI to 203 on a belter of a surface. "There was a stage where I reckon they were looking at 220, 225, and we just kept pegging them back at the right time," Hopes said in the post-match press conference. "We never let them get away with a big over of 18 or 19, and just hung in there the whole night. Arshdeep [Singh] and Azmatullah [Omarzai] were outstanding."

Azmatullah, who was preferred over Vyshak in a crunch moment, was rewarded for his tight death bowling. “It was a gut call by Shreyas to go with Azmat at the end and it paid off,” Hopes added, crediting the skipper's tactical nous.

Despite the imposing total and the presence of MI’s proven match-winner Bumrah, PBKS approached the chase with belief. Inglis’ counterattack set the tone, finishing with 38 off 21 balls, while Iyer anchored the innings before launching into an all-out assault.

"If you'd told us we were chasing 200 and we were going to take 40 off Jasprit, we would have taken that every day of the week," Hopes said. “Josh has a good record against him in short-form cricket, and today he just got into a zone.”

Former players Varun Aaron and Tom Moody, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, agreed Inglis’ calculated aggression turned the tide.

“These are those big games where somebody has to take down the biggest threat, and that’s Bumrah. Inglis did that so well with proper cricket shots,” Aaron said.

Moody praised Inglis’ technical prowess: “He’s got a really good technique, especially against high-quality bowling. That six off the slower ball—he was in perfect position. He wasn’t swinging wildly, just identifying the ball and playing through it.”

But it was Iyer’s composed leadership and match-winning knock that sealed the night for PBKS. Praising his former Delhi Capitals charge, Hopes said, “He doesn’t get flustered. He knows his match-ups and backs himself to take risks at the right time. He’s evolved into a top-tier T20 player and a sensational captain.”

Under Iyer’s calm command, PBKS executed a chase against one of the IPL’s most dominant teams in pressure situations. MI had never previously lost a game defending 200+ scores – a streak that ended at the hands of a rejuvenated PBKS unit.

Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis Lead PBKS to Historic IPL Final with All-Round Brilliance

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