Punjab Kings Break the Jinx Amidst Nerve-Shredding Drama
Cricket fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium were glued to their seats as Punjab Kings (PBKS) finally broke their 11-year curse, storming into the IPL 2025 final with a five-wicket triumph over Mumbai Indians (MI). A night built on tension, fireworks, and a captain's nerves of steel—this was the stuff IPL dreams are made of.
Shreyas Iyer wasn’t just in the zone—he built a new one. Unbeaten on 87 from just 41 deliveries, PBKS’ leader spun a daunting chase into a showcase of sweet-timed brutality. What started as a mountain—204 runs on a playoff stage—ended up looking like a modest hill once Iyer cut loose at the back end. The scoreboard read PBKS 207 for 5, but the story stretched far beyond the numbers.
Earlier, Mumbai’s powerful top order did its job. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, both clocking 44 runs, stitched together a partnership that looked set to carry MI towards IPL destiny. Fans could almost feel the final within reach, especially once Naman Dhir arrived and hammered a 37 off just 18 balls in the business end. MI crossed 200, their total parked confidently at 203/6.
Punjab’s reply began with pure intent. Josh Inglis came out firing, hauling 20 runs off a Jasprit Bumrah over that left MI stunned. His blitz—38 off 21 balls—set the kind of tempo you rarely see in a high-stakes decider. The approach? Relentless. Every MI bowler, Bumrah included, wore the pressure.
After Inglis fell, the hand was taken by Nehal Wadhera—steady, unflustered, and effective with 48 runs from 29. His partnership with Iyer notched 84, nipping away at MI’s confidence every over. The real pivot point, though, exploded when Iyer sent three straight sixes sailing off Reece Topley. Suddenly, the required rate looked less menacing, the PBKS dugout was on its feet, and MI found themselves searching for answers that wouldn’t come.
The finish had its hiccups—last-over drama always seems to follow the Kings—but Iyer’s calm saw them through. As the crowd roared, Mumbai's campaign fizzled out, continuing their quirky record of playoff heartbreak whenever they finish just outside the top two. For PBKS and their fans, 2025 became the year the drought finally ended.
The Stage Is Set: New Champions on the Horizon
Now, the spotlight swings to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB has their own history of near-misses, and PBKS joins them sporting fresh scars and new hopes. The IPL will see a Punjab Kings vs RCB final—two sides who have lived through plenty of ‘almosts’ and ‘what ifs’. One thing is for sure: a franchise will finally lift their maiden trophy. For now, Punjab and their never-say-die leader, Shreyas Iyer, can dream as big as they play.
