Follow UsHistory has been scripted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as for the first time in Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians have failed to defend a 200+ target.
Heading into Qualifier 2, MI had posted 200+ totals batting first 18 times and had won all 18 times, most recently in the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Mullanpur.
However, on the night in Ahmedabad, Punjab Kings produced one of the greatest chases in the competition’s history as they chased 204 with an over to spare to end MI’s 18-year-long streak. By doing so, Punjab also ended up reaching the final of the IPL for the first time since 2014, when the George Bailey-led unit made it to the final and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru.
This was also the highest ever chase in an IPL playoff game. The previous chase, incidentally, came against Punjab in the IPL 2014 final.
204 - PBKS vs MI, Ahmedabad, 2025*
200 - KKR vs PBKS, Bengaluru, 2014
191 - KKR vs CSK, Chennai, 2012
189 - GT vs RR, Kolkata, 2022
179 - CSK vs SRH, Mumbai, 2018
Punjab’s chase was propelled by a stunning unbeaten 87 from skipper Shreyas Iyer, who hammered five fours and eight sixes. Iyer was well supported by the duo of Josh Inglis (38) and Nehal Wadhera (48).
Punjab will now take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad on May 3 (Tuesday). The IPL is thus guaranteed to have a new winner.