A visibly dejected Hardik Pandya wore a solemn expression as Mumbai Indians bowed out of IPL 2025, losing to Punjab Kings by five wickets in the second qualifier at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. It was a bitter end for the MI captain, whose side failed to defend a competitive total of 204 on a slightly damp Sunday night.

After the final ball was bowled, Pandya was comforted by senior teammates Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. Regaining his composure, Hardik walked over and graciously congratulated PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who had played a spectacular unbeaten knock of 87 runs to guide his team into the final.

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Mumbai’s journey in IPL 2025 was anything but smooth. The five-time champions had a rocky start, losing their first four matches. However, they rallied brilliantly to register six straight wins, clawing their way back into contention and eventually finishing fourth in the league stage to earn a playoff berth.

They carried that momentum into the Eliminator, brushing aside Gujarat Titans to reach the second qualifier.

Hardik Pandya💔😫 pic.twitter.com/scYQ06Wxwy

— Surya (@SuryaDhoni22) June 1, 2025

Sunday’s clash had a delayed start due to rain, but the match remained a full 20-over contest. Batting first, MI posted 203/6, riding on 44-run contributions from both Suryakumar and Tilak Varma. Though Azmatullah Omarzai was expensive for PBKS, he managed to pick up two crucial wickets.

Shreyas Iyer then turned the game on its head with a sublime knock, peppering the field with five boundaries and eight sixes to chase down the target with an over to spare.

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Reflecting on the loss, Pandya said, “They remained calm under pressure, and we just didn’t execute well enough. It came down to a few key moments — right bowler, right length — and maybe things would’ve turned out differently.”