Shreyas Iyer, the man who orchestrated Punjab Kings’ thrilling chase in the second qualifier, faltered at the biggest stage of them all — the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing a tricky target of 191, Punjab Kings got off to a brisk but unstable start.
Young Priyansh Arya looked in fine touch early on, but his promising knock was cut short in the fifth over. Trying to clear the ropes off Josh Hazlewood, Arya found Phil Salt near the boundary, who pulled off a stunning catch, ending the left-hander’s stay at 24 off 19 balls.
Prabhsimran Singh, meanwhile, never quite looked settled at the crease. His scratchy innings came to an end in the ninth over when he miscued a big shot off Krunal Pandya. The opener managed 26 from 22 deliveries, leaving PBKS at 72/2.
WATCH – Phil Salt Channels Suryakumar Yadav with Acrobatic Catch to Dismiss Priyansh Arya
With pressure mounting and the asking rate creeping up, all eyes were on skipper Shreyas Iyer to take charge. Having played a captain’s knock — an unbeaten 87 — in the high-pressure qualifier against Mumbai Indians, expectations were sky-high. But this time, the stage proved a bit too heavy.
— crictalk (@crictalk7) June 3, 2025
Facing Romario Shepherd in the 10th over, Iyer looked to flick a length ball through the leg side but ended up offering a straightforward catch. He was gone for just 1 off 2 balls, and his dismissal sent shockwaves through the PBKS camp.
RCB’s energy surged after the wicket, with Virat Kohli celebrating the breakthrough with trademark aggression, underscoring how pivotal that moment was.
WATCH – Jitesh Sharma’s Audacious Scoop Six Leaves Virat Kohli Awestruck
At the time of writing, Punjab Kings were 90/3 in 12 overs, with Josh Inglis and Nehal Wadhera trying to steady the chase. Earlier, RCB had posted a competitive 190/9 after being put in to bat first.
