'We were not able to...': Gutted Hardik Pandya left disappointed after MI's 5-wicket loss to PBKS to miss spot in IPL 2025 final

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya was left disappointed with his team's performance after losing to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets in the crucial IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 clash which denied them a place in the grand finale.

Shreyas Iyer led from the front and displayed magnificent stroke-play and remarkable composure under pressure to score an unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls to single-handedly propel his team into the final of the IPL 2025, where they are now set to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

After being put in to bat first, MI posted a big total of 203/6 in their 20 overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav played pivotal roles in setting this challenging target, each scoring 44 runs and forging a valuable 72-run partnership for the third wicket to stabilise the innings. Towards the end, Naman Dhir provided a crucial finishing flourish with a blistering 37 off just 18 balls, helping MI successfully cross the 200-run mark

But it was Shreyas Iyer who took the game away from MI. When the Punjab Kings (PBKS) began their chase, it initially seemed like the Mumbai Indians' (MI) strong bowling attack would dominate. Indeed, Trent Boult even managed to claim the wicket of Prabhsimran Singh by the third over. However, the momentum shifted dramatically with the arrival of Josh Inglis at number three. He immediately took on Jasprit Bumrah, smashing 20 runs in Bumrah's first over. Priyansh Arya (20 off 10 balls) and Inglis (38 off 21 balls) played excellent cameo innings, ensuring PBKS got off to a strong start.

The turning point came with the 84-run partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera, which put immense pressure on MI. Wadhera played a crucial knock of 48 runs off just 29 balls, narrowly missing his fifty but making an incredibly valuable contribution. Shreyas Iyer then completed his half-century in the 17th over, maintaining PBKS's hopes even after Wadhera's departure.

Iyer ultimately led his team across the finish line, ensuring the Punjab Kings will play in an IPL final for the first time in 11 years. They are now set to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the same venue on June 3. This means IPL 2025 is guaranteed to crown a brand new champion.

Hardik Pandya, while ruing MI's painful defeat, said that the score was good but it really needed great execution from the bowling unit to tighten screw on PBKS batters.