Another heartbreak for Shreyas Iyer, after sweeping 5 straight finals India star loses second title in 10 days following IPL 2025 final defeat

Shreyas Iyer suffered another heartbreak after losing second title in a span of just 10 days following IPL 2025 final defeat. June has been a period of significant professional anguish, marked by the repeated sting of defeat in finals. The month's disappointments began just ten days after Shreyas Iyer captained the Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, where they were flattened by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This was soon followed by another title loss, this time in the final of the T20 Mumbai League, compounding the sense of heartbreak for the India's star batter.

Shreyas Iyer's SoBo Mumbai Falcons lose T20 Mumbai League title

Seeking to end the month on a victorious note, Iyer led SoBo Mumbai Falcons to the final of T20 Mumbai League. However, his hopes for redemption were dashed at the Wankhede Stadium, where his team was defeated by the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. In a frustrating echo of his performance in the IPL final, Iyer was unable to make any impact with the bat, failing to deliver in a crucial, high-stakes moment.

This recent string of back-to-back final losses is a stark contrast to the formidable and enviable record Iyer had previously established in title-deciding matches. In the past, he has been a key figure in numerous triumphs, including being part of a Ranji Trophy-winning Mumbai team and playing a vital role in India's Irani Cup victory. Furthermore, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders to a memorable IPL title in 2024 and also leading his state team to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His decorated resume also includes being a member of the Indian squad that secured the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Here's how the match unfolded

Talking about the match, MSC Maratha Royals successfully chased down the target of 157 runs set by the SoBo Mumbai Falcons at the Wankhede Stadium, securing the T20 Mumbai League title with a five-wicket victory. The Royals achieved this with four balls remaining in their innings.

Chinmay Sutar played a crucial role in anchoring the innings, scoring a steady 53 runs off 49 deliveries. Adding momentum to the chase was Awais Khan, who contributed a brisk 38 runs from just 24 balls. This pair forged a significant 75-run partnership over nine overs. Earlier in the innings, Sutar had been fortunate to receive a reprieve when he was dropped on 15 by wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

While Sutar focused on rotating the strike, Awais adopted a more aggressive approach, particularly against the spinners, utilizing clean sweeps and well-timed lofted shots. The Royals also effectively used the pace of Akash Parkar against him in the 16th over. Although both set batsmen were dismissed by Kartik Mishra in the penultimate over, Rohan Raje, a veteran player, calmly secured the victory for the Royals with two well-executed strokes in the final over.

Earlier in the match, the MSC Maratha Royals had won the toss and elected to field first, a decision made by their captain, Siddhesh Lad. The SoBo Mumbai Falcons struggled initially, reaching 60 runs for the loss of three wickets after 10 overs. Shreyas Iyer, aiming to accelerate the scoring, was dismissed for 12 runs while attempting a reverse sweep. However, Harsh Aghav, who remained unbeaten on 45 runs from 28 balls, and Mayuresh Tandel, who also remained unbeaten with 50 runs off 32 balls, provided a late boost to the Falcons' innings. They put together an 85-run partnership in 49 balls, pushing their team's total past the 150-run mark, but ultimately it wasn't enough to prevent the Royals from keeping their composure and clinching the title, leaving Shreyas Iyer's team facing another defeat.