There is a famous 1990 Malayalam thriller titled ‘Iyer the Great’. In Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Shreyas Iyer truly lived up to the name thrilling the crowd with an unbeaten knock of 87 off just 41 balls, studded with eight sixes and five boundaries. This ruthless batting display by Iyer will be remembered not only as one of the finest match-winning innings in IPL history, but also as a spectacular captain’s performance. With this masterclass, he ended Punjab Kings’ 11-year wait to reach the IPL final, eliminating five-time champions and six-time finalists Mumbai Indians by five wickets, with six balls to spare.
Under the glowing lights of the Narendra Modi Stadium—soaked from a rain delay of over an hour—Iyer, with no outward display of any emotion, quietly set about erasing the scars of Punjab’s humiliating defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1. Unlike many batters who erupt in celebration after sealing a win with a mighty six, Iyer remained grounded, his demeanor calm. His bat spoke volumes—to the selectors who have dropped him for the England tour.
Iyer reaffirmed why he is one of the shrewdest leaders in the country, having now captained three different franchises to IPL finals: Delhi Capitals in 2020, ending their 13-season drought; Kolkata Knight Riders, with whom he clinched the title after a 10-year wait; and now, Punjab Kings, guiding them to the final after 11 long years. Should he lift the trophy on June 3, overcoming the Royal Challenge from Bangalore, Iyer will become the first captain to win back-to-back IPL titles with two different teams.
After this performance, the question of why Iyer isn’t leading India—especially in the post-Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma era—will weigh heavily on all cricket fans. Shockingly, he’s not even part of the squad for England.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s claim that there’s “no room” for Iyer in Test cricket—despite solid domestic performances and consistent success in limited-overs formats—now seems like a judgment up for debate. What more must Iyer do to prove his worth as a calm, composed leader who delivers under pressure? His fearless strokeplay against two of the world’s finest bowlers, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah, underscored his brilliance as a batter.
After Mumbai posted a daunting 203 for 6 in their 20 overs, many believed Punjab’s IPL campaign would end in Qualifier 2. Given that no team has chased over a 200 plus total against Mumbai’s strong attack, it would have been a forgone conclusion for many that Punjab would perish in Qualifier 2, except for Iyer and his coach Ricky Ponting, another great captain who has lifted many international titles for his team.
Few imagined that, after a storm-delayed start and a previous total of just 101 in Qualifier 1, Punjab would storm into the final. But Iyer and his men reminded everyone that in cricket, past is irrelevant—what matters is the present. Remarkably, Iyer has not lost two consecutive matches as captain since the last IPL season. His unbeaten 87 is now the second-highest individual score by a captain in IPL playoffs, after David Warner’s 93* against Gujarat Lions in the 2016 Qualifier 2.
This was not a match Mumbai Indians threw away. Their powerplay score of 65 for 1 was their third-highest ever. Despite the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, the batting lineup, led by Jonny Bairstow (38) and Tilak Varma (44), kept the momentum going. Their 51-run partnership for the second wicket was followed by an even stronger stand—72 runs—between Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. Both fell for 44, a curious symmetry. Yadav, incredibly, has never scored fewer than 25 in any match this season. Yet, Mumbai couldn’t accelerate in the death overs, ultimately falling short by at least 15 runs.
Partnerships win matches—something Iyer knows better than most. His 84-run stand with Nehal Wadhera (48) proved vital. But it was his furious 26-run assault on Ashwani Kumar in the 19th over that sealed the deal—a statement of defiance from a genius who has long been underappreciated.
The June 3 final will be a battle of dreams on a neutral ground. Which team will win the hearts of over 100,000 fans at the stadium remains to be seen. Since neither team has lifted the IPL trophy, this is the making of a historic showdown. One thing is certain: the 2025 IPL season is destined for a fairy tale finish.
