Latest news with #AshwaniKumar
India Gazette
a day ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Shreyas Iyer steers Punjab Kings to second IPL final with commanding win over Mumbai Indians
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 2 (ANI): Shreyas Iyer rose to the occasion with a captain's knock that will be etched in Punjab Kings' (PBKS) history, as his unbeaten 87 off 41 deliveries powered the franchise into their second Indian Premier League (IPL) final, and first in eleven years, with a five-wicket win over the five time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the second qualifier in Ahmedabad on Monday. Chasing a stiff target of 204, Punjab showed both aggression and composure to overhaul the total with an over to spare, thanks largely to Iyer's clean striking and calculated leadership in the middle. Punjab's chase began on a shaky note as Prabhsimran Singh fell early to Trent Boult for just 6, leaving PBKS at 13/1 in 2.1 overs. Priyansh Arya provided a quick spark with a brisk 20 off 10 balls before being dismissed by Ashwani Kumar, with the score at 55/2 in 5.1 overs. Australian Josh Inglis then took charge alongside Iyer, stroking a confident 38 off 21 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes. However, MI skipper Hardik Pandya removed him at a crucial juncture, momentarily halting Punjab's momentum. With pressure building, Nehal Wadhera partnered with Iyer to put together a critical 84-run stand, maintaining the required rate and keeping Punjab in the hunt. Wadhera missed out on a half-century, falling for 48 to Ashwani Kumar, but by then, the platform had been set. Even as wickets fell around him, including a run-out of Shashank Singh for 2, Iyer remained unflustered. Punjab crossed 100 in 10.3 overs and brought up 150 in 15.1, keeping the scoreboard ticking efficiently. The chase was sealed in 19 overs, with Iyer finishing things off in emphatic style, taking his team to the final with a towering six. This win not only marked Punjab Kings' first IPL final appearance since 2014 but also added a new chapter to Iyer's captaincy legacy. Having already led Delhi Capitals (DC) (2020) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) (2024) to the summit clash, lifting the title with KKR, Iyer now becomes the first captain to reach three IPL finals with three different franchises. With this, he also has a shot at becoming a two-time IPL-winning captain, a feat very few have achieved. This was Punjab's first playoffs after eleven years. With momentum on their side and Iyer in sublime form, Punjab Kings will now set their sights on a historic first IPL trophy. For a franchise that has long lived in the shadows of more successful teams, 2025 might just be their year, and with Shreyas Iyer at the helm, they'll believe anything is possible. Mumbai's bowlers were not up to the mark, and Jasprit Bumrah was off-colour, as he gave away 40 runs in his four overs. Ashwani Kumar picked up 2/55, and Boult and Pandya picked up one wicket each. Earlier, an Exceptional batting performance from the Mumbai Indians powered them to a solid total of 203/6 in their 20 overs during Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Right-hand batters Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow came out to open the innings for the Mumbai-based franchise in the game. The side didn't have the start that they wanted, as the Hardik Pandya-led side lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma at the score of 19. The right-hand batter went back to the pavilion after scoring just eight runs. Following Rohit's dismissal, left-hand batter Tilak Varma was promoted up the order. The Mumbai side touched the 50-run mark in the fifth over of the innings. On the last ball of the seventh over, the Mumbai team lost their second wicket as Bairstow was dismissed by right-arm seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak. The right-hand batter went back to the dressing room after scoring 38 runs off 24 balls, which came with the help of three fours and two sixes in his innings. After Bairstow's departure, right-hand batter Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat. In the 10th over of the innings, the MI side completed their 100-run mark. The Mumbai Indians team lost their third and fourth wicket at the score of 142. The batters to get dismissed at 142 were Suryakumar Yadav (44 runs off 26 balls) and Tilak Varma (44 runs from 29 balls).In the end, right-hand batter Naman Dhir came out to bat and scored a crucial 37 runs in just 18 balls, which was laced by seven boundaries at a strike rate of 205.56. For the Shreyas Iyer-led side, two wickets were snapped by Azmatullah Omarzai (2/43 in 4 overs) and one wicket each was grabbed by Kyle Jamieson (1/30 in 4 overs), Marcus Stoinis (1/14 in 1 over), Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/30 in 3 overs), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/39 in 4 overs) in their respective spells. Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 203/6 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 44, Tilak Varma 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 2/43) vs Punjab Kings 207/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 87, Nehal Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2/55). (ANI)
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Captain's knock: Shreyas powers Punjab to IPL final
AHMEDABAD: Shreyas Iyer nonchalantly sent Ashwani Kumar into the stands, removed his helmet, hugged Marcus Stoinis before slowly walking towards a gutted Hardik Pandya on his knees. Shreyas had led Punjab Kings to the final of 2025 Indian Premier League. They beat Mumbai Indians to set up a summit clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday. In a game of cat and mouse that lasted 39 overs, Punjab prevailed in the end to make it to the summit clash only for the second time in 18 years. Playing a cat and mouse game and taking the chase deep seldom works against Mumbai. They have arguably the greatest T20 bowler in Jasprit Bumrah. Against any other opponent, ten runs per over in the death, in this day and age, is the norm. Not with Mumbai, not against Bumrah. But this is where Punjab stood out. They took the attack to Mumbai's and IPL's premier pacer. Josh Inglis welcomed Bumrah with a 20-run over in the powerplay just when it seemed like PBKS were falling behind. He flicked, lofted him downtown and flicked again as Bumrah conceded 20 runs in an over (T20 format) for the first time since 2021. It was the over that took Punjab from 35/1 to 55/1. When they finished the powerplay with 64/2, it seemed like they were back on track. However, on a pitch that had slowed down thanks to the two and a half hour rain delay after the toss, Hardik Pandya and Mitchell Santner hit the brakes. Pandya used the cutters and slow bouncers while Santner did not bowl a single bad delivery. Inglis fell to a bouncer from Pandya, Ashwani Kumar, and Bumrah backed them up, and Mumbai gave away just 45 runs in the six overs after the powerplay. In a chase where the required run rate was more than ten, it was significant.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Punjab Kings set up IPL final against RCB
Indian Premier League, Qualifier 2, AhmedabadMumbai Indians 203-6 (20 overs): Suryakumar 44 (26), Varma 44 (29); Azmatullah 2-43Punjab Kings 207-5 (19 overs): Shreyas 87* (41), Wadhera 48 (29); Ashwani 2-55Punjab Kings won by five wicketsScorecard Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer hit a sparkling unbeaten 87 to lead his side to their first Indian Premier League final in 11 years with victory over Mumbai 204 to win, Shreyas clattered eight sixes in his 41-ball knock, smacking Ashwani Kumar into the stands to seal a five-wicket win with an over to the match started over two hours late because of rain in Ahmedabad, Mumbai posted 203-6 in their 20 overs, with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both scoring 44 and Jonny Bairstow making 38 off 24 will meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Tuesday's final, also taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium.A new IPL champion will be crowned, with both sides having never won the tournament. "I love such big occasions," said player of the match Shreyas."I always say to myself and to my colleagues in the team that the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, you get the big results." Punjab won the toss and elected to bowl before the rain arrived, although no overs were play eventually started, Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis removed India opener Rohit Sharma for just eight, before Varma and Bairstow combined for 51 strong partnership worth 72 between Varma and Suryakumar put Mumbai in a decent position before both fell in the space of three Naman Dhir's 37 off 18 balls boosted the five-time champions to a challenging reply, Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis sparked Punjab with 38 off 21, including 20 off one over from India fast bowler Jasprit Mumbai hit back as captain Hardik Pandya removed Inglis and were marginal favourites when Nehal Wadhera fell for 48, with Kings needing 48 off 26 Shreyas kept his side in contention and, requiring 23 runs off the last two overs, he flicked the switch to smash four sixes in the 19th over in a clinical final is a repeat of the first qualifier match, in which RCB thrashed Kings by eight sides scored 19 points in the group stage, with Kings narrowly topping the table on net-run were beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders in their only previous final appearance in 2014, while RCB have lost the showpiece in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
MI Star Hails Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey After Emphatic Win Over GT In Eliminator
Mumbai Indians' (MI) young talent Ashwani Kumar outlined his plan of attack on Mullanpur's flat turf after being introduced as an impact substitute during their high-stakes Eliminator fixture against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwani, a young left-arm quick, is among the talents unearthed by MI scouts and has continued to prove why Mumbai has had his back throughout the season. During Mumbai's attempt to defend the imposing 228/5, Gujarat responded boldly and clobbered MI bowlers relentlessly to stay close to the asking rate at the halfway stage with 106/2 on the board. MI captain Hardik Pandya and the team management were forced to dish out a game-defining move to sway the game's flow in their favour. Moments before the 11th over, Ashwani Kumar was introduced as an impact substitute in place of seasoned opener Rohit Sharma, offering Mumbai another pace bowling option for the second half of the innings. The 23-year-old was straightaway handed the ball to create an impact in the 12th over. He defused Gujarat's attempts to stage a boundary fest and saved 21 runs in the last three balls of the final over after Richard Gleeson was unable to finish off his over. Ashwani spilt the beans about the conversations behind the field and admitted that using a spinner as an impact substitute was on the cards. But once he was picked out, coaches Lasith Malinga and Paras Mhambrey offered valuable insights to help him thrive. "The talk was about bowling carefully. The wicket was flat. We might have included a spinner. But then I was introduced as the impact player. Malinga sir and Paras (Mhambrey) sir helped me with ideas," Ashwani said after the match. Ashwani reaped the rewards for his hard work after forcing Shahrukh Khan to dispatch the ball straight into the hands of Suryakumar Yadav at extra cover in the final over and returned with figures of 1/28 in 3.3 overs. "I was focusing on my plan. And bowled to my strengths. I just didn't want to bowl a wide or a no-ball while bowling the last three balls," he concluded. The story of Mumbai's 20-run triumph against the Titans began with a relentless 81-run onslaught from Rohit and finishing touches from Hardik that lifted Mumbai to 228/6. Gujarat responded boldly with Sai Sudharsan carrying the Titans on his back with his 80(49) blitzkrieg, but eventually gave in to the pressure, allowing Mumbai to seal a date with Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on Sunday. Listen to the latest songs, only on
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
"Malinga, Paras sir helped me": Ashwani Kumar hails MI pace bowling think tank after Eliminator success
Mullanpur (Punjab) [India], May 31 (ANI): Mumbai Indians' (MI) young talent Ashwani Kumar outlined his plan of attack on Mullanpur's flat turf after being introduced as an impact substitute during their high-stakes Eliminator fixture against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwani, a young left-arm quick, is among the talents unearthed by MI scouts and has continued to prove why Mumbai has had his back throughout the season. During Mumbai's attempt to defend the imposing 228/5, Gujarat responded boldly and clobbered MI bowlers relentlessly to stay close to the asking rate at the halfway stage with 106/2 on the board. MI captain Hardik Pandya and the team management were forced to dish out a game-defining move to sway the game's flow in their favour. Moments before the 11th over, Ashwani Kumar was introduced as an impact substitute in place of seasoned opener Rohit Sharma, offering Mumbai another pace bowling option for the second half of the innings. The 23-year-old was straightaway handed the ball to create an impact in the 12th over. He defused Gujarat's attempts to stage a boundary fest and saved 21 runs in the last three balls of the final over after Richard Gleeson was unable to finish off his over. Ashwani spilt the beans about the conversations behind the field and admitted that using a spinner as an impact substitute was on the cards. But once he was picked out, coaches Lasith Malinga and Paras Mhambrey offered valuable insights to help him thrive. 'The talk was about bowling carefully. The wicket was flat. We might have included a spinner. But then I was introduced as the impact player. Malinga sir and Paras (Mhambrey) sir helped me with ideas,' Ashwani said after the match. Ashwani reaped the rewards for his hard work after forcing Shahrukh Khan to dispatch the ball straight into the hands of Suryakumar Yadav at extra cover in the final over and returned with figures of 1/28 in 3.3 overs. 'I was focusing on my plan. And bowled to my strengths. I just didn't want to bowl a wide or a no-ball while bowling the last three balls,' he concluded. The story of Mumbai's 20-run triumph against the Titans began with a relentless 81-run onslaught from Rohit and finishing touches from Hardik that lifted Mumbai to 228/6. Gujarat responded boldly with Sai Sudharsan carrying the Titans on his back with his 80(49) blitzkrieg, but eventually gave in to the pressure, allowing Mumbai to seal a date with Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on Sunday. (ANI)
