02-06-2025
IPL History: Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings shatter IPL playoff records in insane 204-run chase
Reuters IPL Punjab Kings v Mumbai Indians: Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis celebrate after winning
IPL: Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a record-breaking chase against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday night in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, chasing down a target of 204 to secure a place in the final. The five-wicket win marked the highest-ever run-chase during a playoff or knockout match in IPL history.
Led by skipper Shreyas Iyer, PBKS delivered a stunning response after MI posted a daunting 203/6. Though Mumbai's innings had early momentum with strong contributions from Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir, and their bowlers initially put Punjab on the backfoot, PBKS regrouped with a calculated and fearless approach. It was the first time any team had successfully chased a 200-plus target against MI.
PBKS, finalists in 2014 and now again in 2025, may still be waiting for their first title, but they continue to offer one of the most entertaining and aggressive styles of T20 cricket. This was their eighth successful chase of 200 or more runs, the most by any team in IPL history.
While Sunday's record adds to their growing reputation, PBKS's most famous feat remains the 262-run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens in 2024. That win was powered by a century from Jonny Bairstow and fifties from Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, and remains the highest-ever run chase in any T20 match.
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In the current tournament alone, PBKS has posted nine scores of 200 or more—the most by any team in a single T20 competition. Sunday's game also marked the ninth successful 200-plus chase in this IPL edition, another all-time high.
Whether PBKS, the new specialists of 200-plus targets, can go all the way and win the trophy will be answered on captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and chose to bowl. Mumbai were dealt an early blow with the dismissal of Rohit Sharma. However, Jonny Bairstow and Tilak Varma added 51 runs, with Bairstow scoring 38 off 24 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Tilak made 44 off 29 balls with two fours and two sixes. Tilak then combined with Suryakumar Yadav for a 72-run stand for the third wicket. Suryakumar scored 44 in 26 balls, hitting four boundaries and three Dhir provided the final push for MI with a quickfire 37 off 18 balls, including seven boundaries. Mumbai finished on 203/6 after 20 Omarzai was the most successful bowler for PBKS, finishing with 2/43. Kyle Jamieson, Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijaykumar Vyshak picked up one wicket reply, Punjab's innings began with some hiccups despite a fiery start from Josh Inglis, who smashed 38 in 21 balls with five fours and a six. Inglis targeted Jasprit Bumrah, taking 20 runs off one of his 84-run partnership between Nehal Wadhera and Iyer kept PBKS in the hunt. Wadhera scored 48 off 29 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes. After quick dismissals of Wadhera and Shashank Singh, PBKS were 169/5 in 16.4 overs. But Iyer, unbeaten on 87 off 41 balls with five fours and eight sixes, ensured a calm finish, steering the team home with six balls to was MI's top wicket-taker with 2/55, while Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya took a wicket each. Bumrah had a rare off day, going wicketless for 40 runs in his four Iyer was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock.
The final between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be played on Tuesday at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.
