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Hardik Pandya praised Shreyas Iyer’s outstanding 87* and Punjab Kings’ composure in their five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2.
Hardik Pandya after IPL 2025 second Qualifier defeat to Punjab Kings. (Sportzpics Photo)
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya praised his opposite number Shreyas Iyer for his ‘outstanding’ shot-making and Punjab Kings (PBKS)’ overall composure, while rueing his side’s poor execution of bowling plans for the five-wicket defeat in the second Qualifier of IPL 2025 in Ahmedabad.
In a match that was delayed for two hours by rain, MI put up a par score of 203/6 in the first innings, led by twin 44-run knocks from Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. The five-time champions looked in control in the second half, too, having reduced PBKS to 72/3 before the eighth over began.
But Shreyas rose to the occasion, playing a captain’s knock for the ages. His 41-ball unbeaten 87 was laced with five fours and eight sixes. He found good suport from Nehal Wadhera’s 48 (29) but though the latter got out in the 16th over, Shreyas carried on and finished the match with six balls to spare.
“The way Shreyas batted, took his chances and some of the shots he played were really outstanding and I think they definitely batted really well,” Pandya said in the post-match presentation. “I think it was par, but it needed some great execution as a bowling unit, which I think in these big games really matters, and as I mentioned, they were really calm, put us under pressure and I think we were not able to execute the way we wanted. I will not put it on the wicket — if we had to do something better, it was maybe someone bowling right lengths or maybe a right bowler at the right point, the result could have been a bit different,” he added.
As expected, Bumrah’s usage was key to MI’s fortunes. He was hit for 20 runs by Josh Inglis in his first over and went wicketless for 40 runs in the total quota.
Pandya was asked whether giving Bumrah the 17th over and not the 18th could have been a better choice.
“In hindsight, it would have been different and it would have been too early as well. Boom, knowing the situation, if even 18 balls are left, Jassi can be Jassi and he can do something special and it just didn’t happen today,” he said.
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