Punjab Kings (PBKS) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets in Match 69 at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, clinching their spot in IPL Qualifier 1 for 2025. With an amazing 109-run combination between Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis, PBKS easily pursued a goal of 185 runs. The team will now meet their opponents on May 30 at their home stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
With this victory, the Punjab Kings will advance to Qualifier 1, while the Mumbai Indians will face off in the Eliminator.
Talking Points
1. SKY’s consistency continues to impress
Suryakumar Yadav’s 39-ball 57, his record 14th successive score of 25 or more in T20s, earlier in the innings, helped MI reach 184. After taking early wickets, the 33-year-old stabilised the batting and received help from Naman Dhir and Pandya (26 off 15) in the last overs.
2. PBKS bowlers’s tough show
With Marco Jansen taking two crucial wickets near the finish and Arshdeep Singh’s final over going for only three runs with two wickets to his name, and with Vijaykumar Vyashak’s two wickets, the PBKS bowlers made sure MI didn’t take the total beyond 200. PBKS will compete in Qualifier 1 after securing a top-two finish with this victory. MI, meanwhile, will now appear in the Eliminator.
3. Much-needed partnership between Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis
The PBKS batters came on the crease with the intent of winning the match. The 109-run partnership between Priyansh Arya (62 off 35) and Josh Inglis (73 off 43) made sure that PBKS secured their spot in Qualifier 1. After Prabhsimrah Singh’s early departure off Jasprit Bumrah’s over, came in Inglis and hit nine boundaries and three sixes. On the other hand, Priyansh Arya smashed nine fours and two sixes himself.
Who Said What?
Shreyas Iyer, PBKS skipper
I personally feel everyone stepped up at the right time. We have been in that mindset that we have to win no matter what situation. Kudos to everyone and the management. Ricky has been fantastic, and for me it was about gaining the trust of every individual. And that happened by winning matches, and I personally feel we need to maintain that relationship throughout. When you are down in the dumps, it is easy to backstab each other. (On Priyansh Arya) The way he started was fabulous.
It was pleasing to the eye and every individual has been fearless. They tick the boxes in the net sessions and the reflection of it is seen on the ground. (On Josh Inglis) He loves playing the new ball, and I wanted him to play more deliveries. And I know he can be disruptive, he is a big match player. Hope he continues the same way. We have a camaraderie from the last few years, he (Ponting) lets me be decisive on the field, all these things have culminated in a great way. Ecstatic that everything is working.
Hardik Pandya, MI skipper
The way the wicket played, we were definitely 20 runs short. That happens, we’ve been playing really good cricket, this was one of the days where we really couldn’t play our best cricket and that costed us. IPL is like that, this franchisee has won five trophies, it has always been tough. Anytime if you take the leg off the accelerator, the other teams are also very keen to win the games.
The message would be simple, this was just a blip, learn from this and look forward for the knockouts. It’s too fresh, we’ll identify later but as an overall batting unit, we were definitely 20 runs short. We could have capitalised either in the start or in the middle, we’ll figure it out post the game. (Karn a batter choice as the Impact Player in hindsight?) Not really, I back Ashwani, we back Ashwani, that has been the plan throughout the season. We have played with the leggie and the quick. Today we felt on this wicket that it’ll work, that’s fine. (Did batting get better in the second half?) It would be same, I don’t think much difference.
They really played good cricket, those two batters, the second wicket stand was outstanding. They really took on certain balls whenever we erred and I don’t think as a bowling unit we were clinical, we gave some balls which they really capitalised and on certain times, they played some good shots as well. Overall, we were not up to the mark and that costed us.
(On the Eliminator) Overall, play good cricket, bat well, bowl well, work on the plans, see what is the template which will work as a batting group. Bowlers have been doing really well throughout the season. Batting, we’ll figure out what is the right template on right tracks and if we bat first, what is the pace we want to bat. Couple of things which we need to identify, but I don’t think much panic. We knew what was at stake. Looking forward for the Eliminator.
Josh Inglis, Player of the Match
The left-right partnership really helped with the short boundary, and it was about playing smart cricket. Didn’t want to let things slip in the middle overs. Would have been nice if one of us stayed till the end. (On Santner) I have faced a lot of Mitch, he is a very smart bowler. We both knew what we were trying to do to each other. It was a bit of cat and mouse with that shorter boundary.
(On Priyansh Arya) I don’t have to say much to him, it was nice batting with him. He was picking his match-ups and balls. (On Shreyas letting him bat at 3) I don’t think he’s too happy but I certainly am. As he said, I was moving around and I struggled for a bit of rhythm. Feels nicer to be batting here, got a bit of momentum going. (On if he does everything quickly) I don’t run too quick, that’s the beauty of being someone of my size, I haven’t got the power of the other guys so I have to run hard and use my smarts.
India
