The Punjab Kings bring an end to a 11-year-long wait for an appearance in the IPL final. Shreyas Iyer played an innings for the ages under pressure to power his side over the line in the second Qualifier match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. While the PBKS camp cherished this moment with joy, it was a moment of anguish for MI, who narrowly missed out on securing their sixth title win. 

After a humiliating defeat at the hands of RCB in Qualifier 1, PBKS undoubtedly entered this fixture as obvious underdogs. MI, who have the reputation for having a stellar run in the playoffs, bowed down to a resilient PBKS squad. The disappointment was more evident on the face of MI's skipper Hardik Pandya. 

Pandya was visibly disheartened after his team's five-wicket defeat to PBKS in Qualifier 2. The gutsy all-rounder could not hide his emotions and was seen with his head pointing down to the ground. He was later comforted by his teammates, who walked up to him in order to console him.

See also: WATCH: RJ Mahvash celebrates Punjab Kings' win against MI in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2

Shreyas's six deflates Pandya

A 1⃣1⃣ year wait ends... 🥹#PBKS are in the #TATAIPL 2025 Final and who better than Captain Shreyas Iyer to take them through ❤

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/vIzPVlDqoC#PBKSvMI | #Qualifier2 | #TheLastMile | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/vILymKxqXp

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025

A brief rundown on MI's overall campaign this season

MI, without the services of their key paceman Jasprit Bumrah, started their journey poorly early doors. The team was in shambles as they faced four defeats in their first five games.

But then came an unprecedented resurgence. Bumrah's entry in the middle of the season bolstered MI. With Bumrah in the ranks, MI were able to exert their supremacy in the death overs. This ability gave them the much-needed edge over their opponents. From their on, the five-time champs never looked back, registering six back-to-back wins to qualify for the playoffs in flying colours. 

As the tournament progressed, Hardik & Co. gradually began peaking towards the business end. They continued their fine form until the Eliminator, where they thumped GT in a high-scoring run chase. Following their convincing win, the confidence was high, and MI were all set to embark on their next challenge. With such a star-studded lineup at their disposal, it all seemed to be going according to plan.

However, tragedy awaited them in the second Qualifier as PBKS managed to show their A-game to deliver a killer knockout punch. Despite setting a competitive first innings target, MI failed to contain the onslaught from PBKS batters and ended up on the losing side in a heartbreaking fashion.

Despite the eventual setback, Pandya's leadership and accountability were evident this season, reflecting his commitment to the team's success and his personal growth as a captain.