In the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) that could have easily gone south for Punjab Kings (PBKS), their captain Shreyas Iyer rose to the occasion with an innings that will be remembered as one of the defining efforts of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025).
Faced with the daunting task of chasing down 204 runs against a Jasprit Bumrah-led Mumbai Indians attack, Iyer delivered a counter-punch that combined brute strength with unwavering calmness under pressure.
It was not just the runs, Shreyas Iyer’s innings was about how he scored them. This can be explained by how he tackled Jasprit Bumrah's yorker. With 30 runs in the bank and 17 balls left, Bumrah nailed a yorker that looked destined to crash into the stumps. However, Iyer somehow managed to dig it out and pierced it into the gap towards the third man for a four.
Also read: IPL 2025 Finals: From not making it to the playoffs for a decade to a shot at history - PBKS journey
AB de Villiers Hails Shreyas Iyer’s Genius vs Jasprit Bumrah
Among those left in awe of that shot was AB de Villiers, one of the finest batters of the modern era and a respected voice in cricket analysis. Speaking on JioStar after the game, de Villiers could hardly contain his admiration and labelled it the shot of the tournament.
"That’s the shot of the IPL for me. That’s hitting the middle-stump – the perfect yorker. That’s literally breaking the toe of the bat. You can’t get that away. That’s maybe breaking my stumps if I’m facing it. He gets a four off that and puts the pressure straight back on MI against the best bowler in the world. Just incredible batting – pure, brute force and strength. What a fantastic player!" de Villiers said as quoted on JioStar.
But it was not just about that boundary. De Villiers expanded on why Iyer’s innings stood out in its entirety.
"I don’t know where to start. I’m obviously a huge fan. But that innings tonight was out of this world. He deserves every bit of the praise coming his way. Under immense pressure, knowing it was do-or-die, with the odds stacked against him – he stood tall," he added.
Iyer’s composure was evident throughout. While Punjab Kings were chasing history, he did not flinch. His body language remained calm. De Villiers appreciated those subtleties that often go unnoticed.
"His sixes were a joy to watch. His head was still, his positioning perfect. He’s calm, not arrogant – level-headed, and I love that about him."
The South African legend tipped his hat to Iyer for his knock and predicted that the latter is going to score many more runs.
"There are many more runs to come from this guy in the future. Shreyas Iyer, I salute you. What a knock," de Villiers concluded.
Punjab Kings Book Finale Date With Royal Challengers Bengaluru
In what turned out to be record run-chase in the IPL playoff history, PBKS held their nerve in the final overs to seal a place in the final. Captain Iyer finished with an unbeaten 87-run knock off 41 balls as PBKS advanced to the summit clash for the first time since 2014.
The win now sets up a blockbuster final for PBKS, who will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Ahmedabad on June 3 with both teams vying for their first-ever IPL trophy.
Also read: After PBKS Seal IPL 2025 Final Berth, Robin Uthappa Backs Shreyas Iyer to Lead India Across Formats
