IPL Bulletin For June 2: Shreyas Leads PBKS to Final, SKY Breaks Record, Hardik Takes Blame After MI Exit

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IPL Bulletin For June 2: A rain-hampered evening turned into a night of roaring records and heart-wrenching drama as Punjab Kings (PBKS) stormed into their second-ever IPL final, powered by a captain's knock for the ages from Shreyas Iyer.

In a dazzling display under the Narendra Modi Stadium lights, PBKS chased down a mammoth 204 to seal a five-wicket win over five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025's Qualifier 2.

A roaring crowd bore witness to Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 87 off 41 balls - a medley of composure, class and calculated carnage - as he dismantled MI's famed bowling line-up with elegance. His innings, including eight towering sixes and five boundaries, saw PBKS cross the finish line with an over to spare. The monumental victory not only knocked out a resurgent MI side but also sent PBKS to their first final since 2014, where they will lock horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday.

1. Shreyas Iyer Takes Punjab Kings to Its Second Final

The man of the moment, Shreyas Iyer, led from the front with a thunderous, unbeaten 87 to take PBKS to their second IPL final. Facing scoreboard pressure and a relentless MI attack, Iyer was the calm in the storm. With PBKS needing 41 off the last four overs, he summoned a masterclass in clutch batting - including three consecutive sixes off Reece Topley and clinical strokes off Trent Boult and Ashwani Kumar. Supported by Nehal Wadhera's handy 48, Iyer's innings was a blueprint in chasing under pressure, sealing the match with elegance and authority. PBKS will now eye their maiden title against RCB.

2. SKY Breaks AB de Villiers' Record with 700-Plus Runs in IPL 2025

Suryakumar Yadav may have ended up on the losing side, but his 2025 IPL season was historic. With a crisp 44-run knock in Qualifier 2, the Indian T20I captain became the first non-opener in IPL history to breach the 700-run mark in a single season. SKY finished with 717 runs in 16 matches, eclipsing AB de Villiers' record of 687 runs set in 2016. His consistency was astonishing - scoring at least 25 in every innings this season. "It's been a journey of redemption," said a commentator on air, reflecting on SKY's form turnaround. Despite MI's exit, SKY's season remains one for the archives.

3. Hardik Pandya Sinks to Ground, Takes the Blame after Mumbai Indians Lose

In a poignant moment that captured the weight of leadership, MI skipper Hardik Pandya dropped to his haunches as Iyer's winning shot sealed PBKS' victory. "I take the blame," Pandya said post-match. "Shreyas played incredibly. We couldn't execute our plans." Pandya, who managed only 15 off 13 balls, struggled to anchor the innings after promising starts from Bairstow, SKY, and Tilak Varma. His missed chance to dismiss Wadhera and his ineffective bowling left MI vulnerable. It was a sombre end for a team built to win, with Pandya's anguish symbolising a campaign that fell agonisingly short.

4. Shreyas Iyer Takes 2nd Position In Elite List Of IPL Captains

Shreyas Iyer's 87* now stands as the second-highest individual score by a captain in an IPL playoff, just behind David Warner's 93* in 2016. It was a knock that blended audacity with authority. He outplayed MI's bowling stalwarts - dismantling Bumrah's death overs with a boundary AB de Villiers labelled "the shot of the season." His strike rate of 212.19 in a high-stakes knockout match etched his name into the pantheon of IPL greats. From setbacks with injury to redemption in leadership, Shreyas Iyer's captaincy credentials are now undisputed - a genuine contender among the IPL's finest.

5. Punjab Kings Script History with Record Chase in Playoffs

The chase of 204 marked a watershed moment in IPL playoff history - the highest-ever successful run chase in the knockouts. Before this, no side had managed to overhaul a 200+ total in playoff stages. PBKS didn't just win - they shattered the ceiling. This victory also gave them a unique record: the most successful 200+ run chases in IPL history, with eight such conquests. The IPL 2025 season itself has seen a deluge of runs, but none as significant as PBKS' record-breaking pursuit in Ahmedabad. In a league known for pressure, PBKS thrived, re-writing the history books with swagger.

6. Punjab Kings Reaches First IPL Final Since 2014

It took 11 long years, several captaincy changes, and countless near-misses, but Punjab Kings are finally back in the IPL final. Their only other appearance came in 2014, where they narrowly lost to KKR. This time, they'll face another title-hungry unit - Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Coincidentally, both sides are yet to win an IPL title. PBKS' road to the final has been powered by a balanced mix of youth, experience and sheer grit. With form peaking at the right time, their faithful fans - including co-owner Preity Zinta - have a real reason to believe that the wait might just end.

7. Shreyas Iyer Diffuses Jasprit Bumrah Yorker

In what many are calling the 'Shot of the IPL 2025,’ Shreyas Iyer pulled off the impossible—defusing a toe-crushing yorker from Jasprit Bumrah. AB de Villiers himself couldn’t contain his admiration. “That’s the shot of the season,” he exclaimed. Bumrah’s 140kph rocket was heading for middle stump, but Iyer opened the face of the bat with surgical precision to guide it past third man for four. Amid eight sixes and dazzling strokeplay, this one shot stood out—a moment of genius against the world’s best fast bowler.

8. Preity Zinta Celebrates with Shreyas Iyer after PBKS Reach Final

No IPL moment is truly complete without the unfiltered joy of Preity Zinta, and Sunday night was no different. The co-owner of Punjab Kings, draped in the team's red, was spotted embracing Shreyas Iyer after the winning runs. A tearful yet jubilant Zinta clapped, laughed, and hugged her players, soaking in a moment 11 years in the making. "This team, this captain - it's been worth the wait," she was heard saying. In a world of high-octane cricket and corporate gloss, Zinta's unbridled emotion remains a beautiful constant, adding heart to PBKS' fairytale run to the IPL 2025 final.