PSL Final 2025: Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza Lead Qalandars to Historic Win Over Gladiators

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PSL Final 2025: Lahore Qalandars chase down 202 to lift PSL 2025 crown in a heart-stopping finale under the Lahore lights. In a night that will go down as one of the most enthralling in Pakistan Super League history.

Lahore Qalandars scripted a final for the ages, chasing down a daunting 202 to snatch the 2025 title from Quetta Gladiators with just one ball to spare. The heroes of the evening? A jet-lagged Sikandar Raza who had landed minutes before the toss, and Kusal Perera, who played an innings of effortless audacity to guide Lahore to a historic six-wicket win.

The numbers alone tell a tale of drama: 47 runs needed off the final three overs, the highest-ever successful chase in a PSL final, and the highest in any T20 final worldwide. But even they cannot fully capture the madness, the nerve, and the brilliance that unfolded under the electric Lahore sky.

Raza's Odyssey Ends in Glory

Twenty-four hours earlier, Sikandar Raza was padding up at Trent Bridge, fighting for Zimbabwe in their historic Test return to English soil. Fast forward a day and several time zones later, he was at the Gaddafi Stadium, facing up to the formidable Mohammad Amir with the PSL crown on the line. Exhausted but undeterred, he pulled off a fairytale finish. With eight required off the last three balls, Raza launched a six and then a four, sealing the chase with style and serenity.

Despite being a touch off-colour with the ball, Raza's impact was profound. He delivered the game's first breakthrough, pouched the vital catch to remove Nawaz, and turned the tide with a fearless onslaught against Amir just when the run rate was veering into impossible territory.

Perera Steals the Spotlight

If Raza provided the dramatic finish, it was Kusal Perera who laid the platform. Unbeaten on 62 off just 31 deliveries, the Sri Lankan left-hander was a picture of calm aggression amidst chaos. His innings ensured Qalandars never fell out of touch with the required rate, even as wickets fell and pressure mounted.

Brought into the side late in the campaign, Perera made every outing count. But on the night it mattered most, he was sublime — dispatching Quetta’s most frugal bowlers, including Khurram Shahzad and Abrar Ahmed, with elegant disdain. His decisive four and six in the penultimate over off Amir all but sealed the match, leaving Raza with the final touches to a masterstroke of a chase.

Naeem’s Fire and Faheem’s Fury

Qalandars' fearless brand of cricket was personified by Mohammad Naeem, whose whirlwind 46 off 20 balls lit the fuse. His hat-trick of sixes off Faheem Ashraf in the third over cancelled out the latter's earlier heroics, where he had walloped 28 off just 8 balls to push Gladiators past 200.

Indeed, Faheem had threatened to turn the tide single-handedly. With Quetta reeling after losing four wickets in two overs — including top-scorer Hasan Nawaz for a brilliant 76 — Faheem’s late assault came as a thunderclap. From 193 for 9, he propelled them to 201 with a sequence of six, four, six, six. That final flourish might have won many a game, but tonight, it was merely a subplot.

Amir's Fire Meets Qalandars' Ice

Amir was immaculate through most of the evening — giving away just 12 in his opening two overs and claiming the big wicket of Bhanuka Rajapaksa when the game hung in the balance. But he too found himself on the receiving end of Qalandars' counterattack. First Raza, then Perera — both tore into the veteran left-armer in the death overs, swinging the momentum in a whirlwind of strokes that turned hope into inevitability for Lahore.

Despite the early gains and their middle-over strangle — outscoring Lahore 98 to 87 — Quetta couldn’t withstand the tidal wave that followed. It wasn’t just about strokeplay; it was about composure, belief, and seizing the moment.

The Anatomy of a Champion Team

Lahore’s triumph wasn’t the work of just two men. While Perera and Raza stole the headlines, the foundations were laid throughout. Naeem and Abdullah Shafique (41) kept the early pace brisk. The bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi (3 for 24), Haris Rauf (2 for 41), and Mirza Baig (2 for 51), showed sharpness when it counted, especially in stifling Quetta’s final overs.

Above all, Lahore Qalandars epitomised a team that thrived on the unpredictable. Time and again this season, they have bucked trends, ignored logic, and played the kind of cricket that brings crowds to their feet and titles to their cabinet.

Tonight, their cricketing courage was rewarded — not just with the silverware, but with a final chapter that will be retold for years to come.

Final Score

Quetta Gladiators: 201 for 9 (Nawaz 76, Afridi 3-24)

Lahore Qalandars: 204 for 4 in 19.5 overs (Perera 62*, Naeem 46, Raza 22*)

Result: Lahore Qalandars won by 6 wickets

Player of the Match: Kusal Perera 62* (31)

Player Of The Series: Hasan Nawaz (QG) 399 Runs