Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2025 Campaign Ends in Qualifier 2
Following Mumbai Indians’ (MI) exit from IPL 2025 after a five-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the second qualifier, head coach Mahela Jayawardene assessed his team’s campaign with a balanced perspective. Despite a strong recovery after an early slump, MI’s failure to execute a perfect game in the knockout stage proved costly.
Jayawardene admitted that although MI had plenty of opportunities to secure a win, PBKS outperformed them in crucial moments, especially with the bat. “It was a good season for us, but it wasn’t to be this year,” he said, acknowledging his team’s resilience but also the shortcoming in their performance against Shreyas Iyer‘s side.
The Defining Moment of the Game
MI posted a competitive 203 for 6 in their innings, with notable contributions from Jonny Bairstow, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Naman Dhir. However, PBKS got off to a strong start in the chase, with Josh Inglis smashing 20 runs off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over to set a challenging tone for MI’s bowlers.
Shreyas Iyer’s Heroic Knock
The game truly turned when Shreyas Iyer, with an impeccable 87 off 41 balls, guided PBKS to the finish line. His partnership with Nehal Wadhera added 84 runs in 8.1 overs through the middle phase, and MI failed to regain control. Despite two dropped catches, Jayawardene was quick to praise PBKS’ chase, saying, “They were solid, especially chasing 200. It’s not that easy. They executed that really well.”
Bumrah’s Uncharacteristic Off Day
It was a rare off day for Jasprit Bumrah, as he finished with figures of 0 for 40 from his four overs. Jayawardene emphasized that MI’s reliance on Bumrah was not as heavy as it may have seemed. “I thought the others, especially Ashwani, bowled really well today. Mitch (Santner) bowled well, and Hardik too,” Jayawardene added, acknowledging the collective effort in the bowling attack.
Middle-Phase Struggles and Key Partnership
Despite the early breakthroughs, MI failed to sustain pressure in the middle overs, a phase in which Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera took control. “We just couldn’t keep the pressure going and that’s where their partnership probably took the game away from us,” Jayawardene explained. He also highlighted how Shreyas’ calmness and ability to pace his innings were key in PBKS taking the upper hand.
“I knew that was a danger,” Jayawardene reflected on Shreyas’ composure. “As long as we didn’t give him that partnership with Nehal, we could have squeezed through. But they took the advantage, and that was the shift.”
Looking Ahead: A Learning Experience
Jayawardene was optimistic despite the loss, stating, “It’s just one of those days. We were in it, but they took the upper hand in that situation.” He praised his team’s efforts in the tournament and how they bounced back after their initial struggles. Moving forward, Jayawardene stressed that MI will continue to work on improving their game plan for future seasons, always striving for excellence.
Key Points:
- Shreyas Iyer played a match-winning knock of 87 off 41 balls*, steering PBKS to their first IPL final.
- Jasprit Bumrah had an off day with the ball, taking 0 for 40 in his four overs.
- Despite MI’s strong start with the bat, PBKS executed their chase well, with Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera‘s partnership proving crucial.
- Mahela Jayawardene praised PBKS for their excellent batting, particularly in the middle overs.
