The second qualifier of IPL 2025 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) lived up to its billing as a high-stakes, rain-interrupted thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match, which got delayed by nearly two hours due to rain, resumed at 9:45 p.m. without any overs being reduced.
Despite the pressure, Punjab Kings struck early, removing Rohit Sharma cheaply for just 8 runs, courtesy of Marcus Stoinis, who delivered a crucial breakthrough in the third over. Mumbai Indians were 19/1 at that point after a cautious start.
Earlier, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl, bringing in Yuzvendra Chahal to bolster their spin attack. MI, on the other hand, handed a debut to England pacer Reece Topley.
Rain Drama and Match Timings
Rain threatened to spoil the virtual semifinal as heavy showers delayed the match for nearly two hours. There were fears of a washout, which would have automatically sent Punjab Kings to the final since they finished higher than MI in the league standings. Fortunately, the rain stopped in time, and the match resumed with no reduction in overs.
The scheduled timing after the delay was:
-
First Innings: 9:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
-
Break: 11:15 to 11:25 p.m.
-
Second Innings: 11:25 p.m. to 12:55 a.m.
Team Lineups
Punjab Kings Playing XI:
Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
Mumbai Indians Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (capt), Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley
Key Highlights So Far
-
MI openers Rohit and Bairstow started cautiously. MI were 15/0 after 2 overs.
-
Stoinis dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, shifting early momentum toward PBKS.
-
Arshdeep Singh bowled a tidy first over, conceding just 4 runs.
Context: Stakes and Background
Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, are aiming for a record sixth IPL title. Their dominant win over Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator gave them confidence and momentum heading into this match.
Punjab Kings, still chasing their first-ever IPL trophy, faced a big psychological test after their crushing eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1. Despite that setback, their higher league finish gave them an edge in case of a washout in this rain-threatened game.
Players to Watch
-
Suryakumar Yadav: Only 15 runs short of surpassing AB de Villiers’ record for most runs in an IPL season by a non-opener.
-
Sai Sudharsan: Although Gujarat Titans are out, he ended as the top run-getter of the season with 759 runs.
