Mumbai Indians (MI) will need to take the longer route to the IPL 2025 title after suffering a seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final league game. The result not only denied MI a top-two finish but also pushed them down to fourth on the points table, forcing them into the Eliminator stage.
Batting first, Mumbai posted a respectable 184, led by a composed 57 from Suryakumar Yadav and a fiery 26 from Hardik Pandya. Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir also contributed, but the team fell short of putting up an imposing total on a batting-friendly surface.
Punjab, in response, chased down the target with ease, winning in just 18.3 overs. Their victory was powered by a dominant 109-run partnership between Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis, both of whom notched up crucial half-centuries. The win secured a top-two finish for PBKS and added pressure on Mumbai, who now face a do-or-die situation in the playoffs.
Adding to MI’s concerns was a potential injury scare for pace bowler Deepak Chahar. The pacer, who has a history of injury setbacks, appeared to strain his hamstring while delivering the second over of Punjab’s innings. He summoned the physio after just one ball and returned with his left hamstring strapped. Although he completed the over and eventually bowled three in total, conceding 28 runs, he left the field for further treatment.
Chahar’s fitness now hangs in the balance ahead of the crucial Eliminator. Mumbai will be hoping the injury is not serious, as they rely on his new-ball skills and experience in high-stakes matches. A prolonged absence could force the team to reshuffle their bowling unit at a critical juncture.
MI’s loss exposed some familiar flaws—lack of bowling depth and inability to defend totals. While their batting clicked in patches, the failure to apply pressure in the middle overs allowed Punjab’s batters to settle and dominate.
With the Eliminator up next, Mumbai must regroup quickly. Their path to a sixth IPL title now runs through three knockout games, and every match from here on is a must-win. The team’s playoff hopes will rest heavily on senior players like Rohit, Suryakumar, and Pandya stepping up—and on Deepak Chahar’s quick recovery.
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