IPL 2025: Preity Zinta all smiles as PBKS top points table, leave MI frustrated; fans laud Shreyas Iyer's captaincy

When everyone was talking about how dangerous the Mumbai Indians (MI) lineup looked and were searching for ways to beat them, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) showed exactly how it could be done in the final group stage match. In the 69th clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, PBKS successfully chased down a target of 185 runs in just 18.3 overs, winning by 7 wickets.

The key contributors to the chase were Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis, whose aggressive batting ensured a constant smile on co-owner Preity Zinta's face. With this win, the PBKS overtook the Gujarat Titans (GT) to claim the number 1 spot on the points table. They have also secured their place in Qualifier 1 and will now wait to see who finishes second after tomorrow's game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Sealing a Q1 spot in style ?

Captain Shreyas Iyer adds the finishing flair as #PBKS defeat #MI in Jaipur ?

Scorecard ? https://t.co/Dsw52HOtga#TATAIPL | #PBKSvMI | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/x93pqi4hxn

¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2025

Fans laud Shreyas Iyer's captaincy

For only the second time in IPL history¡ªfirst in 2014¡ªPunjab Kings (PBKS) have secured a top-two finish, earning a spot in Qualifier 1. With this, Shreyas Iyer becomes the first captain to lead three different franchises¡ªKolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), and now PBKS¡ªinto the top two of the IPL points table.

? CAPTAIN SHREYAS CREATED HISTORY ?

- Shreyas Iyer becomes the first Captain to lead 3 Different IPL teams in the Top 2 with KKR, DC & PBKS. ?? pic.twitter.com/yT91i59EqW

¡ª Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 26, 2025

@ShreyasIyer15 My man!

Go ahead and lead Team India in the coming decade, in whichever format you can. I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll bring glory to Indian cricket. I hope you reach great heights and secure a place among the legends in the history of Indian cricket.#ShreyasIyer

¡ª DD (@BhappuonX) May 26, 2025

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians (MI) enter the knockouts with a worrying stat: zero wins in four games against the other top-four teams this season. Historically, MI have never won the IPL after finishing 3rd or 4th; all five of their titles came in seasons where they ended in the top two.

Fans react

Many took to social media, especially X (formerly known as Twitter), to praise the PBKS team and share how happy they were to see the ever-glowing Preity Zinta smiling.

One said, "If Preity Zinta is happy, three generations of men are happy."

If Preity Zinta is happy, three generations of men are happy pic.twitter.com/m8znIZlUup

¡ª Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 26, 2025

Another wrote, "PBKS played like a top team. They were better in all departments of the game and made MI look like pedestrians. Well done, Punjab."

PBKS played like a top team. They were better in all the departments of the game and made MI look like pedestrians. Well done Punjab ?

¡ª A (@anuj_mthr) May 26, 2025

One user shared, "One of the main reasons for PBKS's success is the Indian core doing so well¡ªArya, Prabhsimran, Brar, Arshdeep, Nehal, Chahal, Iyer¡ªall have performed well throughout the tournament. Shashank too has finished games for them¡­ great going, to be honest. Might well be champs of this IPL. #IPL2025"

One of the main reasons for pbks success is Indian core doing so well arya,prabsimran,Brar,Arshdeep,Nehal,Chahal iyer all have performed well in a tournament Shashank too has finished games for them¡­great going tbh might well be champs of this ipl #IPL2025

¡ª Thatgradememer (@_thenameisRohan) May 26, 2025

Another added, "KKR thought it was Gambhir as a mentor (or a coach) who made them win the title, but the main man was Shreyas Iyer."

KKR thought it was gambhir as a mentor (or a coach) made them win the title, but the main man was Shreyas Iyer.#PBKS #ShreyasIyer

¡ª Nitant Garg (@nitanttgarg) May 26, 2025

PBKS vs MI: Teams

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlet, Musheer Khan

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton(w), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact Subs: Karn Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju