BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer punches Mumbai Indians hard for a berth in IPL final

There is a difference between a winner and a champion. On Sunday night, rather the wee hours of Monday, Shreyas Iyer, the Punjab Kings captain, also addressed as ‘Sarpanch’ on social media, destroyed five-time champions Mumbai Indians to seal a spot for Preity Zinta’s side in the IPL 2025 final.

What does one say about Shreyas the batter, Shreyas the leader and Shreyas the victim, who has been ill treated by the BCCI mandarins? It includes coach Gautam Gambhir, who was supposed to have been the boss of Shreyas at Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 IPL season. Gambhir took far too much credit for that win, bargained a post for himself as national coach and then showed vengeance in not picking Shreyas in the national squad for the Test tour to England. Of course, by sheer weight of performance, Gambhir, who flaunts his BJP card, has played many ‘games.’ No, not this time, as Shreyas Iyer has bossed the IPL several times. For the record, despite his T20 classic knocks in the IPL and leadership, he does not find a place in the national side for the shortest format!

Shreyas is a champion batter who is hurt. And, yet, he does not let disappointment pull him down. He has the large heart of a Rocky Balboa of the famous boxing series to knock out opponents hard on the ropes after taking blows. When Punjab Kings had lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru a few days back in Mullanpur, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, Shreyas was not distraught. Nor did he find fault with his teammates in Punjab Kings. Quick recalibration, consulting coach Ricky Ponting and working on a blueprint for mighty Mumbai Indians, Shreyas was all brawn and brain, as he exploded into brilliance at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

To be sure, one did not know how rains came to the city of Ahmedabad on Sunday evening and held up play for over two hours. This was certainly not a sign of pre-monsoon activity, since this city is far from Mumbai. Perhaps, the two-hour plus delay was a poignant reminder of one more storm coming. No, this was not from the skies or the Divine Forces from above. This was a storm from a Mumbaikar named Shreyas Iyer who showed that the harder you try and finish him he will bounce back with tons of vengeance.

No cliché, even though there are no official bookmakers in India, it is well known the official betting volumes abroad on IPL matches at legal betting tills in Britain and other parts of the world were laying a wager on a Mumbai Indians win. Well, as long as Shreyas was there and is there, he makes the difference. The big deal, to perform under pressure, to face an IPL franchise from your own city of Mumbai and belt them like a cop dealing with a ruffian, this was hard stuff.

For those who watched Shreyas explode into brilliance, this was not a manic assault. This was a planned and calculated assault where the skipper led by example. His body language was one of peace, calm, and conquering fear. He has shown, time and again, he is a big match player. This is evident from several franchises he has played for in the IPL over the last decade plus, Delhi Capitals and KKR included. Yet, this one knock of 87 runs from Shreyas Iyer against MI was defining and devastating, metaphorically. The effort took just 41 balls as he uncorked champagne stuff, even though Ahmedabad is, officially, a ‘dry’ city.

Jeez, the shot-making was mind boggling, this was a symphony of sorts for connoisseurs of classical music and this was heavy metal for rock fans. Shreyas rocked, he smashed and then like that wild guy plucking the leader guitar strings, he belted out No.87 -- his score. The combust knock contained five fours and eight sixes, at a strike rate of 212.2

Man, this knock you forget what devils like Chris Gayle have done in the IPL before. To pummel the Mumbai Indians attack into submission which boasts of Ahmedabad hero Jasprit Bumrah, to collar left-arm fast medium bowler Ashwani Kumar, Shreyas had an answer for the entire MI bowling arsenal.

Yes, Punjab Kings fans are partying, as if they have already won the IPL title. And why not? When the IPL auction took place in December 2024 in Saudi Arabia, Shreyas was sure he did not want to be with KKR. He was ready to be ‘purchased’ even though there were market risks. Well, as Punjab Kings owner and first fan Preity Zinta has said in many interviews, Shreyas was on their radar. They paid Rs 26.75 crores. For those who said he was paid too much, eat your words, say sorry.

Shreyas has shown he has a large heart and criticism only acts as a catalyst. At the end of what turned out to be a horror show for Mumbai Indians, skipper Hardik Pandya was left holding his head in agony. He had the arsenal at his command, batter and bowlers, including the current Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav. He had in Bumrah a match-winner. Ah, sport is ruthless and so was Shreyas!

Sport is about not about reputations alone. In the IPL, pressure is like a rice cooker blowing the whistle. This time, Shreyas showed that chasing 204 for a win past deadline time was achievable. Pop the cork, sip the bubbly. Say cheers to Punjab Kings Sarpanch Shreyas Iyer.