'That ability to build partnerships made the real difference' - Sanjay Bangar on Shreyas Iyer's knock against Mumbai Indians

The second qualifier of the IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) in Ahmedabad turned out to be a high-scoring nail-biter between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). The match witnessed an incredible performance from PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, whose stunning unbeaten knock of 87* off 41 deliveries took the franchise to their second IPL final after 11 years.

The unbeaten knock by the prolific middle-order batter included five fours and eight sixes. He also had an exceptional strike rate of 212.2 during the innings. Former PBKS batting coach Sanjay Bangar also shared his insights on Iyer’s knock, where he not only praised the shots played by him but also his calm approach towards the game. There were some iconic shots mentioned by Bangar, including Iyer guiding a yorker from Jasprit Bumrah through third man for a boundary.

“There’s so much to appreciate about Shreyas Iyer’s overall approach. The way he allows the batter at the other end to play their natural game is crucial, and that ability to build partnerships made the real difference. Some of the shots he played, especially against quality yorkers, guiding them past short third and point, and even threading one through fine third man, were outstanding, especially with the game in the balance. It was a fabulous effort from Shreyas. His experience and temperament were key to navigating a strong Mumbai Indians attack, which he dismantled by picking his moments and targeting the right bowlers,” Bangar said exclusively on JioHotstar.

Iyer’s performance in IPL 2025

Speaking of Shreyas Iyer’s performance this season, he is currently the leading run-getter for PBKS in the tournament, with 603 runs from 16 matches at an average of 54.81 and an impressive strike rate of 175.80. He has scored six half-centuries this season, with a highest score of 97, which came against the Gujarat Titans in the first game for the Punjab franchise.

Iyer has also proved himself as a leader, as he is the first captain to reach the IPL finals with three different franchises, and he will also be the first captain to win back-to-back titles with two different teams, having won the title in 2024 while leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).