Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Match 69 - Live Cricket Score

Josh Inglis | Player of the Match:

(On partnership with Priyansh)
The left-right combination worked well for us, especially with the shorter boundary on one side. We made a conscious effort to target that area, played intelligent cricket, and chose our match-ups and deliveries wisely. It would’ve been ideal if one of us stayed until the end, but I’m glad we finished the game.

I’ve played quite a bit against Santner—we’re familiar with each other’s tactics, so it was like a game of cat and mouse given the short boundary. But credit to him, he’s a top bowler. Batting alongside Priyansh was really enjoyable; he didn’t need much guidance.

I don’t think Shreyas is thrilled with the switch in batting order (laughs), but I’m certainly pleased with it. Tonight, I felt I could settle in after hitting a few boundaries early on. I may not have the raw power that some of the others do, so I rely on finding the gaps instead.

Shreyas Iyer | PBKS Captain:

Every player has risen to the occasion at just the right moment. From the very first match, we've maintained a mindset focused on winning—regardless of the situation. There were instances when we were in tough spots, but someone always stood up. Hats off to the support staff and the management as well.

Ricky’s been outstanding when it comes to handling players, and for me as a captain, gaining trust is equally vital. That trust started building when we secured early wins. I’ve had open conversations with the group, and I believe that maintaining strong relationships is key throughout a tournament. The atmosphere in the dressing room has been exceptional from the beginning.

(On playing six uncapped players)
The way Priyansh began the innings was brilliant—youngsters nowadays play with so much freedom. They consistently check the right boxes during practice, and now it’s translating into performances during games.

Inglis has probably been the only one whose spot has been shuffled quite a bit. Since he enjoys batting with the new ball, I wanted him to face more deliveries up top—and it paid off. He’s a proven match-winner and brings great intent and energy.

Ricky and I have shared a great working relationship over the past few years. He gives me a lot of space to lead, and I often ask him to analyze things from outside the boundary while I handle the decisions on the field.

Hardik Pandya | MI Captain:

Considering the way the pitch behaved, we were certainly 20 runs short. These things happen—our overall cricket has been solid this season, but today we couldn’t deliver our best, and it ended up costing us. That’s how the IPL is. This franchise has lifted the trophy five times; it's always been a challenging ride. The moment you ease off the pressure even slightly, other teams are ready to pounce.

The message is straightforward—this was just a minor hiccup. We need to learn from it and shift our focus toward the knockouts. It's still quite fresh, so we’ll assess things later, but overall, we fell short by about 20 runs. We had opportunities to accelerate either in the powerplay or the middle overs—we’ll sit down and figure that out.

I have complete trust in Ashwani; we all do. That’s been the approach throughout the season. We’ve consistently gone with a leg-spinner and a fast bowler. Today, we felt that combination would suit the pitch, and that’s okay—it was a calculated call.

(Was batting easier in the second innings?)
I don’t think there was much of a difference. The opposition batted really well, especially that second-wicket partnership—it was exceptional. They capitalized whenever we made errors, and to be fair, some of their shots were of high quality too. As a bowling unit, we weren’t as precise as we needed to be. We delivered a few loose balls that they made the most of, and that ultimately hurt us.