Arya and Inglis' Brilliance Sends PBKS to Qualifier 1, MI to Eliminator

🏏 Arya-Inglis Masterclass Powers PBKS Past MI to Seal Top-Two IPL Finish Punjab Kings (PBKS) delivered a resounding message to the rest of the IPL 2025 contenders, dismantling Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets in a high-stakes clash that ensured a top-two finish and a potential fast-track to the final. 💥 Chase Mastery: Arya & Inglis Take Charge Chasing a competitive total, Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis stitched together a 109-run second-wicket partnership, each slamming authoritative half-centuries to take the sting out of what could’ve been a nervy contest. Arya (50 off 27) returned to form in style, shrugging off a string of low scores with a knock that was both aggressive and composed. From drilling Trent Boult early to hooking Bumrah for six, Arya showed he's more than just a powerplay hitter. Inglis (62 off 38) was a revelation in fluency and flair, neutralizing spin, ramping pace, and even driving Bumrah through the line with fearless intent. Though both batters fell just before the finish, Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera — a former MI player — calmly steered PBKS to the win with eight balls to spare. 📉 MI Falter Under Pressure MI’s innings was anchored by Suryakumar Yadav's 57, his record 14th T20 score of 25+ in 2025, but lacked acceleration elsewhere. Injuries compounded their woes: Deepak Chahar limped through three overs with a taped hamstring. Tilak Varma exited early after jarring his knee during a boundary save and did not return. The defeat sends MI to the Eliminator on May 30. 🔢 Playoff Picture PBKS are locked into Qualifier 1, likely facing either RCB or MI, depending on the result of the RCB vs LSG match. An RCB win sets up RCB vs PBKS in Qualifier 1. An RCB loss means PBKS will play Rajasthan Royals, and RCB will face MI in the Eliminator. 🎯 Match Summary MI: 167/7 (20 overs) – Suryakumar 57, Chahar 3-0-28-0 (injury concern) PBKS: 171/3 (18.4 overs) – Inglis 62, Arya 50, Bumrah 4-0-37-0 Punjab Kings 187 for 3 (Inglis 73, Arya 62, Santner 2-41) beat Mumbai Indians 184 for 7 (Suryakumar 57, Arshdeep 2-28, Jansen 2-34) by 7 wickets