Ahmedabad: Skipper Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls as Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a rain-delayed Qualifier 2 on Sunday, sealing their spot in the Indian Premier League final.

The win sets up a title showdown with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday in Ahmedabad, a historic contest as neither team has ever won the IPL trophy.

Chasing Mumbai’s 203-6, Punjab cruised to 207-5 with an over to spare, thanks to Iyer’s blistering knock, which included eight sixes and five fours. It was his sixth half-century of the season, reaching 50 off 27 balls before accelerating to add 37 more in just 14 deliveries.

Rain delayed the match by over two hours, with play finally starting at 9:40 p.m. local time. Despite the interruption, a full 20-over-a-side game was completed.

Mumbai, after being put in to bat, made a strong start with Jonny Bairstow scoring 38 off 24 balls before falling to Azmatullah Omarzai. Tilak Varma (44) and Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 26) added quick runs, taking Mumbai past the 150-mark. But Punjab clawed back in the death overs, with Yuzvendra Chahal and Omarzai picking crucial wickets.

Naman Dhir’s 37 off 18 provided a late push, but Mumbai finished around 15-20 runs short on a good batting track.

In reply, Punjab lost Prabhsimran Singh early for six, and Priyansh Arya for 20, but Josh Inglis (38 off 21) and Nehal Wadhera (48 off 29) built the foundation before Iyer launched a ferocious assault.

Even star pacer Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t contain Punjab’s charge, finishing wicketless for 40 runs in four overs.

This marks Punjab’s second IPL final appearance — their first was in 2014, when they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. Bengaluru, meanwhile, returns to the final after previous runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016.