The past two weeks have been nothing short of a nightmare for captain Shreyas Iyer. First, his team suffered defeat in the IPL 2025 final, and now he has faced another setback in a major final.
Sports News: Shreyas Iyer, a rising star in Indian cricket, has once again missed out on victory in a final match. Two major finals in the past two weeks, captaining two different teams, and losing both—this streak is prompting cricket fans and experts to question whether Iyer is struggling under the pressure of the final.
On June 3rd, Iyer, captaining Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final, lost against RCB. Now, in the T20 Mumbai League 2025 final, captaining SoBo Mumbai Falcons, he suffered defeat against Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. The Maratha Royals won the title by 5 wickets.
A Crucial Match at Wankhede, But Iyer Remains Subdued
The final was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Maratha Royals captain Siddhesh Lad won the toss and elected to bowl first. This decision proved correct from the outset as SoBo Mumbai found themselves under pressure during the powerplay. They lost 2 wickets for 33 runs within 6 overs. Opening batsmen Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ishan Mulchandani failed to deliver significant contributions. Raghuvanshi scored only 7 runs before being dismissed, while Mulchandani managed 20.
Captain Iyer's Another Disappointing Performance
The responsibility of rescuing the team fell on Shreyas Iyer, but he once again disappointed in the final. He had failed to deliver a significant innings in the IPL final, and this time he only scored 12 runs before being caught out in the 12th over, a blow to the team's momentum.
However, Mayuresh Tandale and Harsh Aghav steadied the ship, guiding the team to a respectable total. They shared an 85-run partnership, taking the team to 157/4 in 20 overs. Tandale scored an unbeaten 50 off 32 balls, while Aghav remained unbeaten on 45 off 28 balls.
Maratha Royals' Response—A Hard-Fought Victory
Chasing the target, the Maratha Royals started cautiously but their innings faltered in the middle overs. However, Chinmay Rajesh Suttar and Avaiz Khan Naushad accelerated the scoring rate in the middle overs. Suttar played a match-winning innings of 53 runs, showcasing excellent timing and skill. Avaiz Khan contributed a quick 38 runs, pushing the team closer to the target. Ultimately, the Maratha Royals reached 158 in 19.2 overs, claiming the title.
For Shreyas Iyer, this defeat is more than just another final loss; it could lay the foundation for further questions about his captaincy. While Iyer's technical batting and leadership abilities have been praised, his repeated failures in high-pressure matches are becoming a cause for concern.
