Punjab kings take on Mumbai Indians for a spot in Tuesday’s final. (Sportzpics)

Punjab Kings’ hopes rest on Shreyas Iyer as Mumbai Indians hold advantage in qualifier 2

Thursday’s Qualifier 1 shellacking at the hands of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru has deprived Shreyas Iyer’s men of the gloss of their league-stage topping effort, the cohesive lustre partially flayed by one colossal batting failure. “The war” wasn’t lost, to quote Iyer, but Punjab Kings have ceded all built-up momentum in a savage loop since edging Monday’s top-two shootout over the Mumbai Indians and the subsequent RCB pounding.