Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked Josh Inglis as the game-changing batter for Punjab Kings during their five-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier of IPL 2025 on Sunday.

While Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer scored a match-winning knock of 87 runs off just 41 balls in the run-chase of 204, Ashwin believes the Australian batter gave the much-needed impetus to the Mohali-based franchise.

Inglis was able to hit the ground running and scored a crucial knock of 38 runs off just 21 balls. More importantly, the right-hander scored 20 runs against Jasprit Bumrah in the Powerplay over, which put PBKS in front.

Furthermore, Ashwin said Nehal Wadhera also played a crucial knock in PBKS’ win as the left-hander scored 48 runs off 29 balls. Wadhera added an imperative alliance of 84 runs with Shreyas Iyer for the fourth wicket.

“I appreciate Shreyas for a couple of shots, that six over extra cover against Ashwani Kumar off a free hit. Whenever they needed a boundary, he got it. But the game-changing batter was Josh Inglis, along with Nehal Wadhera,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“Iyer is popular, so the credit that needs to go to Inglis and Wadhera might not end up going. But he played a 20-run over against Bumrah in the powerplay. They got Bumrah to stop the run-scoring and get a wicket,” Ashwin said.

“But not only did he not get a wicket, he was also hit for 20 runs. How did he do it? Inglis scored a six against the slower ball on the leg side, then waited to hit one over third man,” Ashwin added.

PBKS need to chase 191 runs in the IPL 2025 final against RCB.