The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs are set to commence today with a high-stakes clash in Mullanpur, where league-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Qualifier 1 encounter.
Both teams concluded the league stage with an impressive 19 points from 14 matches. However, it was Punjab Kings who clinched the top spot on the points table, thanks to a superior net run rate.
The winner of today’s Qualifier 1 will earn a direct berth in the IPL 2025 final. However, with no reserve day allocated for this match, weather conditions could play a decisive role. According to IPL regulations, if the game is washed out due to rain, the team that finished higher in the league standings—Punjab Kings—will automatically progress to the final.
In such a scenario, RCB will have to regroup and prepare for another must-win fixture against the winner of the Eliminator, which features Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT). The winner of that match will then challenge Punjab Kings in the final showdown.
This season marks a major comeback for Punjab Kings, who have reached the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and are now just one win away from their second-ever IPL final appearance. On the other side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain driven to break their title drought and finally lift the elusive IPL trophy. With two in-form teams, high stakes, and the looming threat of rain, today’s match promises to be a dramatic start to the IPL 2025 playoffs.
