The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has perhaps been the most exciting of all of the tournament's renditions with every match being a thriller that goes right down the wire.
We are now coming closer to the final part of this year's IPL with all teams having played out their final league-stage games, and only the top four making it to the playoff rounds.
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In the playoff rounds, the top four teams from the league stage will take each other on in either a Qualifier or an Eliminator. TSN explains what a Qualifier and an Eliminator mean, along with the format and rules they are played in, below.
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What is a Qualifier in IPL 2025?
During the knockout stage of the IPL, a Qualifier is a match that decides which team will make it to the Final of the tournament. There are two Qualifiers played, which determine which two sides will compete to become champions.
Qualifier 1 is the first match of the IPL playoffs, which is played between the teams placed first and second on the league table. Whoever wins it reaches the final, and the loser gets to play Qualifier 2.
Qualifier 2 is the third match of the IPL playoffs, played between the team that wins the Eliminator and lost Qualifier 1.
What is an Eliminator in IPL 2025?
An Eliminator match is played to decide which team will be the first to be knocked out during the IPL Playoffs. This game is played between the two sides that finished third and fourth in the league stage of the tournament.
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IPL 2025 Playoffs Rules
- The top four teams in the IPL league table after all sides have played 14 games will move on to the Playoff round of the tournament.
- Teams who finished first and second in the league stage will take on one another in Qualifier 1. The winner of this game will move on to the Final, while the loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2.
- Sides who finished third and fourth will compete with one another in an Eliminator match, with the winner going on to meet the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2, while the loser is knocked out of the competition.
- The winner of Qualifier 2 will join the winner of Qualifier 1 in the IPL Final and decide who is labelled IPL Champion.
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IPL 2025 Playoff Format & Schedule
- Qualifier 1: 1st position (Punjab Kings) vs 2nd position (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): May 29, Mahraja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur
- Eliminator: 3rd position (Gujarat Titans) vs 4th position (Mumbai Indians): May 30, Mahraja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur
- Qualifier 2: Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator: May 26, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2: May 28, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad