Mumbai: As the IPL 2025 Playoffs officially kick off, Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a high-stakes Qualifier 1 clash at Mullanpur. Both teams finished at the top of the league stage, and the winner of today’s encounter will earn a direct ticket to the grand final, inching one step closer to a historic first-ever IPL title.
The Road Ahead: Eliminator and Qualifier 2
The playoff action will continue tomorrow (May 30) at the same venue, where Gujarat Titans will battle Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. The loser of today’s Qualifier 1 will get another shot at reaching the final — they will face the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2.
The pressure is immense for all teams involved, but for Gujarat and Mumbai, the path to the trophy is far more challenging. A team finishing third or fourth must win three consecutive knockout games — the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final — to clinch the title.
Rare Feat: Winning From the Eliminator
Only once in 14 IPL seasons since the current playoff system was introduced in 2011 has a team from the Eliminator gone on to win the championship. That moment of glory came in 2016, when David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad stunned Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 2, eliminated Kolkata Knight Riders earlier, and edged past RCB in a tense final.
In all other seasons, the champion has emerged from the top two in the league table, underlining the importance of today’s Qualifier 1.
Mumbai and Gujarat: Contrasting Journeys
The Mumbai Indians, five-time champions and ten-time playoff participants, have historically struggled when entering from the third or fourth position. In 2011 and 2012, they reached Qualifier 2 but failed to make the final. More recently, they bowed out in the Eliminator in 2014 and 2023.
The Gujarat Titans made a sensational IPL debut, winning the title in 2022, finishing runners-up in 2023, but experiencing a sharp decline in 2024, ending the season in ninth place. They’ve bounced back in 2025, but a title win from the Eliminator bracket remains a tall order.
Will IPL 2025 Crown a New Champion?
Both Punjab Kings and RCB are in search of their maiden title. Punjab came close once — in 2014, they lost a thrilling final to the Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB, often labelled perennial underachievers, have three finals appearances (2009, 2011, 2016) but have never lifted the trophy.
This year’s playoffs could finally rewrite that history. A win today would place either RCB or Punjab Kings within striking distance of breaking their title drought and becoming the newest name etched into IPL glory.
As the playoffs begin, the question looms large: Will IPL 2025 deliver a brand-new champion?
