With 19 points from 14 games, Punjab Kings claimed the top spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 standings on Monday by recording a convincing 7-wicket triumph over Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
PBKS is the first team this season to guarantee a playoff berth as the table leaders by this victory against the Mumbai Indians. PBKS has made the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Two chances to confirm a spot in the IPL 2025 final are provided by PBKS’s triumph. Under Shreyas Iyer, the squad is scheduled to battle in Qualifier 1 on May 29; their opponents will be chosen after Tuesday’s match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants.
The IPL playoffs include four games: the Final, the Eliminator, Qualifier 1, and Qualifier 2. Winners of Qualifier 1, the teams coming in first and second places during the league stage, advance directly to the final. By entering Qualifier 2, where they would face the winner of the Eliminator, a match between the teams finishing in third and fourth place, the losing side will have another chance to reach the finale.
This format implies that the Punjab Kings will get two opportunities to reach the championship. A win on May 29 would ensure their direct qualification for the final; otherwise, a loss would yet enable them a second chance in Qualifier 2. The teams in third and fourth place, on the other hand, will have only one opportunity as they will compete in the Eliminator.
Under the coaching of Ricky Ponting, PBKS has achieved this favorable position thanks to amazing consistency throughout this season. During Qualifier 1, when they will be playing at their home ground in Mullanpur, backed by an enthusiastic audience, the franchise is well-placed to get to the final.
