The stage is set for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs. Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1 on May 29 at Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh.

The Eliminator, featuring Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, will be played on May 30 at the same venue. The second Qualifier and the grand finale will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 2 and June 4, respectively.

The winner of Qualifier 1 earns a direct spot in the IPL final. The losing team from this match gets another chance by facing the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2. The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 advance to the final, while the losers of the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 are knocked out of the tournament.

What if Qualifier 1 gets abandoned due to rain?

With weather forecasts raising concerns, fans are asking: what happens if PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 is completely washed out?

According to IPL rules, if Qualifier 1 cannot be completed due to rain or any other reason and no result is possible - even with the allocated extra time - the team that finished higher in the league stage standings will advance to the final. The second-placed team will then play in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator.

Punjab Kings finished first and RCB second in IPL 2025 points table after end of league stage games. If the Qualifier 1 is rained out, Punjab Kings will directly qualify for the final. RCB will have to play the second Qualifier for another shot at the title.

This season, there is no reserve day for Qualifier 1 or the final. However, matches are allowed up to two hours of additional time to accommodate delays. Still, if a result isn't possible within that extended window, the league standings will determine which team moves ahead.