How do IPL 2025 playoffs work? Format, rules and what Eliminator and Qualifier mean – Sporting News

Abhinav Nair
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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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.
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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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Abhinav Nair is a sports writer, covering everything from cricket and football to NASCAR.
Based out of New Delhi, India, he graduated from Ambedkar University with a master’s degree in history.
In his idle time, Abhinav likes playing badminton and watching mystery shows.

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