2025 IPL Playoffs Winner Picks: Format & Rules Explained

April 01, 2025 7 minutes Posted by - vegas11

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Who will make it to the 2025 IPL playoffs? With the new season, there could be some changes to the format and rules. Let’s see how these changes may impact the game and predict which teams will shine in the playoffs.

The IPL Playoff Format

The IPL has 10 teams, and the top 4 teams with the most points will qualify for the playoffs! To reach the final, teams must go through three stages: the first qualifier, the eliminator, and the second qualifier. The IPL final is a one-match showdown to determine the champion!

Qualifier 1: 1st vs 2nd

The team ranked 1st on the IPL points table will face the 2nd-ranked team. The winner will directly make it to the IPL final, while the loser will play against the winner of the eliminator in a one-off match.

Eliminator: 3rd vs 4th

The 3rd-ranked team will face the 4th-ranked team. The winner will advance to Qualifier 2, while the loser will be eliminated from the playoffs.

Qualifier 2: Q1 Loser vs Eliminator Winner

The loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator. The winner will advance to the IPL final, while the loser of Qualifier 2 will finish in 3rd place, and the loser of the Eliminator will finish in 4th place.

If two IPL teams have the same points, what will be considered next?

If two teams have the same points, the tiebreakers are applied as follows: first, the Net Run Rate; then, the number of wins. If they are still tied, the team with the lower bowling strike rate will be ranked higher.

The difference between IPL Qualifiers and Eliminators.

The Qualifiers are divided into two stages. The first stage is a match between the top 2 teams from the league standings. The second stage is played between the winner of the first stage and the winner of the Eliminator. The Eliminator, on the other hand, is a match between the 3rd and 4th placed teams, where they compete for a spot in the second Qualifier.

How is the IPL points table calculated?

The IPL points table is calculated based on the results of the league stage matches. Each win earns the team 2 points. If a match is abandoned or ends with no result, both teams receive 1 point each. The losing team gets no points. Teams with higher points are ranked higher on the table.

What is the prize money for the IPL champion, runner-up, and third place?

In the 2025 IPL season, the champion team will receive ₹20 Cr in prize money. The runner-up will get ₹13 Cr. The third-placed team will receive ₹7 Cr, while the fourth-placed team will get ₹5 Cr.

What is the prize money for Other IPL awards?

The Player of the Season (MVP) will receive ₹20 lakh.

The Best Bowler (Purple Cap) and the Highest Run Scorer (Orange Cap) will each receive ₹10 lakh.

The player with the most sixes (Green Cap) will receive ₹10 lakh.

The Best Emerging Player will receive ₹5 lakh.

IPL Playoffs Rules

Super Over Tie Rules

In IPL matches, whether it's the league stage, playoffs, or final, according to the latest rules, if there's a tie, a Super Over will be played.

Super Over Situation:

If the scores are tied after both innings (including DLS adjustment), a Super Over will be played.

If the Super Over is tied:

If the Super Over ends in a tie, subsequent Super Overs will be played starting from the actual finish time of the tied match, for up to an hour, until a winner is determined in an uninterrupted match.

If Super Overs can't be completed:

If it's not possible to play or complete the Super Overs due to weather or other factors, the match will be declared a tie.

What If It Rains?

In the IPL Playoffs and Finals, if rain disrupts the match, the umpire decides whether to continue based on the conditions.

A 120-minute extension is allowed to finish the match. If the rain is too heavy, a 'Holding Day' is used and play will resume the next day.

If both teams complete 5 innings (6 balls per inning), the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method will be used to calculate the score and decide the winner.

Situation Example 1
Team A completes 20 overs, and Team B reaches 4 overs.
If the match cannot continue, a Reserve Day will be used, and play will resume on another day.

Situation Example 2
Team A completes 20 overs, and Team B completes 6 overs.
The umpires can decide the winner using the DLS method based on both teams' scores, and the match result will be considered valid.

💡If a Reserve Day is used, the match will continue from the point it was interrupted, without restarting.

What is DLS?

The DLS method is designed specifically for cricket and cannot be used in other sports. It calculates a fair target score based on the remaining overs and the number of wickets fallen in the match. This target score helps resume an interrupted match in the fairest possible way. The DLS model has been in use since 1999.

In what situations is DLS used?

DLS is used when a cricket match is interrupted by weather conditions (such as rain). Detailed usage rules:

In ODI matches, after the first innings is completed, the second innings must reach 20 overs for DLS to be applied. In T20 matches, after the first innings is completed, the second innings must reach 5 overs for DLS to be applied. DLS cannot be used in other types of matches.

Why is DLS used?

The DLS method takes into account both overs and wickets, providing a fairer result. It is applicable to all formats of the game, including T20 and ODI, and can handle multiple interruptions and shortened matches. Since its introduction, it has been validated through many matches and applied in the Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup, providing more accurate results.

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Predicted Teams for IPL Playoffs

Vegas11 boldly predicts that these four teams have the highest chances of making it to the 2025 IPL playoffs: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals. Click here to bet on the IPL playoffs.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians, a five-time IPL champion, boasts a strong lineup. Key players include:

Rohit Sharma: Experienced batter, ODI record holder with 264 runs.
Hardik Pandya (Captain): All-rounder, strong leader.
Jasprit Bumrah: Fast bowler, top speed of 153.26 km/h.
Suryakumar Yadav: Versatile batter, 2022 ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Year.

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings, a five-time IPL champion, is led by Ruturaj Gaikwad with MS Dhoni’s guidance, ensuring their playoff spot. Key players include:

Ravindra Jadeja (All-rounder): IPL MVP in 2012 and 2023.
Matheesha Pathirana (Fast Bowler): Can bowl up to 150 km/h, often a game-changer.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, always deliver strong performances. With their skilled lineup, RR frequently tops the points table.

Yashasvi Jaiswal: Versatile batter, 625 runs in 2023.
Dhruv Jurel: Rookie batter, powerful hitting.
Riyan Parag: All-rounder, 573 runs in IPL 2024.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals is a rising team in the IPL, eyeing their first championship. Led by KL Rahul, they have a strong lineup with standout players.

Axar Patel: All-rounder, Player of the Tournament in 2022 IPL.
Kuldeep Yadav: Spinner, winner of the Purple Cap in 2021.
Tristan Stubbs: Rookie batter, Emerging Player of the Year 2024.

IPL 2025 Champion Odds & Rankings
Team Name	Champion Odds	Last Season's Ranking
MI	8.40	10
CSK	5.30	5
KKR	17.50	1
RCB	7.80	4
SRH	4.50	2
DC	12.50	6
RR	34.00	3
GT	11.50	8
LSG	32.00	7
PBKS	11.50	9

Pick your favorite team, cheer them to victory, and earn extra rewards! Whether you’re backing the top teams or the underdogs, let Vegas11 be with you as you support the champion team!