Explained: Why Punjab Kings will get two chances to reach IPL 2025 final

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings booked their place in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 after a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in their final league match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday. With this win, PBKS climbed to the top of the points table with 19 points, becoming the first team this season to confirm a top-two finish — a feat they’ve achieved for the first time in 11 years.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Under head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, who sealed the win with a towering six, Punjab’s turnaround has been remarkable. But beyond the celebration lies a significant strategic advantage: a second chance to reach the final.Who's that IPL player?Here’s why that matters.The IPL playoff format includes four matches: Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final. Teams finishing first and second in the league stage play in Qualifier 1. The winner of this match goes straight to the final, while the loser gets another opportunity — they face the winner of the Eliminator (played between the third and fourth placed teams) in Qualifier 2.This means Punjab Kings now have two chances to reach the final. If they win Qualifier 1, they’re in. If they lose, they get a second shot in Qualifier 2. In contrast, the teams finishing third or fourth face immediate elimination if they lose the Eliminator.That cushion of a second life is the ultimate prize for consistency in the league phase — and Punjab Kings, with momentum, belief, and form on their side, will look to make it count as they chase their first IPL title.