Punjab Kings (PBKS) have qualified for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after 11 long years. The Shreyas-Iyer side has been a dominant force this season, as they are going to play their first playoffs since 2014.
A top two finish is on the cards, as PBKS will look to have that added advantage heading into the last four. They sit third in the table with 17 points in 12 matches. T
hey are coming off a win against the already eliminated Rajasthan Royals (RR), where they emerged victorious by 10 runs while defending a score of 220.
The Sporting News takes a look at the chances of PBKS finishing in the top two.
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IPL 2025: Why is finishing in the top two is important for PBKS?
According to the IPL playoff format, finishing in the top two of the points table gives a team an added cushion. The teams placed first and second play in Qualifier 1. The winner of the contest goes straight to the Final, while the losing team gets another chance to redeem themselves in Qualifier 2.
Teams generally try to avoid a third or fourth place finish, as teams finishing in these positions in the table play a knockout match known as the Eliminator, where the losing team has to head home.
So, for PBKS, getting into the top two means they can afford a slip and still have hopes of qualifying for the Final.
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IPL 2025: Where do the Punjab Kings stand on the points table?
As things stand, Punjab Kings are third in the table with 17 points from 12 games. They have the lowest net run-rate among the other four teams to have qualified for the playoffs, and will look to improve upon that in their next two games.
What has to happen for Punjab Kings to finish in the top two?
Punjab Kings can get to 21 points if they win their last two games against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI), respectively. However, there are a number of scenarios that need to happen if they want a top-two finish. Here's how they can finish in one of the top two spots:
Both RCB and PBKS are on 17 points, with the net run rate separating them, and two games to go for each.
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If GT wins their next game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), they will reach a maximum of 20 points, which means both RCB and PBKS can still finish first.
RCB have the easier set of fixtures against SRH and LSG, while PBKS face DC and MI, respectively.
For PBKS to finish second, GT needs to finish at 20 points or less in the table, which means two wins in the next two games will push them to the top two. Whether they finish first will depend on the net run rate.
If GT loses both of their matches, PBKS have a great chance of finishing in the top two, as they need to win only one out of their next two games.