Punjab Kings on Monday handed Mumbai Indians a comprehensive 7-wicket defeat at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur to top the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 standings with 19 points from 14 matches.

With their win over Mumbai Indians, PBKS became the first team this season to qualify for the playoffs as table toppers. This is the first time PBKS have qualified for the playoffs since 2014.

The win gives PBKS the cushion of two chances to qualify for the IPL 2025 final. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will play Qualifier 1 on May 29. Their opponents will be determined after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s game against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.

The IPL playoffs include four matches: Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final. The teams finishing in the first and second positions in the league stage will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winners advancing directly to the final. The losing team will get another shot at the final by playing in Qualifier 2. They will face the winner of the Eliminator - a match between the third and fourth-placed teams - in Qualifier 2.

This means Punjab Kings will have two opportunities to reach the final. If they win on May 29, they will directly qualify for the final. If they lose, they will have a second chance in Qualifier 2. In contrast, the teams finishing third and fourth get only one chance, as they play in the Eliminator.

PBKS earned this advantage by showing tremendous consistency this season under the coaching of Ricky Ponting. The franchise will have a good chance to reach the final as they will play at their home ground in Mullanpur, in front of a supportive crowd, in the Qualifier 1.