The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, with the final scheduled for May 25. The tournament's first match will feature defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, with rain threatening the opening match, fans are curious about what will happen if a match is cancelled or tied. Here's a breakdown of IPL 2025's key rules regarding match results, the league format, and the playoff structure.
What Happens If a Match Is Cancelled or Tied?
- Match Cancellation: If a match is cancelled due to rain or any other reason, both teams will receive 1 point each.
- Tied Match: If a match ends in a tie, a Super Over will be played to determine the winner. The winning team will earn 2 points.
- League Standings & Playoffs:
- Each team will play 14 matches during the league stage.
- The top 4 teams in the points table will qualify for the playoffs.
- If two or more teams finish with the same points, rankings will be determined by Net Run Rate (NRR).
Why Won’t Every Team Play Each Opponent Twice?
Unlike a traditional double round-robin format, IPL 2025 follows a group-based structure due to seeding based on past performances.
How Are Teams Grouped?
The 10 teams have been divided into two groups of five, based on their IPL title wins and final appearances:
Group A
Group B
How Many Matches Will Each Team Play?
- Each team will play twice (home and away) against:
- Four teams from its own group.
- The same-ranked team from the other group.
- Each team will play only once against the remaining four teams from the other group.
Example (CSK’s Schedule)
- Twice vs RCB, PBKS, KKR, RR (from its own group).
- Twice vs MI (same-ranked team in the other group).
- Once vs DC, SRH, GT, LSG (remaining teams from the other group).
IPL 2025 Playoff Rules
The top two teams from the league stage will have a significant advantage in the playoffs.
- Qualifier 1: The 1st and 2nd placed teams will compete; the winner advances directly to the final.
- Eliminator: The 3rd and 4th placed teams will play; the loser is eliminated.
- Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator for a place in the final.
- Final: The Qualifier 1 winner will face the Qualifier 2 winner for the IPL 2025 title.
