IPL Playoffs Format

The playoffs are a different version of the knockout stages of a tournament. The traditional ‘Semi-Final and Final’ stage was replaced by the ‘Playoff’ stage in the Indian Premier League since its fourth edition in 2011.

This stage benefits the teams finishing first and second on the points table giving them another chance to qualify for the all-important IPL Final while it makes it a step tougher for the third and fourth-placed teams to get to the ultimate match. It is because the latter teams have to win two games to qualify for the Final but the former teams need only one victory.

Let’s go back in history and have a look at all the IPL Playoff matches till date:

All-Time IPL Playoffs

Season	Date	Playoff match	Teams	Result
2011	24 May	Qualifier 1	RCB vs. CSK	CSK won by 6 wickets
2011	25 May	Eliminator	MI vs. KKR	MI won by 4 wickets
2011	27 May	Qualifier 2	MI vs. RCB	RCB won by 43 runs
2011	28 May	Final	CSK vs. RCB	CSK won by 58 runs
2012	22 May	Qualifier 1	DD vs. KKR	KKR won by 18 runs
2012	23 May	Eliminator	MI vs. CSK	CSK won by 38 runs
2012	25 May	Qualifier 2	CSK vs. DD	CSK won by 86 runs
2012	27 May	Final	CSK vs. KKR	KKR won by 5 wickets
2013	21 May	Qualifier 1	CSK vs. MI	CSK won by 48 runs
2013	22 May	Eliminator	RR vs. SRH	RR won by 4 wickets
2013	24 May	Qualifier 2	MI vs. RR	MI won by 4 wickets
2013	26 May	Final	CSK vs. MI	MI won by 23 runs
2014	28 May	Qualifier 1	KXIP vs. KKR	KKR won by 28 runs
2014	28 May	Eliminator	CSK vs. MI	CSK won by 7 wickets
2014	30 May	Qualifier 2	KXIP vs. CSK	KXIP won by 24 runs
2014	1 Jun	Final	KKR vs. KXIP	KKR won by 3 wickets
2015	19 May	Qualifier 1	CSK vs. MI	MI won by 25 runs
2015	20 May	Eliminator	RCB vs. RR	RCB won by 71 runs
2015	22 May	Qualifier 2	CSK vs. RCB	CSK won by 3 wickets
2015	24 May	Final	MI vs. CSK	MI won by 41 runs
2016	24 May	Qualifier 1	GL vs. RCB	RCB won by 4 wickets
2016	25 May	Eliminator	SRH vs. KKR	SRH won by 22 runs
2016	27 May	Qualifier 2	GL vs. SRH	SRH won by 4 wickets
2016	29 May	Final	RCB vs. SRH	SRH won by 8 runs
2017	16 May	Qualifier 1	MI vs. RPS	RPS won by 20 runs
2017	17 May	Eliminator	SRH vs. KKR	KKR won by 7 wickets (D/L)
2017	19 May	Qualifier 2	MI vs. KKR	MI won by 6 wickets
2017	21 May	Final	RPS vs. MI	MI won by 1 run
2018	22 May	Qualifier 1	SRH vs. CSK	CSK won by 2 wickets
2018	23 May	Eliminator	KKR vs. RR	KKR won by 25 runs
2018	25 May	Qualifier 2	SRH vs. KKR	SRH won by 14 runs
2018	27 May	Final	CSK vs. SRH	CSK won by 8 wickets
2019	7 May	Qualifier 1	MI vs. CSK	MI won by 6 wickets
2019	8 May	Eliminator	DC* vs. SRH	DC* won by 2 wickets
2019	10 May	Qualifier 2	CSK vs. DC*	CSK won by 6 wickets
2019	12 May	Final	MI vs. CSK	MI won by 1 run

DC* - Delhi Capitals

How do teams qualify for IPL playoffs?

The teams that finish on the top 4 spots of the points table of that particular season of the IPL qualify for the playoffs stage. The teams are ranked based on the points they collect in the league stage. In case of a tie on the number of points, the team with a higher Net Run Rate is placed higher on the table.

Check the latest IPL playoff schedule here.

How many points are required to qualify for the IPL playoffs?

There is no particular number of points required to qualify for the IPL Playoffs. The four teams with most points at the end of the league stage in that season are eligible to play the remainder of the tournament.

How many teams qualify for the IPL playoffs?

A total of 4 teams qualify for the playoffs each season.

How are the IPL playoffs venues decided?

The decision of venues is taken by the BCCI depending on the various factors like availability of grounds, crowd advantage and a few more unrevealed factors.