The BCCI has announced the Indian Premiere League (IPL) Playoff schedule starting from May 21 to the final match on May 26, Sunday. The IPL season, filled with unexpected turns and remarkable moments, will now come to an end with the last four matches.
Out of 74 matches and ten teams, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were the first team to qualify for the playoffs, followed by Rajasthan Royals, who despite an early lead, are currently experiencing a slump. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured their playoff spot earlier this week, earning a crucial point from their washed-out game against the Gujarat Titans.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in dramatic style on Saturday, eliminating the defending champions Chennai Super Kings from contention. Check the official schedule here.
Qualifier 1: KKR vs. SRH
- Date: May 21
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Eliminator: RCB vs. RR
- Date: May 22
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Qualifier 2: Loser of Qualifier 1 vs. Winner of Eliminator
- Date: May 24
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Chepauk, Chennai
Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs. Winner of Qualifier 2
- Date: May 26
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Chepauk, Chennai
Among the four playoff teams, RCB is the only one that hasn’t won an IPL title yet and will be aiming for their first championship in their fourth IPL final.
The 70th match of IPL between RCB and CSK has rushed fans with mixed emotions. Despite many thinking he’d retire after his team won a fifth title last year, 42-year-old MS Dhoni decided to come back for another season after having surgery on his knee. Dhoni gave the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. In a big match to reach the playoffs, Gaikwad chose to let the other team bat first. And a moment of joy as RCB sealed the IPL playoff berth with a 27-run triumph over CSK, powered by Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. Du Plessis contributed 54, Kohli 47, setting a formidable total of 218-5 at M
