As the IPL 2025 league phase is less than a week away from completing its finale stages, the race for the top two spots and to have a better chance at the IPL Playoffs is intensifying into a frenzy.
A series of recent disappointments from the teams expected to secure one of the top two have provided the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) with unexpected chances to move into the top two, while Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) patiently wait.
IPL Playoffs Format Explained
Advertisement
Qualifier 1: Played between the teams finishing 1st and 2nd in the points table. The winner moves directly to the final.
Eliminator: A knockout match between the teams finishing 3rd and 4th.
Qualifier 2: Played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator. The victor goes to the final.
Ending in the first two provides a key benefit: a second opportunity to achieve the final.
Current Standings and Points Table (Up to May 25)
Gujarat Titans (GT) – 18 points, NRR: +0.309
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – TBA final match
Mumbai Indians (MI) – TBA final match
Punjab Kings (PBKS) – TBA final match
Though all four playoff positions have been secured, none of the teams have yet achieved a top-two position, and the last league games are of great importance.
Gujarat Titans (GT): Great Begin, Poor Ending
Points: 18
Net Run Rate (NRR): +0.309
Advertisement
Games Remaining: None
GT are currently at the top of the points table, but their run has stopped, having lost their previous two games to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Consequently, they cannot place first.
Their second spot now rests on other outcomes:
If RCB loses to LSG, GT will be second.
If RCB defeated LSG, GT would fall to third or fourth, depending on the PBKS vs MI result.
PBKS vs MI: A Virtual Qualifier for Top Spot
The decider between PBKS and MI on Monday has gigantic playoff consequences:
The winner of this game will overtake GT to end up at No. 1 on the points table.
The losing side risks falling to third or fourth, especially if RCB defeats LSG in their last match.
This game is effectively a head-to-head fight for a top-two finish, and it gives the winner the all-critical cushion of a second opportunity to get into the final.
RCB’s Position in Defining the IPL Playoffs
RCB’s game against LSG on Tuesday will be decisive:
If RCB wins, they may knock GT out of the top two.
If RCB loses, GT holds on to No. 2, while PBKS-MI will occupy No. 1.
RCB is not just fighting for a higher position but also determining the playoff bracket for other teams.
Final League Games Set to Decide Playoff Paths
The IPL Playoffs 2025 math is sharply poised, with no team yet booked for the Qualifier 1 encounter. The final two encounters, PBKS vs MI and RCB vs LSG, will determine which of the two teams gains the upper hand with a top-two finish and which enters the knockout grind.
ALSO READ: GT vs CSK: 83 Run Victory For Chennai In Their Last IPL 2025 Game
Advertisement