🔥 IPL 2025 Playoff Race: Who Needs What to Qualify?

Three teams, two spots, one final push — the playoff drama unfolds

As the IPL 2025 league stage heads into its final stretch, the race for the last remaining playoff berth is heating up. With three teams already through, only one spot remains — and it’s a three-way battle among Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.

Here’s a breakdown of the current standings, what each team needs, and the potential playoff scenarios heading into the final rounds of the group stage.

---

✅ Already Qualified for Playoffs

🥇 Gujarat Titans

• Position: 1st

• Played: 12

• Points: 18

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Lucknow Super Giants (H), vs Chennai Super Kings (H)

• Maximum Possible Points: 22

Status: ✅ Qualified
Top Two Finish? Likely. A single win should be enough due to their strong net run rate (NRR). Two wins guarantee a top-two spot, granting them two shots at reaching the final.

---

🥈 Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Position: 2nd

• Played: 12

• Points: 17

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (H), vs Lucknow Super Giants (A)

• Maximum Points: 21

Status: ✅ Qualified
Top Two Finish? Two wins will secure it. One win may still suffice depending on other results and NRR.

---

🥉 Punjab Kings

• Position: 3rd

• Played: 12

• Points: 17

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Delhi Capitals (H), vs Mumbai Indians (H)

• Maximum Points: 21

Status: ✅ Qualified
Top Two Finish? In contention. They likely need back-to-back wins to break into the top two but may still finish third due to net run rate comparisons.

---

🏁 The Final Playoff Spot: Who’s in the Hunt?

🔵 Mumbai Indians

• Position: 4th

• Played: 12

• Points: 14

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Delhi Capitals (H), vs Punjab Kings (A)

• Maximum Points: 18

Path to Playoffs:

• Win both matches = Guaranteed Qualification.

• Win vs Delhi = Eliminates Delhi and almost secures qualification due to superior NRR over Lucknow.

• Lose vs Delhi = Drops to 5th. Must win final game and hope Delhi loses to Punjab.

Key Fixture: The match against Delhi Capitals is a virtual eliminator.

---

🔴 Delhi Capitals

• Position: 5th

• Played: 12

• Points: 13

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Mumbai Indians (A), vs Punjab Kings (A)

• Maximum Points: 17

Path to Playoffs:

• Must beat Mumbai to stay in contention.

• Win both remaining games = Automatic Qualification.

• Win vs Mumbai, lose to Punjab = Still a chance, but only if other results fall their way.

---

🟣 Lucknow Super Giants

• Position: 7th

• Played: 11

• Points: 10

• Remaining Fixtures: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (H), vs Gujarat Titans (A), vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (H)

• Maximum Points: 16

Path to Playoffs:

• Must win all three remaining games.

• Even then, their poor net run rate means they’re dependent on Mumbai and Delhi dropping points.

• A single defeat = Eliminated.

Verdict: Lucknow’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.

---

❌ Teams Out of Contention

The playoff dream is over for several IPL powerhouses:

• Chennai Super Kings (5-time champions)

• Kolkata Knight Riders (defending champions)

• Sunrisers Hyderabad (last year’s finalists)

• Rajasthan Royals

Their campaigns officially ended due to a mix of poor form and unfavorable results.

IPL 2025 qualification: How can MI, RCB, GT & PBKS and others qualify for play-offs? – BBC Sport

---

📅 How the IPL Playoffs Work

• Qualifier 1 (29 May): Top two teams face off. Winner advances directly to the final.

• Eliminator (30 May): 3rd vs 4th. Loser is out.

• Qualifier 2 (1 June): Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator.

• Final (3 June): Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2.

---

👀 Match to Watch: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals

Everything comes down to this clash. A victory here may decide the fate of both teams — and indirectly seal the playoff bracket.

Also Read:

Qalandars Seal Playoff Berth as Zalmi Falter in Do-or-Die Clash