The IPL 2025 season has now reached a thrilling stage, with the playoff battle heating up. So far, three teams have secured their spot in the playoffs, while five teams have been officially knocked out of the race. On Monday, Lucknow Super Giants were eliminated after a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Now, only two teams—Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals—are in contention for the fourth playoff spot.
The crucial match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals on 21 May will serve as a virtual knockout. If Delhi lose this game, they will be out of the playoff race. For them, it’s a must-win encounter.
Three Teams Have Qualified After Super Sunday
Sunday’s double-header helped three teams book their place in the playoffs: Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings. However, the final rankings of these teams are still undecided and will depend on the outcomes of their remaining matches.
On the other hand, the teams that are now out of the playoff race include:
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Rajasthan Royals
- Chennai Super Kings
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Kolkata Knight Riders
Current Points Table
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | NR | Points | NRR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gujarat Titans | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | +0.795 | Q |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 | +0.482 | Q |
| 3 | Punjab Kings | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 | +0.389 | Q |
| 4 | Mumbai Indians | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | +1.156 | |
| 5 | Delhi Capitals | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 | +0.260 | |
| 6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | +0.193 | E |
| 7 | Lucknow Super Giants | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | -0.506 | E |
| 8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 9 | -1.005 | E |
| 9 | Rajasthan Royals | 13 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | -0.701 | E |
| 10 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | -0.992 | E |
How Did Gujarat, Bangalore, and Punjab Qualify?
On May 17, RCB’s match against KKR was washed out due to rain, earning both teams one point. This took RCB to 17 points from 12 matches. Then on Sunday, Gujarat defeated Delhi, and Punjab beat Rajasthan, earning two points each. Gujarat moved to 18 points, while Punjab reached 17 points. All three teams have two more matches left and could cross the 20-point mark.
Among the remaining teams, only Mumbai can surpass 17 points. Delhi can at most reach 17 points, and Lucknow can go up to 16—meaning RCB and Punjab have officially qualified.
Qualification Records Set by Gujarat, Bangalore, and Punjab
- RCB have now qualified for the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.
- Gujarat Titans have made it to the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
- Punjab Kings qualified for the first time in 11 years, and only the third time in their IPL history.
Also, Shreyas Iyer has now become the first captain in IPL history to take three different teams to the playoffs: Delhi (2019, 2020), Kolkata (2024), and now Punjab (2025).
Mumbai Indians – Qualification Scenario
Mumbai have two matches left:
- vs Delhi Capitals on 21 May (Mumbai)
- vs Punjab Kings on 26 May (Jaipur)
If Mumbai win both matches, they will reach 18 points and easily qualify. In fact, a win over Delhi alone could seal their playoff spot, as it would take them to 16 points. Even if they lose to Punjab after that, Delhi cannot overtake them.
However, if Mumbai lose to Delhi, they must beat Punjab in their final game. Additionally, they will have to hope Delhi lose their final match against Punjab. In that case, Mumbai will have 16 points, and Delhi only 15.
Also Read- IPL 2025: Most Foreign Players Return Home After Tournament is Postponed for a Week
Delhi Capitals – Qualification Scenario
Delhi started the season well, winning four games in a row. They were consistently in the top 5, but have now lost five of their last eight matches, slipping to the edge of elimination. With Mitchell Starc no longer in the squad, things are tougher for Delhi.
Delhi must win both of their remaining matches to reach 17 points and qualify. A single loss will end their playoff hopes. Their fixtures are:
- vs Mumbai Indians on 21 May (Wankhede)
- vs Punjab Kings on 24 May (Jaipur)
The Mumbai match is effectively a knockout. A win will keep their hopes alive; a loss will end their campaign.
