Three teams have booked their place in IPL 2025 playoffs following Sunday's (May 18) double-header: here's what the remaining teams in contention - Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants - need to qualify.
Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in the first match before Gujarat Titans made short work of Delhi Capitals' target of 200, winning by 10 wickets. RCB, PBKS, and GT have all qualified for the playoffs following these results. Here's what the IPL 2025 points table looks like:
| Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate |
| Gujarat Titans (Q) | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0.795 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q) | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 0.482 |
| Punjab Kings (Q) | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 0.389 |
| Mumbai Indians | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 1.156 |
| Delhi Capitals | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 0.260 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (E) | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 0.193 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 10 | -0.469 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (E) | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 7 | -1.192 |
| Rajasthan Royals (E) | 13 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | -0.701 |
| Chennai Super Kings (E) | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | -0.992 |
How did Gujarat Titans' victory seal RCB, PBKS and their own playoffs berths?
Following PBKS' victory earlier in the day, they reached 17 points to join RCB at the top of the points table. Neither team, however, had mathematically qualified until GT won their game against DC.
Had DC won, they'd have risen up to fourth on the points table with 15 points, while GT would have been stuck on 16. There was, however, still a scenario where all three of GT, DC, and MI could have either reached or crossed 17 points, potentially eliminating one out of RCB and PBKS if they lost their last two games respectively.
However, GT's victory ensured that DC remain on 13 points from 12 games. With one of their remaining matches against MI (who have 14 points from 12 games), only one of DC and MI can reach or cross the 17-point mark, thus ensuring RCB and PBKS' qualification even if they end up losing their last two matches.
What do MI, DC, and LSG need to qualify?
Mumbai Indians
Current standing: 4th
Points: 14
Matches remaining: 2 - vs DC, PBKS
Between the three teams still in contention, Mumbai are the best placed. DC can reach a maximum of 17 points, and LSG can reach a maximum of 16 points if they win all of their games. MI, on the other hand, can reach 18 if they win their remaining matches, sealing qualification.
If they lose either of the two games, however, they'll have to depend on other results. Their next match is against DC. A loss would mean MI would have to win their last match against PBKS, hope DC lose their last game against PBKS, and LSG don't register three massive victories that takes them to 16 points and helps them overtake MI's NRR. Luckily for MI, their NRR of 1.156 is by far the best in the tournament while LSG are trading in the negative (-0.469), making a NRR overtake highly unlikely.
If MI win against DC and lose against PBKS, they'll reach 16 points, which can only be reached by LSG if they win all their remaining three games (DC can reach a maximum of 15 in this scenario). It will again come down to NRR in that case, where MI hold a massive advantage.
Delhi Capitals
Current standing: 5th
Points: 13
Matches remaining: 2 - vs MI, PBKS
Delhi have not won a single game out of their last four. For them to qualify, they have to ensure they win against MI. A loss in that match will eliminate them from the race as MI would reach 16 points and DC would be stuck at 13 with only one match left.
A victory against MI might not be enough, however. If DC lose their last league game - against PBKS on May 24 - they'll have to hope that MI lose their last match - also against PBKS - on May 26, and LSG lose at least one of their three remaining games: against SRH, GT, and RCB.
Two wins out of two will take Delhi Capitals through to the playoffs irrespective of other results.
Also read: Fastest to 8,000 T20 runs, full list: KL Rahul overtakes Virat Kohli to enter all-time top three
Lucknow Super Giants
Current standing: 7th
Points: 10
Matches remaining: 3 - vs SRH, GT, RCB
Lucknow have a very slim chance of qualification. Their first and foremost requirement: win all three games since qualification won't be possible with 14 points. However, even if LSG do their best and win all three matches against SRH, GT, and RCB, they might not make the top four.
If DC beat MI, LSG will have to hope that DC lose their last game against PBKS, and ideally, MI lose their last game PBKS as well. LSG can theoretically overtake MI even if MI win against PBKS, but as mentioned earlier, the NRR gap between them is realistically too big to make up.
On the contrary, if MI beat DC, LSG will need PBKS to inflict a massive defeat on MI in their last match while LSG themselves will have to streamroll through their opponents in their three games.
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