As the league stage of the IPL 2025 winds down, the race to finish in the top two spots has become more intense than ever. While Gujarat Titans (GT), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Mumbai Indians (MI) have secured their place in the playoffs, only two will earn the coveted top-two finish — a golden ticket to Qualifier 1 and an extra shot at reaching the final.
Despite their recent losses, all four qualified teams remain in contention for the top two. Here’s a complete analysis of what each team needs to climb into those positions.
🏆 IPL 2025 Points Table (After Match on May 23)
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | +0.602 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 17 | +0.389 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 17 | +0.255 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | +1.292 |
Remaining Teams: DC (13 pts), LSG (12 pts), KKR (12 pts), SRH (11 pts), RR (8 pts), CSK (6 pts) — all eliminated from playoff contention.
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📅 Remaining IPL 2025 League Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24 | Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| May 25 | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | 3:30 PM |
| May 25 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs SRH | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| May 26 | Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| May 27 | LSG vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
🔍 Top-Two Qualification Scenarios (Key Match Results & Outcomes)
The following scenarios explore how each team can make the top two based on upcoming match results. Ties are resolved first by number of wins, then by net run rate (NRR).
| DC vs PBKS | GT vs CSK | MI vs PBKS | LSG vs RCB | GT Final Pts | PBKS Final Pts | RCB Final Pts | MI Final Pts | Likely Top 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBKS | GT | PBKS | RCB | 20 | 21 | 19 | 16 | PBKS, GT |
| PBKS | GT | MI | LSG | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | GT, PBKS |
| DC | GT | MI | RCB | 20 | 17 | 19 | 18 | GT, RCB |
| DC | CSK | PBKS | RCB | 18 | 21 | 19 | 16 | PBKS, RCB |
| PBKS | CSK | MI | RCB | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | PBKS, RCB |
| PBKS | GT | MI | RCB | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | GT, PBKS or RCB |
| PBKS | GT | PBKS | LSG | 20 | 21 | 17 | 16 | PBKS, GT |
Note: KKR vs SRH has no impact on playoff qualification or top-two standings.
🤔 FAQs on IPL 2025 Playoffs
Four teams qualify for the IPL playoffs — the top two get an advantage by playing Qualifier 1, while the 3rd and 4th teams face off in the Eliminator.
Teams ranked 1st and 2nd play Qualifier 1. The winner goes straight to the final, and the loser gets another chance in Qualifier 2.
Qualifier 1 is scheduled for May 29, 2025. Venue details will be confirmed after the league stage concludes.
Yes, Mumbai Indians can still finish in the top two — they need to win their final match and hope other results go in their favor, especially a loss for RCB and PBKS.
As of now, Mumbai Indians have the best Net Run Rate (+1.292), which could be a big advantage in tie-break scenarios.
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