Contenders for the last remaining spot in IPL 2025 playoffs

A long wait to find out the first qualifier of the season culminated in three teams qualifying simultaneously in the ongoing season. IPL 2025 was slated to resume on Saturday, May 17, after over a week-long suspension. However, rain in Bengaluru curtailed the RCB vs KKR match, making the home team wait a bit longer to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Meanwhile, the washout amped up the stakes for the Sunday double-header. The qualification scenarios were calculated rather interestingly ahead of the RR vs PBKS and the DC vs GT matches. Eventually, the weekend concluded with Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings qualifying for the playoffs.

GT, RCB, and PBKS qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs

Ahead of the double-header on Sunday, an interesting equation for playoff qualification emerged. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru could have been the first team to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs if the RCB vs KKR match had not been abandoned. The shared points led to the defending champions being eliminated and left RCB just one point away from locking in their qualification spot. However, qualification for the IPL 2025 playoffs could have been delayed further only if the Delhi Capitals had managed to beat the Gujarat Titans.

However, the table-toppers were in no mood to push the matters any further. The former champions claimed a comprehensive 10-wicket win over the home team in the DC vs GT IPL 2025 match. Earlier in the day, Punjab Kings clinched the needed points by beating Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in Jaipur. While PBKS had done their part, it was GT's victory that stamped their IPL 2025 playoffs qualification.

Punjab Kings joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the top of the IPL 2025 points table on Sunday with both teams sitting on 17 points after the comprehensive win of PBKS. However, until Gujarat  Titans got the better of Delhi Capitals, neither RCB nor PBKS were guaranteed playoff tickets mathematically. Had DC managed to pull off a win at home in the second fixture of the day, they would have leapfrogged into fourth place with 15 points. GT would have stayed on 16, leaving open the possibility of DC, MI, and GT crossing the 17-point mark, potentially knocking out both PBKS and RCB had they faltered in their remaining fixtures.

Instead, the emphatic win of GT at the Arun Jaitley Stadium left DC stranded at 13 points from 12 outings. Given that one of their final two games is against Mumbai Indians, only one between those two sides can now cross the 17-point threshold. As a result, RCB and PBKS punched their playoff tickets, with two league games still left to play.

Qualification scenarios for MI, DC, and LSG 

Now, the race to grab the last remaining spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs is between the Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. MI are currently placed fourth on the IPL 2025 points table with 14 points from 12 matches. With two matches remaining in the group stage, the five-time champions are the leading contenders for the final berth. DC, meanwhile, are placed fifth with 13 points from 12 matches. Lucknow Super Giants, however, are sitting in seventh place but have three matches remaining, unlike MI and DC.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians, placed at the bottom in the initial phase of IPL 2025 scripted the ultimate comeback with six consecutive wins. Their triumphant run in the business end of the season now projects MI as the favorites to claim the last remaining spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. Two wins from their remaining fixtures will cement their place in the top four. Mumbai also has a clear shot, if they defeat DC and LSG loses at least one of their last three games, MI will go through. But a loss to DC would leave them reliant on other results, as even a win over PBKS in the final game wouldn’t suffice if DC manage back-to-back victories.

Delhi Capitals

DC had launched their IPL 2025 journey in spectacular fashion, racking up four consecutive wins. For the larger part of the campaign, they looked settled in the top four. However, five defeats in their last eight matches have now pushed them out of the qualification zone. Their path to the playoffs is narrow. With a misfiring batting lineup, relying entirely on KL Rahul, it's a tough ask from the Capitals to win both of their remaining matches. However, winning the fixtures against MI and PBKS is the only way for Delhi Capitals to aim at the final spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. A single loss from here, no matter how close, would eliminate DC from the qualification race. 

Lucknow Super Giants

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants, despite having three matches left, the most among the playoff contenders, remain the least likely to qualify. Inconsistent performances, especially a slump of four losses in their last five fixtures, have dealt a major blow. Even with wins in all remaining matches, scheduled against SRH, GT, and RCB respectively, the Giants would reach only 16 points. Not to mention, LSG, with their current form, seem to stand no chance against the high-flying Gujarat Titans and RCB. Moreover, even if LSG manage to pull the wonder, the Rishabh Pant led side would still remain reliant on the favorable outcomes from both DC and MI to stand a realistic chance.