After a week-long break due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan, IPL 2025 is set to resume on Saturday, May 17. As the league enters its final stretch, the playoff race has become incredibly intense. With seven teams still in contention, every match now holds do-or-die stakes.
Let’s break down where each team stands and what they need to do to stay in the hunt for the top four.
🟢 Gujarat Titans (GT): One Win Away, But NRR a Concern
- Points: 17 from 11 matches
- Remaining Matches: 3
GT sits at the top of the table and needs just one more win to virtually seal a playoff spot with 18 points. However, they must also keep a close eye on their net run rate (NRR), which is currently lower than that of Mumbai Indians. A poor NRR could hurt them in the event of a multi-team tie on points.
🔵 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Strong Position, But Vulnerable
- Points: 16 from 11 matches
- Remaining Matches: 3
- Next Match: vs KKR at Chinnaswamy on May 17
RCB also needs just one win to get to the magic number of 18 points. However, they have had a poor home record this season, and even two wins may not guarantee a top-two finish. That’s because both GT and PBKS can still reach 20 or more points.
🟥 Punjab Kings (PBKS): Two Must-Win Matches
- Points: 15 from 11 matches
- Remaining Matches: 3
PBKS needs to win at least two out of their remaining three matches to stay in the playoff race. One more loss, and their fate will depend on multiple other results. If they beat DC and lose the other two, they can still qualify with 17 points—but only if MI and DC split their game, keeping both below 17.
In case PBKS loses all three games, their chances become extremely slim, but mathematically they may still survive if many other results go in their favor.
🟠 Mumbai Indians (MI): Win Both, Then Pray
- Points: 14 from 12 matches
- Remaining Matches: 2
MI must win both remaining matches to finish with 18 points and stay alive. Fortunately, they have the best NRR among the contenders, which gives them a slight edge in case of a tie. Still, their qualification will depend on other teams dropping points.
🟣 Delhi Capitals (DC): All Three Must-Win Games
- Points: 13 from 11 matches
- Remaining Matches: 3
With four major players ruled out of the tournament, DC faces an uphill battle. To qualify, they must win all their remaining games, which will take them to 19 points. Given their recent form and squad setbacks, this is a tough ask.
🟡 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Hanging by a Thread
- Points: 11 from 12 matches
- Remaining Matches: 2
KKR needs to win both matches by big margins to boost their net run rate. Even then, they’ll have to rely heavily on other results going their way. One loss, and they’re out of the race.
🔴 Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): One More Loss = Elimination
- Points: 10 from 11 matches
- Remaining Matches: 3
LSG is still alive but barely. After three consecutive losses, they must win all three remaining matches to reach 16 points. A single defeat now would mean elimination.
🔚 Conclusion: A Wild Finish Ahead
- GT & RCB: Need 1 win each, but not fully safe.
- PBKS & MI: Must win multiple games and watch other results.
- DC, KKR & LSG: Must win every match; one loss could end their campaign.
As the final week of IPL 2025 unfolds, the playoff race promises drama, tension, and possibly a few upsets. Every run and over will matter.
