The race to the playoffs is heating up in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Even after 55 completed games in the 70-match league stage, not a single playoff spot has been secured. On Monday, 5 May, Delhi Capitals were saved by rain in Hyderabad as they escaped with a point after a dismal batting display. Sitting fifth on the table, Delhi produced one of their poorest batting performances of the season, labouring to 133 for 7 in 20 overs. However, the rain gods spared them further blushes as SunRisers were denied the chance to chase.
While it marked the end of SunRisers Hyderabad’s hopes of making the playoffs, Delhi stayed alive, picking up a crucial point to keep the pressure on the top four.
As we head into the final two weeks of the league stage, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans are locked in a battle to secure a top-two finish. Delhi Capitals, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, and Lucknow Super Giants remain in the hunt for playoff berths.
Meanwhile, three former champions — SRH, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals — have bowed out of the race for the playoffs.
While breaking into the top four remains the primary aim for the seven contenders, the leading teams are eyeing a top-two spot, which offers an extra opportunity to reach the final, with the loser of Qualifier 1 getting another shot in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator.
RCB are in pole position at the moment, aiming for a top-two finish for the first time since they finished runners-up in 2016. Although they have reached the playoffs four times since 2016, they have failed to make the final on each occasion. This time, RCB will be eager to break that pattern and capitalise on the momentum they have built this season.
IPL 2025 POINTS TABLE
IPL PLAYOFFS SCENARIOS EXPLAINED
HOW RCB CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- RCB (currently 16 points from 11 matches) are in a strong position. If they win 2 out of their last 3 games (vs LSG, SRH, and KKR), they will reach 20 points, which is usually enough to secure a top 2 finish.
- Winning all 3 (finishing on 22 points) will guarantee them top spot.
- A slip-up (1 win from 3) will mean they need other top contenders like PBKS, MI, and GT to lose at least 1-2 games.
- Beating KKR (a rival still in the race) will also dent their competitor’s chances directly.
- Their NRR (+0.482) is solid but improving it with big wins, especially against lowly SRH, will further safeguard their position in case of ties on points.
Worst-case scenario: If RCB lose all 3 games, they stay stuck at 16 points. This could drop them out of the top 2, or even to 4th/5th, if teams like PBKS, GT, MI, and DC win their games and overtake them on points and NRR.
RCB – Next Matches
- vs LSG on May 9
- vs SRH on May 13
- vs KKR on May 17
HOW PBKS CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- PBKS (15 points from 11 matches) need to win at least 2 out of 3 (vs DC, MI, RR) to reach 19 points.
- Winning all 3 (ending on 21 points) would almost guarantee a top 2 spot.
- A key fixture is their match against MI on May 11 — winning that would both boost PBKS and directly set back MI, another top 2 contender.
- If they lose to DC or RR, they will have to rely on MI, GT, and DC dropping points.
- Their NRR (+0.376) is decent, but they will need to win big, especially if they finish tied on 18-20 points with teams like GT and MI (both of whom have higher NRR right now).
Worst-case scenario: Losing all 3 would leave them on 15 points, which may not even secure a playoff spot if teams below them (DC, KKR) surge past 16-18 points. They risk finishing 5th or 6th in that case.
PBKS – Next Matches
- vs DC on May 8
- vs MI on May 11
- vs RR on May 16
HOW MI CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- MI (14 points from 11 matches) have 3 tough games left (vs GT, PBKS, DC), all against fellow contenders.
- Winning all 3 (reaching 20 points) would almost certainly secure them a top 2 spot.
- If they win 2 out of 3 (ending on 18), they will depend on RCB, PBKS, and GT slipping up.
- Their NRR (+1.274) is the best in the league — meaning, if they finish tied on points with others, they are highly likely to go through.
- Beating GT and PBKS directly weakens those rivals’ top 2 hopes, so their fate is largely in their own hands.
Worst case: If they lose all 3, they end on 14 points. That could see them miss out on playoffs entirely (finish 5th or 6th) if DC, KKR, or even LSG win out and go past 14. Their great NRR will help in a tie, but not if they’re behind on points.
MI – Next Matches
- vs GT on May 6
- vs PBKS on May 11
- vs DC on May 15
HOW GT CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- GT (14 points from 10 matches) have 4 matches left (vs MI, DC, LSG, CSK).
- Winning 3 out of 4 will take them to 20 points, a strong chance for top 2.
- Winning all 4 (finishing on 22) will almost certainly get them top 2.
- Their upcoming fixtures against MI and DC are critical — victories there would both lift GT and cut down direct rivals.
- Their NRR (+0.867) is very healthy and can keep them ahead in case of ties.
- A loss to MI or DC will complicate their chances, forcing them to win the remaining matches and hope for other results.
Worst case: If GT lose all 4, they end stuck on 14. That would almost certainly knock them out of the playoffs (finish 5th or 6th).
GT – Next Matches
- vs MI on May 6
- vs DC on May 11
- vs LSG on May 14
- vs CSK on May 18
HOW DC CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- DC (13 points from 11 matches) are still in the race but have a narrower path. They must:
- Win all 3 remaining matches (vs PBKS, GT, MI), which would take them to 19 points.
- Winning these also means they directly hurt PBKS, GT, and MI, which boosts their own chances.
- Even with 19 points, they will likely need RCB, GT, or PBKS to lose at least 1-2 games.
- Their NRR (+0.362) is decent but lower than MI and GT, so they’ll also need big wins to boost it.
Worst case: If DC lose all 3, they stay on 13. That could see them drop to 6th or 7th, missing the playoffs entirely. They are the most vulnerable among the top 5 right now.
DC – Next Matches
- vs PBKS on May 8
- vs GT on May 11
- vs MI on May 15
HOW KKR CAN FINISH IN TOP 2
- KKR (11 points from 11 matches) are on the outside looking in but still alive. They need to:
- Win all 3 remaining matches (vs CSK, SRH, RCB) to reach 17 points.
- 17 might still not be enough for top 2, unless RCB, GT, MI, and PBKS all drop multiple games.
- Beating RCB in their last match is crucial — not just for their own tally but also to pull RCB down.
- Their NRR (+0.249) is okay but needs improvement — big wins against struggling teams like SRH and CSK will be key.
Worst case: If they lose all 3, they end on 11 points — mathematically out of playoff contention (likely finish 7th or 8th). Their margin for error is zero.
KKR – Next Matches
- vs CSK on May 7
- vs SRH on May 10
- vs RCB on May 17
HOW LSG CAN FINISH IN TOP 4
- LSG (10 points from 11 matches) are the longest shot among the top 7. They must:
- Win all 3 remaining games (vs RCB, GT, SRH), taking them to 16 points.
- Even at 16, they would need multiple teams (KKR, DC, PBKS, MI) to falter and end on 16 or fewer, creating a messy NRR battle.
- They play direct contenders RCB and GT — so, big wins in those games can both lift their NRR (-0.469, which is currently poor) and harm rivals.
- In short, they need a perfect finish + heavy NRR boost + help from other results to dream of a top 2.
Worst case: If they lose all 3, they stay at 10 points — officially eliminated, likely 8th or 9th.
LSG – Next Matches
- vs RCB on May 9
- vs GT on May 14
- vs SRH on May 18