IPL 2025 Playoff Race Heats Up: Three Teams Seal Spots Early, One Final Place Up for Grabs
Sunday, 19 May, was a day of clear winners — but not just from one team. While Gujarat Titans thrashed Delhi Capitals by 10 wickets in a commanding display, the big headline was how three IPL teams sealed their playoff berths much earlier than usual. Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have all booked their places in the IPL 2025 playoffs, leaving only one final spot in the top four still to be decided. The race has never looked this intense, with so many permutations in play.
Usually, locking in three of the four playoff teams by the 60th league game is unheard of. But this season, Gujarat, Punjab, and Bangalore have been so dominant, the top two spots and the playoff race are nearly settled before the final week. The IPL frenzy is far from over though — as Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants are all battling it out for that coveted last playoff slot.
Gujarat Titans’ Dominance: Top of the Table and Top Contenders
Gujarat Titans showed exactly why they’re one of the teams to beat. Their crushing 10-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was clinical and confident. After bowling Delhi out for 199 on what was a batting-friendly pitch, Gujarat’s chase was powered by an incredible batting duo: Sai Sudharsan’s unbeaten 108 off 61 balls and Shubman Gill’s 93 not out from 53 deliveries. Their partnership gave Gujarat a comfortable win with six balls to spare, pushing the Titans to the very top of the points table.
This win not only guaranteed Gujarat’s playoff qualification but also strengthened their chances of finishing in the top two — a spot that comes with a major advantage in the IPL playoffs.
The Playoff Picture: What’s Next for Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants?
With Gujarat, Punjab, and Bangalore safely through, all eyes are on the final playoff berth. Three teams are still in the hunt:
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Mumbai Indians (currently fourth)
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Delhi Capitals
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Lucknow Super Giants
The other four teams — Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad — have been knocked out of contention.
How Mumbai Indians Can Keep Their IPL 2025 Hopes Alive
Mumbai Indians have two crucial matches left:
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vs Delhi Capitals in Mumbai (Wednesday, 21 May)
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vs Punjab Kings in Jaipur (Monday, 26 May)
Here’s how Mumbai’s qualification chances shape up:
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If Mumbai wins both matches: They automatically qualify with 18 points. No dependence on other teams’ results — a straightforward ticket to playoffs.
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If Mumbai wins one match: It depends on who they beat.
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A win against Delhi Capitals would almost guarantee a playoff spot.
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If Mumbai loses to Delhi but beats Punjab, their fate depends on Delhi losing to Punjab in the last game.
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If Mumbai lose both matches: Their IPL journey ends here, with elimination from playoffs.
This makes Mumbai’s upcoming matches a high-pressure situation — especially the game against Delhi Capitals, who are direct rivals for that last playoff spot.
Delhi Capitals’ Road to the Playoffs: No Room for Errors
Delhi Capitals also have two tough fixtures remaining:
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vs Mumbai Indians in Mumbai (Tuesday, 20 May)
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vs Punjab Kings in Jaipur (Saturday, 24 May)
Delhi’s path:
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Win both matches: Delhi finishes with 17 points and knocks Mumbai out, securing their own playoff berth.
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Win only one match: Their qualification depends heavily on which team they beat.
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Lose to Mumbai: Delhi will be eliminated.
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Beat Mumbai but lose to Punjab: Delhi needs Punjab to beat Mumbai and for Lucknow Super Giants to lose at least one of their remaining games to stay alive.
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Lose both matches: Delhi’s campaign ends with elimination.
With such tight margins, Delhi needs to be at their best to keep their IPL hopes alive.
Lucknow Super Giants: The Underdogs with a Tough Road Ahead
Lucknow Super Giants are the dark horses, but their road to the playoffs is steep:
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vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow (Monday, 19 May)
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vs Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad (Thursday, 22 May)
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vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow (Tuesday, 27 May)
Lucknow must win all three matches and hope for a few results to go their way:
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They can qualify by finishing on 16 points, winning all remaining fixtures.
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For this to work, Delhi must beat Mumbai but lose to Punjab.
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Mumbai needs to lose both remaining games.
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In this case, Lucknow would edge Mumbai and Delhi in points, clinching the final playoff spot.
However, Lucknow faces a challenge in the Net Run Rate (NRR) department. Even if they tie with Mumbai Indians on points, Mumbai currently holds a superior NRR. Lucknow would need big-margin wins in their last matches to overtake Mumbai in this crucial tiebreaker.
Exciting IPL 2025 Highlights & Takeaways:
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Three teams already in playoffs by 60th league game — a rare feat!
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Gujarat Titans continue to dominate, leading the table with confidence.
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The last playoff spot is a thrilling three-way fight between Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.
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Upcoming fixtures hold key to playoff destiny — every match will be intense and nail-biting.
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Teams eliminated like CSK, KKR, RR, and SRH will now watch as fans hope for the best for their IPL favorites.
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Net Run Rate could be a decisive factor, especially for Lucknow and Mumbai.
Stay Tuned for All the IPL 2025 Action
With just a handful of matches left before the playoffs, cricket fans across India are glued to every boundary, wicket, and run. The IPL points table is shifting fast, and every game counts.
Keep an eye out for updates on:
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Match schedules and live scores
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Team lineups and player performances
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IPL points table with real-time changes
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Orange Cap and Purple Cap race leaders
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Analysis of crucial matches and playoff permutations
Follow the excitement as Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and either Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, or Lucknow Super Giants battle it out for IPL glory!
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