After 50 matches in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the race for the Playoffs is heating up with as many as eight teams still alive in the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are the only teams to be elimited from the competition, while Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are primed to finish in the top two.
Here is what each team needs to do reach the IPL 2025 Playoffs:
Mumbai Indians
The five-time champion is comfortably placed in the top spot of the IPL 2025 standings, with seven wins in 11 matches. Currently on a six-match winning streak, Mumbai needs just one win in its three remaining matches to secure a Playoffs spot. Moreover, MI also has the best Net Run Rate in the tournament, and can go through to the last-four stage even if it fails to win any of its last three games. However, reaching the Playoffs with 14 points will be contingent on other results going its way.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
With 14 points in 10 matches, RCB is second on the points table and already has one foot in the Playoffs. However, it may need to win three of its remaining four matches to get to 20 points and seal a spot in the Playoffs without depending on other results. Still, with a healthy Net Run Rate, RCB can make it through to the Playoffs with just 14 points, provided other results go in its favour.
Punjab Kings
Punjab, third in the standings with 13 points, is in a good position to reach the Playoffs for the first time since 2014. It will need three wins from its remaining four matches to secure a last-four spot on its own, while even one more win (15 points) could be enough for the franchise to go through to the Playoffs, if other results are favourable. However, it will be eliminated if it fails to win any of its remaining four contests.
Gujarat Titans
With six wins in nine games, Gujarat is fourth in the standings and has played at least one game less than the other teams in the top eight. With an impressive Net Run Rate, the second-best in the tournament, 18 points will probably be enough for Titans to qualify for the Playoffs on their own. For Gujarat, reaching 18 points entails winning just three of its remaining five games, and the team will fancy its chances since it has three homes games left in Ahmedabad.
Delhi Capitals
After starting the season strongly, Capitals have lost a little steam, losing three of their last four matches. With 12 points from 10 matches, Delhi is fifth in the standings and will need to win all four of its remaining games to reach the Playoffs without depending on other teams. However, just a solitary win in its remaining four matches will still be enough for DC to have a shot at the Playoffs, though it will need other results to go its way.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow will need to win all of its remaining four matches to stand a chance to reach the Playoffs, and even then it will rely on Net Run Rate and other results. Currently sixth with 10 points in as many games, LSG’s Net Run Rate is the worst amongst teams in the top seven and it will also need to keep an eye on winning matches by large margins.
Kolkata Knight Riders
With nine points in 10 matches, the defending champion can get to a maximum of 17 points, which may still not be enough for a spot in the Playoffs. Though still alive in the tournament, KKR no longer has its fate in its own hands and will need other results to go its way. However, in certain scenarios, KKR can qualify for a spot in the last-four stage even with 15 points (three wins in four games).
Rajasthan Royals
The Royals became the second team to be eliminated from the Playoffs race following their 100-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. With six points in 11 games, Rajasthan can stretch its tally to a maximum of 12 points, which is not enough for a spot in the top four.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Hyderabad has just six points, but has only played nine matches, and can still afford to lose a game. However, its fate depends on other teams even if it wins all its remaining five matches to reach 16 points. While 14 points could also be enough for SRH to sneak into the Playoffs based on Net Run Rate and other results, two more defeats will spell the end of its campaign.
Chennai Super Kings
Following its defeat to Punjab Kings at home, CSK became the first team to be eliminated from the competition. Languishing in the last spot, with two wins in 10 matches, CSK can now only hope to save face by avoiding a 10th-place finish.