May 23: IPL 2025: The four teams for the playoffs in IPL 2025 have been decided. Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians have qualified for the playoffs and now the battle is to make it to the top two. The teams that are in the top two get the advantage. In such a situation, all four teams will try to finish the league round on top. However, Gujarat Titans’ defeat against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday has raised the hopes of Bangalore and Punjab. Now Gujarat’s team can reach a maximum of 20 points, while RCB and Punjab can reach a maximum of 21-21 points. Mumbai’s team would like Bangalore and Punjab to lose both their matches so that the way to the top two is open for them
Playoffs to start from May 29, champion to be declared on June 3
The playoff leg is going to start from May 29. This year Qualifier-1 will be played in Mohali on May 29. At the same time, the Eliminator will be played in Mohali on May 30. Qualifier-2 is to be played in Ahmedabad on June 1, while the final will be played in Ahmedabad on June 3. In Qualifier-1, the top two teams in the points table clash. The team that wins this match reaches the final directly, while the losing team gets another chance.
The Eliminator is played after Qualifier-1. It is played between the teams ranked third and fourth in the points table. It is a knockout match. The losing team is out of the IPL, while the winning team has to face the losing team in Qualifier-1 in Qualifier-2. The team that wins this match faces the winning team of Qualifier-1 in the final, while the losing team is out of the IPL. This year’s winner will be found on June 3.
Gujarat Titans
The 2022 champions Gujarat have shown excellent performance under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. In IPL 2025 team has won nine out of 13 matches and the team has lost only four matches. Gujarat has 18 points. Its net run rate is +0.602. The team’s last match of the league round is against Chennai Super Kings (May 25). However, the defeat against Lucknow has put Gujarat in doubt. Now it is not in their hands to secure the top position. They will have to depend on other teams. They will be able to get the top position only if the results go in their favor.
If Gujarat loses the match against CSK as well, then there will be a risk of being in the third or fourth position. This is because if RCB and Punjab win both the matches, they will have 21-21 points and will occupy the top two positions, while Gujarat will be left with only 18 points. If Punjab loses its last match to Mumbai and manages to win one match, it will still have 19 points and it will be enough to make it to the top two. This is possible only when Gujarat loses both its matches.
If Gujarat’s team wins against CSK, then it will have 20 points. In this situation, Gujarat would want either Punjab or Bangalore or both to lose one match each. Then Gujarat will have the highest 20 points. On the other hand, either one of RCB-Punjab or both will be able to reach a maximum of 19-19 points.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Like Gujarat, RCB also has to play its two matches against two out of form teams. RCB currently has 17 points with eight wins in 12 matches. The team has lost three matches, while one match was inconclusive. The team has performed brilliantly under the leadership of new captain Rajat Patidar. Its net run rate is +0.482. RCB now has to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 and Lucknow Super Giants on May 27 in the league round. If the team wins both the matches, its place in the top two will be confirmed.
However, if the team wins one match and Punjab also manages to win one match, then they may face competition from Punjab. In such a situation, the team with a better run rate will finish in the last two positions. With the form RCB is in, it is more likely to finish in the top two than Punjab. However, if Bangalore loses the match and Punjab wins both its matches and Gujarat wins one of its matches, then Bangalore will have to finish in third place.
Punjab Kings
Punjab has performed brilliantly in IPL 2025 so far under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer and the coaching of Ricky Ponting. The team has won eight out of 12 matches so far and has lost three. One match was inconclusive. The team has 17 points and the net run rate is +0.389. Punjab has to play its two last league round matches against Delhi Capitals (May 24) and Mumbai Indians (May 26). Winning both the matches will ensure the team’s place in the top two. The simple equation for the Punjab team is that they win both their matches and do not pay attention to the rest.
If Punjab loses one match and Bangalore wins both its matches and Gujarat also manages to win one match, then Punjab will be in third place. If Bangalore and Punjab both lose one match each and Gujarat also loses its second match, then also Punjab and RCB will qualify in the top two. However, if Punjab-Bengaluru win one match each and Gujarat wins its last match, then also the net run rate will come into play. If Punjab loses both the matches and Bangalore wins even one match, then also Punjab will not be able to come in the top two.
Mumbai Indians
Five-time champion Mumbai has played 13 matches. Its last match is against Punjab on 26 May. Even a win in this match will not help Mumbai team to get a place in the top two. For this, Mumbai will have to convince that Punjab and Bangalore win both their matches and Gujarat
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