IPL 2025: Can Mumbai Indians Pip Punjab Kings To Make Playoffs?

It is crunch time in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), and the billion-dollar question on everyone’s mind is – Who Will Make the Playoffs? The perennial underachievers – Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings – who have not even one IPL title between them – have dominated the points table since the start of the season. (Full Coverage | Points Table)

Meanwhile, some of the bigwigs like Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have struggled to make an impact in the tournament. And then there is the Mumbai Indians, who have showcased two very different versions of themselves, spectacularly changing their fortunes after a disastrous start.

Which four teams will make the playoffs? Will 2025 see a new winner? Or will Mumbai Indians, who have staged a dramatic comeback in the season, create history and lift their sixth title?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won three matches on the trot and leapfrogged to pole position. With 14 points from 10 encounters, they have a high chance of making the last four. RCB have been very aggressive with the bat, both in the powerplay and death overs. Virat Kohli has been their talisman with the bat and is the leading run-getter of the season with 443 runs at a strike rate of 139. He has been very consistent, registering six fifties in 10 innings.

RCB have also solved their age-old issues in the bowling unit and has been the most restrictive with the ball in the powerplay, conceding just 8.2 runs per over. Overall, too, they have been the most economical bowling unit this season. Josh Hazlewood has been outstanding with the ball and with 18 dismissals at a strike rate of 12.2, is the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.

Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans, with 6 wins from 8 matches, have been formidable with the bat and have the best combined batting average (43.1) and the highest strike rate (167.9) this season. Their top-order has fired big-time and they are the only team that has lost just two matches in the competition. Sai Sudharsan (417 runs at a strike rate of 152), Jos Buttler (356 runs at a rate of 166) and Shubman Gill (305 runs at a rate of 153) have been their three stars with the bat.

The Titans have also been brilliant with the ball with the best average and strike rate for pacers this season. Prasidh Krishna has been their unsung hero with the ball and has returned with 16 wickets at a strike rate of 11.6 and economy of 7.3 this season.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals are currently at number 3 on the points table with 6 wins from 9 matches. They started with a bang winning their first four encounters but have stuttered a bit thereafter facing defeat in three of their last five. The next two games are very crucial for the Capitals – they take on Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad and would ideally want a win in both encounters before they lock horns with other teams in the top cluster.

The batters have done well for DC this season – they have been aggressive with five of the main six striking at a rate of above 150! KL Rahul has been the pick of the batters with an aggregate of 364 runs which include three fifties.

Mumbai Indians or Punjab Kings?

The real contest is for the fourth position, and this is where things are getting interesting. It seemed a foregone conclusion at the mid-way stage with Punjab Kings hammering their way at the top of the order - they have been the most attacking team in the powerplay this season. However, results haven't gone their way in the last couple of matches, and Mumbai Indians are now knocking on the door too!

The five-time champions have staged the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the IPL - they looked down and out, losing four of their first five encounters, but since then have witnessed a stunning transformation, winning their last five matches. MI have jumped to number 3 on the points table and would now fancy their chances of making the playoffs.

The clash between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings at Dharamsala on the 11th of May could well be a shootout to decide the fourth team for the playoffs.

The two other matches which could dictate the final standings include the clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, also at Dharamsala on the 8th of May and the encounter between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals at Wankhede on the 15th of May.