IPL 2025 Playoffs: Top-Two Race Heats Up After RCB’s Costly Defeat To SRH

The IPL 2025 playoff teams are locked in—Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians. But with one week of league action remaining, the race for the top two spots, which guarantee a double shot at reaching the final, is far from settled.

RCB’s 42-run loss to SRH has shaken up the table and left the top-two equation hanging in the balance.

Here's where each team stands heading into the final few matches.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

RCB’s humbling 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad has not only stalled their momentum but also dealt a significant blow to their hopes of finishing in the top two.

Sitting on 17 points from 13 matches, they now find themselves in a vulnerable position where their destiny is no longer entirely in their hands. For Bengaluru to sneak into the top two, they must win their final group stage encounter against Lucknow Super Giants on May 26. But even that won’t be enough in isolation.

RCB will also need both Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans to falter in at least one of their remaining matches. In Punjab’s case, a single defeat—preferably a heavy one—combined with a Gujarat loss to Chennai Super Kings, could allow Bengaluru to leapfrog on net run rate.

However, the path has narrowed considerably, and Bengaluru may now have to prepare mentally for the high-stakes Eliminator rather than the comfort of Qualifier 1.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Despite leading the points table for much of the season, Gujarat Titans' defeat to Lucknow Super Giants has left the door ajar for their competitors. With 18 points from 13 games, Gujarat still control their own fate but must win their final league match against Chennai Super Kings to assure themselves of a top-two finish.

A defeat could drag them into a mid-table scramble on the final day, especially if Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians both win their respective fixtures. GT’s strong net run rate could still act as a safety net, but losing two matches on the bounce just before the playoffs would not only hurt their standing but also their confidence.

Victory over CSK will ensure they stay above the chaos and book their spot in Qualifier 1, but anything less opens up a Pandora's box of permutations.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have quietly climbed to second place with 17 points in 12 matches, and hold perhaps the most interesting hand in the top-two race. With two games remaining—against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians—they are the only team with the realistic opportunity to finish with 20 points.

Just one win from these fixtures would take them to 19 and keep them well in contention, especially if their net run rate continues to hold firm. A victory in both would guarantee a top-two finish regardless of other results.

However, defeats in both matches would not only deny them a top-two spot but could also potentially push them down to fourth. For PBKS, the mission is straightforward—win and secure their own destiny. Anything less, and they’ll find themselves relying on calculations and results elsewhere.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mumbai Indians, currently on 16 points from 13 matches, are still mathematically alive in the race for the top two, albeit hanging by a thread. Their only remaining fixture is a high-voltage clash against Punjab Kings, and it couldn’t be more crucial.

A win against PBKS would take them to 17 points, and they’d then need RCB to lose to LSG and PBKS to have already lost their earlier match against Delhi. In that case, MI could sneak into second place based on net run rate.

But the odds are slim, and for a team that’s had a fluctuating season, it may come down to how heavily they win and how other games pan out. Still, stranger things have happened in the IPL, and with the firepower MI possess, writing them off would be premature.