Race to IPL 2025 playoffs: GT close in on top-two finish; SRH all but out
The competition is heating up in the top half of the points table
S Rajesh
01-May-2025 • Updated 2 hrs ago
Fifty-one matches into IPL 2025 and two teams - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) - have been eliminated from the race to the playoffs. What do the remaining eight need to do to secure that top-four finish?
Gujarat Titans
Played: 10, Points: 14, NRR: 0.867
Remaining matches: MI (a), DC (a), LSG (h), CSK (h)
Played: 10, Points: 14, NRR: 0.867
Remaining matches: MI (a), DC (a), LSG (h), CSK (h)
Fourteen points with four games to go and a net run rate second only to that of Mumbai Indians - GT have everything going in their favour to not only qualify, but also look for a top-two finish. To make things even better, two of their three remaining games are at home - where they already have a 4-1 win-loss record - against cellar-dwellers CSK and another team struggling for momentum, LSG.
Mumbai Indians
Played: 11, Points: 14, NRR: 1.124Remaining matches: GT (h), PBKS (a), DC (h)
With six wins in a row, the latest being a 100-run thumping that eliminated RR, MI are on course to finish in the top four, and possibly even the top two. Not only do they have momentum on their side, they also have the best NRR among all teams. It puts them at the top of the table above RCB, who also have 14 points but have played one game less than MI.
MI can finish in the top four even if they end on 14, depending on other results and NRR. They could also be among five teams with 18 or more, which is where their net run rate could help them provided they stay ahead on that parameter. MI also have two home games in hand, which could be crucial given that they have won four out of five at home so far, the most by any team.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Played: 10, Points: 14, NRR: 0.521Remaining matches: CSK (h), LSG (a), SRH (h), KKR (h)
RCB have 14 points after ten games, a strong position in a season where the qualification cutoff is likely to rise as the gap between the top five and the bottom three becomes huge.
It's possible for as many as seven teams to finish on 16 or more points, and for five teams to get to 18 or more. For RCB to be absolutely sure of qualification, they need to get to 20. On the other hand, if other results go their way, RCB could qualify even with 14 points.
Two of RCB's last four matches are against CSK and SRH, two of the poorest teams this season. They also have three home games to go, though that isn't necessarily an advantage, given that they are six wins out of six in away games, and only one out of four at home.
Punjab Kings
Played: 10, Points: 13, NRR: 0.199Remaining matches: LSG (h), DC (h), MI (h), RR (a)
PBKS have lost only one of their last five games, winning three and gaining one point through a washout against KKR. As things stand, six teams can finish on 17 or more points, which means PBKS need to win three of their four remaining games to be certain of qualifying. Fifteen points will give them a chance, too, though they'll be left depending on other results, but 13 will eliminate them.
Delhi Capitals
Played: 10, Points: 12, NRR: 0.362Remaining matches: SRH (a), PBKS (a), GT (h), MI (a)
From five wins in six matches, DC have slipped to six in ten. Three losses in their last four games have pushed them down to fifth on the points table, which is why they will probably welcome the five-day break before their next match, away against SRH. DC have also won three out of four away games, compared to only three out of six at home, so they may not mind playing three of their last four at away venues. Like with other teams, they are not safe on 18 points, but neither are they out on 14.
Lucknow Super Giants
Played: 10, Points: 10, NRR: -0.325Remaining matches: PBKS (a), RCB (h), GT (a), SRH (h)
Like DC, LSG have also lost three of their last four, and are stuck in the middle of the table with ten points in ten games, two points fewer than DC. Three of LSG's four remaining matches are against teams in the top four, and to make matters worse for them, their NRR of -0.325 is the poorest among the teams in the top seven. Sixteen points will give them a chance, but even 18 doesn't guarantee qualification at the moment.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Played: 10, Points: 9, NRR: 0.271Remaining matches: RR (h), CSK (h), SRH (a), RCB (a)
The win against DC has kept KKR in contention for a top-four finish. But with only nine points from ten games so far, the maximum they can finish on is 17. As mentioned earlier, it's possible for five teams to finish on 18 or more points, which means even their best in the last four matches might not be enough for KKR to earn a place in the playoffs. As with PBKS, 15 points will give KKR a chance, but 13 will eliminate them.
Sunrisers Hyderbad
Played: 10, Points: 6, NRR: -1.192
Remaining matches: DC (h), KKR (h), RCB (a), LSG (a)
Played: 10, Points: 6, NRR: -1.192
Remaining matches: DC (h), KKR (h), RCB (a), LSG (a)
Even if Sunrisers win their remaining four games, they will finish on only 14 points. For them to have any chance, they will have to hope that at least a couple of the current contenders suffer a sudden reversal for form and go on a losing spree, which could bring NRR into the equation for the fourth spot. Even there, SRH's current value of -1.192 doesn't inspire much hope.
S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. @rajeshstats