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With Lucknow Super Giants elimination, two teams are now alive in the race for the remaining one IPL 2025 playoff spot.
Mumbai Indians clash with Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)
And then there were two.
Three teams – Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings – have punched their tickets for the IPL 2025 playoffs. One spot is still up for grabs and Lucknow Super Giants’ defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad leaves only two teams in the hunt for a top four finish now. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are the remaining two contenders, and they run into each other tomorrow evening in what could prove to be a decisive contest.
Here’s a look at their chances
Mumbai Indians
With seven wins from 12 matches, MI have 14 points and currently occupy the fourth spot in the table. They have two matches remaining against DC and PBKS. A win on Wednesday will be enough for them to qualify as it will take them to 16 points and if DC can beat PBKS in their final game, it will only get them to 15 points.
In case MI lose to DC, then they must win their last league match and pray DC lose to PBKS. Additionally, MI can also finish among the top two but for that, they first have to win both their remaining games to get to 18 points and then hope both RCB and PBKS remain winless in their final two league fixtures. Should either RCB or PBKS end up winning at least one game, then GT have to lose their two matches to stay on 18 points and thus MI will finish among the top two teams (MI have a superior net run-rate).
Delhi Capitals
Like MI, DC also have two matches remaining – vs MI and vs PBKS. The Axar Patel-led franchise is going through a slump which has complicated their playoffs qualification hopes. They started the season with four wins in a row and at that stage, were among the favorites for a top two finish. Now, a win over MI can open the playoffs door for DC. However, MI, five-time IPL champions, must lose their last league match to PBKS for DC to qualify. A defeat to MI will knock them out though.
Gujarat Titans
They are the current table toppers and have already qualified for the playoffs. Victories in their final two league matches will seal top spot. In case they lose once, then RCB and PBKS losing one of their matches will do the trick too. If they lose both their matches, even then they have a chance.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB have 17 points and can at max go to 21 points. Should the Rajat Patidar-led team be able to do so, they can finish at the top of the table provided GT taste defeat in both their matches and PBKS end up losing one of their two games.
Punjab Kings
Like RCB, PBKS can also finish at the top of the table but for that to materialise, the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit has to win both their matches while also hoping GT and RCB each lose one of their remaining games.
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