Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey
The race to the IPL 2025 playoffs is heating up, with a number of scenarios possible, as is always the case. Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans currently occupy the playoff spots, with a couple of strong challengers just outside the top four.
Other teams require a miracle, but as RCB showed last season, a strong winning run is possible. Before we look at the IPL 2025 scenarios for each team, here is a look at the number of average league points required to reach the playoffs in a 10-team IPL tournament (in the last three seasons).
| Team who finished 1st | Team who finished 2nd | Team who finished 3rd | Team who finished 4th | |
| Average number of points | 20 | 17.33 | 17.33 | 15.33 |
IPL 2025 Scenarios – Who will qualify?
1. Mumbai Indians
- Matches played: 11
- Total points so far: 14
- Current net run rate: 1.274
- Maximum points they can reach: 20
- Fixtures remaining: GT (home), PBKS (away), DC (home)
Mumbai Indians (MI) have come roaring back after a slow start to the season. After one win in their first five matches, MI have embarked on a six-game winning streak, thrashing teams along the way to boost their net run rate to 1.274.
MI now have difficult games against GT, PBKS and DC to finish the season. However, it also represents an opportunity. Two wins takes them to 18 and almost seals a top-two finish given their strong run rate.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 14
- Current net run rate: 0.521
- Maximum points they can reach: 22
- Fixtures remaining: CSK (home), LSG (away), SRH (home), KKR (home)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are enjoying a brilliant season. Their clutch victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) on 27 April was their sixth-straight away win and took them to the top of the table.
They have three games remaining at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, so they will be looking to build on their stunning win over Rajasthan Royals on April 24.
Two wins from their final four matches will take RCB to 18 points. This will be enough to seal a playoffs’ berth, and possibly even top two. Crucially, they play struggling CSK and SRH at home as well.
3. Punjab Kings
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 13
- Current net run rate: 0.199
- Maximum points they can reach: 21
- Fixtures remaining: LSG (home), DC (home), MI (home), RR (away)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been impressive for the most part in IPL 2025, and sealed an important win away at Chepauk on April 30.
The priority for PBKS is to continue winning, but boosting their net run rate of 0.199 will be handy too. They have a mix of tough fixtures (DC home and MI home) as well as some a winnable one against RR away. Two wins from their remaining four will take them to 17 points and should seal a playoffs’ berth depending on other results.
4. Gujarat Titans
- Matches played: 9
- Total points so far: 12
- Current net run rate: 0.748
- Maximum points they can reach: 22
- Fixtures remaining: SRH (home), MI (away), DC (away), LSG (home), CSK (home)
Gujarat Titans (GT) are in a tricky position after a very strong middle part of the season. However, they play the three bottom teams (RR, SRH and CSK) in their final five games and will back themselves to win all three.
Their game against SRH at home is vital as they face playoff rivals MI and DC next. If they lose to SRH, the pressure will ramp up against those around them.
Going by the averages since 2022, two wins will get GT to 16 points and that tally itself could seal a playoffs’ berth. However, with Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) not far behind in fifth and sixth position, GT can’t afford to get complacent.
5. Delhi Capitals
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 12
- Current net run rate: 0.362
- Maximum points they can reach: 20
- Fixtures remaining: SRH (away), PBKS (away), GT (home), MI (away)
Delhi Capitals (DC) are in a tricky predicament now after losing four of their past six matches. They have a tricky run of fixtures remaining, with their last three matches (PBKS, GT, MI) especially difficult.
Two wins from four matches will take DC to 16, but that may not be enough given the high competition for spots. Taking points off SRH plus at least two of their main playoff rivals can get DC through given these teams will also be taking points off each other.
6. Lucknow Super Giants
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 10
- Current net run rate: -0.325
- Maximum points they can reach: 18
- Fixtures remaining: PBKS (away), RCB (home), GT (away), SRH (home)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have fallen away after a strong start to the season. They have lost three of their past four matches to sit in sixth with ten points and a net run rate of -0.325.
This net run rate puts LSG in a scenario where three wins from four now looks to be the minimum they need. This will take them to 16 points, and even then, net run rate could come into play.
After losing convincingly to MI, LSG need to pick themselves up quickly. However, they have three difficult matches coming up against strong playoff contenders PBKS, RCB and GT.
7. Kolkata Knight Riders
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 9
- Current net run rate: 0.271
- Maximum points they can reach: 17
- Fixtures remaining: RR (home), CSK (home), SRH (away), RCB (away)
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are in must-win territory, but they are still a chance. They face the three bottom teams in their next three games. If they win all three, they will go to 15 points and potentially have a shot a qualifying for the playoffs by the time they play RCB.
Given teams in the top five will still meet each other and take points off one another, there is every chance that KKR can be in contention if they beat the bottom teams.
8. Rajasthan Royals
- Matches played: 11
- Total points so far: 6
- Current net run rate: -0.780
- Maximum points they can reach: 12
- Fixtures remaining: KKR (away), CSK (away), PBKS (home)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) are out. Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s stunning, record-breaking century kept them alive, but a thumping 100-run loss to MI a few days later sealed their fate.
With 11 games played, RR can only now reach a maximum of 12 points. GT in 4th and DC in 5th are both at 12, and they both meet on 12 May which means one of those teams are guaranteed to go past RR’s maximum tally.
9. Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Matches played: 9
- Total points so far: 6
- Current net run rate: -1.103
- Maximum points they can reach: 16
- Fixtures remaining: GT (away), DC (home), KKR (home), RCB (away), LSG (away)
It has been a season to forget for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who came into IPL 2025 with aspirations of lifting the trophy. They have been thrashed on numerous occasions, culminating in a net run rate of -1.103.
SRH took a positive step by beating CSK on a tricky Chepauk pitch on April 25. They now need to win their remaining five matches, but convincing margins are a must given their net run rate. It seems just about impossible with matches against the likes of GT, DC, RCB and LSG still to come.
If SRH win all their matches, they will finish with 16 points. In this scenario, they will need three of GT, DC, MI, PBKS, RCB and LSG to fail to go past 16 points, with net run rate possibly coming into play as well.
10. Chennai Super Kings
- Matches played: 10
- Total points so far: 4
- Current net run rate: -1.211
- Maximum points they can reach: 12
- Fixtures remaining: RCB (away), KKR (away), RR (home), GT (away)
The disappointing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are done for IPL 2025. Like RR, they can only reach a maximum of 12 points. It is guaranteed that the fourth team in the playoffs will have more than 12 points.
