Top 2 spots still wide open! GT, RCB, and now PBKS stumble after clinching Playoff berths

What's going on with the teams that have already qualified for the IPL 2025 Playoffs? Punjab Kings (PBKS) have become the third side among the Top 4 to suffer a defeat after sealing their playoff berth. They were handed a six-wicket loss by Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The setback puts the Shreyas Iyer-led team in a tricky spot, as their hopes of finishing in the Top 2—and earning a crucial second chance at reaching the final—are now under threat.

Top three teams falter

First, it was Gujarat Titans (GT) who stumbled with a 33-run loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Then, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 42 runs. Most recently, Punjab Kings (PBKS) were handed a defeat by Delhi Capitals (DC).

Interestingly, all three top-ranked teams lost their 13th match of the season — and each defeat came at the hands of sides already eliminated from Playoff contention.?

These unexpected results have blown the race for the Top 2 wide open. At one point, Mumbai Indians (MI), sitting in fourth place, seemed unlikely to make it due to their poor Net Run Rate (NRR). But with just two points separating the top four teams, MI now have a golden opportunity to climb the table.

IPL 2025 Top 2 scenarios

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Points: 18 | NRR: 0.602

Remaining match: vs CSK (Ahmedabad)

GT will finish at the top if they defeat CSK and reach 20 points.

• If GT lose to CSK, they will stay on 18 points: They can still make the Top 2 if both MI vs PBKS and RCB vs LSG results go against those teams (i.e., MI, PBKS, and RCB all lose).?
• They will drop out of the Top 2 if: Either PBKS or MI win their match, or RCB beat LSG.?

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Points: 17 | NRR: 0.327

Remaining match: vs MI (Jaipur)

PBKS will qualify for the Top 2 if:

• They beat MI, and both GT and RCB lose.
• They beat MI, GT lose, and RCB win — but PBKS maintain a better NRR than RCB.
• They beat MI, GT win, and RCB also win — again, PBKS must have a superior NRR than RCB.

PBKS will miss the Top 2 if:

• They lose to MI — regardless of other match outcomes.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Points: 17 | NRR: 0.255

Remaining match: vs LSG (Lucknow)

• RCB will qualify for the Top 2 if: They beat LSG, and both GT and PBKS lose their matches.?
• RCB will miss the Top 2 if: They lose to LSG — no matter what happens in the other games.?

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Points: 16 | NRR: 1.292

Remaining match: vs PBKS (Jaipur)

• MI will qualify for the Top 2 if: They beat PBKS, and RCB lose to LSG.
• MI will finish at the top of the table if: They beat PBKS, RCB lose to LSG, and GT lose to CSK.