IPL 2025 Playoff Race: Punjab Kings Top League Stage, Mumbai Indians Slip to Fourth Place
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Punjab Kings wrapped up the IPL 2025 league stage with a commanding seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, securing a top-two finish and a coveted spot in Qualifier 1. Their clinical all-round display pushed them to the top of the table with 19 points—edging out Gujarat Titans on net run rate.
The win sealed a golden advantage for Punjab: two cracks at reaching the final. Their consistent run—9 wins, 4 losses, and one no-result—was capped off with a net run rate of +0.372, just enough to pip Gujarat Titans, who also ended with 9 wins but finished second with an NRR of +0.254.
Mumbai Indians, despite holding the best net run rate of the tournament (+1.142), slipped to fourth place after their sixth defeat. They’ll now face the high-stakes Eliminator, where one loss ends their title hopes.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit third with 17 points and a game in hand. A win in their final fixture against Lucknow Super Giants could propel them to second place—but regardless of that result, RCB are playoff-bound.
Just outside the cut-off, Delhi Capitals fought valiantly and finished with 15 points. A single extra win might’ve changed their fate. Sunrisers Hyderabad followed with 13 points, showing flashes of brilliance but not enough to break into the top four.
Meanwhile, former powerhouses like Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals had seasons to forget. Both finished with just 8 points, ending up at the bottom of the table. Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and others couldn’t cross the 12-point threshold either, falling short of playoff contention.
Now, with the playoffs in sight, the road narrows. Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans enjoy the cushion of a second chance. For Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the margin for error is gone. The battle for IPL 2025 glory is on—and only the toughest will survive.
The win sealed a golden advantage for Punjab: two cracks at reaching the final. Their consistent run—9 wins, 4 losses, and one no-result—was capped off with a net run rate of +0.372, just enough to pip Gujarat Titans, who also ended with 9 wins but finished second with an NRR of +0.254.
Mumbai Indians, despite holding the best net run rate of the tournament (+1.142), slipped to fourth place after their sixth defeat. They’ll now face the high-stakes Eliminator, where one loss ends their title hopes.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit third with 17 points and a game in hand. A win in their final fixture against Lucknow Super Giants could propel them to second place—but regardless of that result, RCB are playoff-bound.
Just outside the cut-off, Delhi Capitals fought valiantly and finished with 15 points. A single extra win might’ve changed their fate. Sunrisers Hyderabad followed with 13 points, showing flashes of brilliance but not enough to break into the top four.
Meanwhile, former powerhouses like Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals had seasons to forget. Both finished with just 8 points, ending up at the bottom of the table. Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and others couldn’t cross the 12-point threshold either, falling short of playoff contention.
Now, with the playoffs in sight, the road narrows. Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans enjoy the cushion of a second chance. For Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the margin for error is gone. The battle for IPL 2025 glory is on—and only the toughest will survive.
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