INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
With only 15 matches to go in the league stage of this year : s Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), seven teams are still in contention to
make it to the playoffs, but no team has secured a place in the top four yet.
According to ESPNcricinfo experts, here : s what each of
these seven teams needs to do to qualify.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB has played 11 matches, have 16 points and has three matches still
to play.
These matches are against LSG, SRH and KKR.
The washout between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC) means that
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are now only one win away from securing their place in the playoffs.
That : s because five teams can
make it to 18 points only if at least a couple of teams get there due to two washouts.
Since the number of wins is the first tie-breaker
for teams on equal points, RCB will go through on the basis of nine wins
They can also make the top four with 16 points if other results go their way.
However, two wins will not guarantee a top-two finish yet,
as three teams can still finish with 20 or more points.
Punjab Kings
PBKS have so far also played 11 matches, and have 15 points
The still have three matches to play against Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
To be certain of qualification, Punjab
Kings (PBKS) need to win a couple of games and move up to 19 points
If they win each of their three remaining games, they : ll be assured of a top-two finish
Two of their three remaining games are against teams in the top five, which makes those results extremely vital for PBKS.
Mumbai Indians
MI
have so far also played 11 matches and are sitting with 14 points
They also still have three matches to play against Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.
With six wins in a row, Mumbai
Indians (MI) are undoubtedly the form team of the tournament at the moment
Not only have they won six consecutive matches, they have done so by convincing margins four of those victories have been by either 50-plus
runs or by more than 25 balls to spare.
That has helped lift their NRR to an enviable 1.274, easily the best among all teams
A couple of wins will guarantee a place in the playoffs, while 20 will likely ensure a top-two finish given their excellent NRR.
For them
to qualify with 16 points, several other results will need to go in their favour, but 14 won : t cut it anymore, since their three remaining
games are against sides that are all in contention
Three defeats will take all those teams above MI, while RCB already have 16.
Gujarat Titans
The Titans have played only 10 matches so far
and are sitting with 14 points
They have four matches still to play against MI, DC, LSG and CSK.
They have an excellent NRR of 0.867 which is second only to MI :
s.
As with MI, Gujarat Titans also need at least a win to stay in contention, while two wins will guarantee qualification.
However, they
will be eliminated if they lose each of their four remaining games and stay on 14
They have a favourable itinerary too, with their last two games scheduled at home, where they have a formidable 4-1 record so far this
season.
Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals have played 11 matches so far and have 13 points
They have three matches still to play against PBKS, GT and MI.
A lucky point against SRH halted a two-match losing sequence for DC and
gave them a bit of a breather.
Fifteen points will push them into the top four only if several other results go in their favour, while 17
could also place them at the mercy of other results it : s still possible for six teams to finish on 17 or more points.
Wins in all three
remaining matches will ensure qualification, but that will require a huge reversal of form, given that they have only won one of their last
five matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR has also played 11 matches and have three to go
They are sitting with 11 points
Their three remaining matches are against CSK, SRH, and RCB.
Fifteen points could give Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) an outside chance based
on other results, but more realistically, they : ll need 17 to stay in contention
Even then, it could come down to other results and net run rates.
Lucknow Super Giants
LSG have 11 matches ticked off and have 10 points in
They still need to play three matches against RCB, GT and SRH.
Like DC, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also struggling for momentum,
having lost three in a row, and four of their last five.
The best they can do now is win their three remaining matches, finish on 16
points, and hope that a couple of in-form teams suffer a sudden reversal of fortunes
If they lose one more match, though, LSG will be eliminated.
Tuesday : s match
Today, Tuesday May 6, will see Match 56 play out at the
Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai when Mumbai Indians will take on Gujarat Titans.
The match starts at 5:30 pm Kabul time and will be broadcast
live and exclusively on TINS Television across Afghanistan.
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