Punjab Kings (PBKS) have secured their spot in the top two of the IPL 2025 standings after defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in Jaipur. MI now stands at fourth on the table and will participate in the eliminator on 30th May in Mullanpur.
As PBKS are set to play Qualifier 1 on 29th May, regardless of whether they finish first or second, the upcoming match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be decisive for both PBKS’s and MI’s initial playoff opponents.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the final, while the loser will have a second shot by facing the winner of the eliminator in Qualifier 2 on 1st June in Ahmedabad. Let’s delve into how these positions might play out.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Points: 17, NRR: 0.255)
– Remaining fixture: vs LSG (Lucknow)
RCB hold a favourable position as they play the final game of the league stage against LSG on Tuesday. A win guarantees them a top-two finish. However, to overtake PBKS (NRR 0.372) and clinch the No. 1 spot, they need a victory by 34 runs (if they score 200) or by the margin of 21 balls remaining (if they concede 200).
Should RCB fall to LSG, they would finish third and face MI in the eliminator.
Gujarat Titans (Points: 18, NRR: 0.254)
– Remaining fixtures: None
Gujarat Titans face a precarious situation, relying on an LSG victory to maintain their second-place position. If RCB triumph over LSG, GT will slide to third, setting up an eliminator against MI.
In conclusion, the final league match will significantly influence the playoff dynamics. As Tom Moody insightfully remarked, “Can’t expect Hazlewood to come flying off the blocks,” underscoring the unpredictability and pressure of these critical fixtures.
Fans and followers will undoubtedly be glued to the developments as teams battle for playoff superiority.
