Qualifier 1 Battle: GT, PBKS, RCB & MI in Tight Top-Two Contest

 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is down to its final week and the race for a top-two finish is still wide open. After Match 66 between PBKS and DC, just four league games remain and the pressure is on. Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians are all in a tight contest each hoping to grab a direct ticket to Qualifier 1.

Defeats suffered by GT, RCB and PBKS have intensified the scenario and provided fans with plenty to anticipate in the upcoming matches. The journey to the final through the playoffs began in 2011 and remarkably, only once has a team finishing outside the top two succeeded in clinching the title. That exception was, of course, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who ended third yet still overcame RCB in the 2016 final.

GT’s Qualification Scenario to Reach the Top 2

Current Position		1st
Next Match		vs Chennai Super Kings – Sunday, May 25
Top-Two Qualification Scenario
	Win vs CSK	Guaranteed top spot with 20 points.
	Lose vs CSK	Still finish in the top two if RCB or PBKS lose their final game.

PBKS Qualification Scenario to Reach the Top 2

Current Position		2nd
Next Match		vs Mumbai Indians – Monday, May 26
Top-Two Qualification Scenario
	Win vs MI	Can reach 19 points, but still need either GT or RCB to lose.
	Loss vs MI	Out of the top-two race.

RCB Qualification Scenario to Reach the Top 2

Current Position		3rd (lower NRR than PBKS)
Next Match		vs Lucknow Super Giants – Tuesday, May 27
Top-Two Qualification Scenario
	Win vs LSG	Need PBKS or GT to lose.
	Loss vs LSG	Cannot finish in the top two.

MI Qualification Scenario to Reach the Top 2

Current Position		4th
Next Match		vs Punjab Kings – Monday, May 26
Top-Two Qualification Scenario
	Win vs PBKS	Will reach 18 points but must hope RCB and GT lose their games.
	Loss vs PBKS	Eliminated from top-two contention.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025 Points Table: Team Rankings After PBKS vs DC Match