Can Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Finish in the Top 2 of IPL 2025?
With Gujarat Titans done at 18 points, the big clash between Punjab Kings (17 points) and Mumbai Indians (16 points) will decide who tops the table. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (17 points) can also make the top two if they beat LSG. All three teams still have a chance to finish in the top two.
The IPL 2025 league stage is wrapping up, and the race for the top four is settled, but the battle for the top two spots is heating up! The top two teams get an extra shot in the playoffs to grab the IPL trophy, and Gujarat Titans (GT), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Mumbai Indians (MI) are all in the running. Right now, GT leads the points table with 9 wins from 14 matches, sitting on 18 points with a net run rate (NRR) of 0.254. Even after a big 83-run loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 25, 2025, GT’s still in the driver’s seat but needs to stay sharp to lock in a top-two spot. PBKS and RCB are right behind, both with 8 wins and 17 points from 13 games.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GT | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0.254 |
| 2 | PBKS | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 0.327 |
| 3 | RCB | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 0.255 |
| 4 | MI | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1.292 |
| 5 | DC | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 0.011 |
| 6 | LSG | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.337 |
| 7 | KKR | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 0.193 |
| 8 | SRH | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 11 | -0.737 |
| 9 | RR | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 | -0.549 |
| 10 | CSK | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 | -0.647 |
PBKS has a slightly better NRR at 0.327 compared to RCB’s 0.255, giving them a tiny edge. With one match left for each, a strong win could push either past GT for that crucial top-two position. Both teams have been solid all season, and they’re hungry to make a statement. MI, in fourth, also has 8 wins from 13 games, with 16 points and a standout NRR of 1.292 — the best of the bunch. Their explosive batting and tight bowling make them a real threat, and a win in their last game could see them jump into the top two. With the playoffs looming, every run, wicket, and point matters. GT’s got the lead, but PBKS, RCB, and MI are ready to pounce with big performances.
Top 2 Scenarios For All Teams in the IPL 2025
After the league matches, the IPL 2025 playoffs are now set with GT, PBKS, RCB, and MI securing the top four spots. With GT at 18 points and PBKS, RCB, and MI closely behind, the race for the top two remains intense ahead of the final league games in Jaipur and Lucknow.
Gujarat Titans
Being led by young captain Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans (GT) are sweating it out to hold onto a top-two spot in the IPL 2025 points table. With 18 points from 14 matches and a decent net run rate (NRR) of 0.309, GT are currently No. 1, but their dreams of finishing top have been crushed. They stumbled hard in their last two games, losing to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and getting thrashed by 83 runs against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 25, 2025. Those defeats showed cracks in GT’s bowling and batting, especially when they crumbled to 147 chasing 231 against CSK, making their top-two fight tougher.
Thank you Amdavad for all the love 💙 pic.twitter.com/ciIKqukxKY
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 25, 2025
With no games left, GT’s fate now depends on others. The big clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday will decide the new No. 1, as the winner will jump past GT’s 18 points. That’ll push GT to at least No. 2. But there’s a catch — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with 17 points and an NRR of 0.255, face LSG on Tuesday. If RCB win, they could overtake GT, dropping them to No. 3 or even No. 4. If LSG pull off the win, GT will stay safe at No. 2, behind the PBKS-MI winner. GT’s solid NRR gives them a bit of breathing room, but it’s not a sure thing.
Punjab Kings
After a gap of 10 years, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, but their hopes of securing a top-two spot for an extra playoff chance took a hit after a recent loss. With 17 points from 13 matches and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.327, PBKS sit second on the points table, but their stumble in the last game has made their path to the top two trickier. Now, their final league match against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Jaipur on Monday, May 26, 2025, is a do-or-die clash that will decide their fate.
A win guarantees PBKS a top-two finish, potentially even No. 1, while a loss will knock them out of the top-two race. The stakes are high against MI, who have 16 points and a stellar NRR of 1.292. If PBKS win, they’ll hit 19 points, overtaking Gujarat Titans (GT) at 18 points to claim No. 1. However, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with 17 points, could still snatch the top spot if they beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday by a big enough margin to surpass PBKS’s NRR. If MI win, they’ll also reach 18 points but leapfrog GT to No. 1 thanks to their superior NRR, leaving PBKS out of the top two.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Waiting for their first-ever IPL title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are in a nail-biting race to secure a top-two spot in the IPL 2025 points table. With 17 points from 13 matches and a net run rate (NRR) of 0.255, RCB hold a strong position, but a recent loss has thrown a wrench in their plans. That defeat hurt their momentum, making their final league game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, absolutely crucial. A win guarantees RCB a top-two finish, giving them an extra playoff shot at the elusive IPL trophy, but a loss could see them slip to third or fourth.
RCB have the advantage of playing the last game of the league phase, knowing exactly what’s at stake. If Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday, RCB will need to defeat LSG by a significant margin to overtake PBKS’s 19 points and NRR of 0.327 for the No. 1 spot. If MI (16 points, NRR 1.292) win, they’ll hit 18 points and take No. 1, but an RCB win by any margin will still secure the top spot due to their 19 points outranking Gujarat Titans (GT) at 18 points. A loss to LSG, however, would leave RCB with 17 points, likely dropping them below GT and the PBKS-MI winner.
Mumbai Indians
For the Mumbai Indians (MI), snagging a top-two spot in the IPL 2025 points table is straightforward but high-stakes. Sitting fourth with 16 points from 13 matches and a stellar net run rate (NRR) of 1.292, MI face a make-or-break clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Jaipur on Monday, May 26, 2025. This game is a straight shootout for the top two, with the winner overtaking Gujarat Titans (GT) to claim No. 1. A loss, however, shuts MI out of the top two, leaving them in third or fourth, a tough blow after a strong season.
MI’s recent form took a hit with a loss that dented their momentum, but their league-best NRR gives them a huge edge. Beating PBKS, who have 17 points and an NRR of 0.327, would push MI to 18 points, leapfrogging GT’s 18 points and 0.309 NRR to grab the top spot. Their explosive batting and tight bowling make them a force, and the Jaipur pitch could suit their aggressive style. However, even a win isn’t a lock for No. 1 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with 17 points, could overtake MI if they beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday, reaching 19 points.
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