Image: Gujarat and Bengaluru poised for possible Qualifier 1 showdown in IPL 2025 / © The Financial Express
The fans of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Gujarat Titans are expecting a thrilling clash between the two sides in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025, as both teams are currently sitting at the top of the points table and are strong favourites to finish in the top two. This means they could meet in the Qualifier 1, a match that offers a direct ticket to the final for the winner, while the loser still gets another chance in Qualifier 2. Gujarat Titans (GT) have been in excellent form this season, securing 8 wins out of 11 matches so far. Their most recent win came in a rain-affected thriller against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai, where they held their nerve to win off the last ball.
With this victory, GT now have 16 points, and only needs one more win from their remaining three matches to officially confirm their place in the playoffs. However, if they want to finish in the top two and play Qualifier 1, they’ll likely need at least two wins to stay ahead of the other contenders in terms of both points and net run rate. Their remaining matches are against Delhi Capitals (away), Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings, all of which are very winnable given GT’s current momentum. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are also in great form with 8 wins from 11 matches, just like Gujarat.
They too sit on 16 points and only need one more win to enter the playoffs. However, like GT, their goal will be to secure a top-two finish, and for that, they will be aiming to win all their remaining games. Their upcoming matches are against LSG (away), SRH, and KKR. These are challenging but manageable fixtures for a side that has found consistency in recent matches. If both GT and RCB manage to win two or more of their last three games and maintain their solid net run rates, they are very likely to finish in the top two and set up an epic Qualifier 1 showdown.
The fans of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Gujarat Titans are expecting a thrilling clash between the two sides in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025, as both teams are currently sitting at the top of the points table and are strong favourites to finish in the top two. Gujarat Titans (GT) have been in excellent form this season, securing 8 wins out of 11 matches so far and their most recent win came in a rain-affected thriller against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai, where they held their nerve to win off the last ball.
With this victory, GT now have 16 points, and only needs one more win from their remaining three matches to officially confirm their place in the playoffs. However, if they want to finish in the top two and play Qualifier 1, they’ll likely need at least two wins to stay ahead of the other contenders in terms of both points and net run rate. Their remaining matches are against Delhi Capitals (away), Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings, all of which are very winnable given GT’s current momentum. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are also in great form with 8 wins from 11 matches, just like Gujarat.
They too sit on 16 points and only need one more win to enter the playoffs. However, like GT, their goal will be to secure a top-two finish, and for that, they will be aiming to win all their remaining games. Their upcoming matches are against LSG (away), SRH, and KKR. These are challenging but manageable fixtures for a side that has found consistency in recent matches. If both GT and RCB manage to win two or more of their last three games and maintain their solid net run rates, they are very likely to finish in the top two and set up an epic Qualifier 1 showdown.
Considering the 3rd and the 4th position of the points table, the battle for a spot in the playoffs is heating up between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) and both teams are in strong contention and have set their sights on securing the crucial spots for the eliminator as PBKS is currently sitting with 15 points, just behind Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and is in the thick of the race as with key fixtures against direct competitors like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, PBKS knows that a victory in at least one of these games will be essential to stay in contention for the playoffs.
However, even after winning one match, the team could still fall short of the expected 18-point cut-off and adding to the drama, PBKS’ final match against Rajasthan Royals was washed out, leaving them with fewer chances to maximize their points. Their remaining matches will be crucial as they look to take advantage of the competition ahead and secure a place in the top four while on the other hand, Mumbai Indians have had their share of ups and downs this season.