Mumbai Indians have already made it to the playoffs this season. But now, their eyes are on something even bigger - a place in the top two. It won’t be easy, though. The path is tricky, and they’ll need other results to go their way.
MI have played well to reach this stage. Their last game was a big win against Delhi Capitals, which helped them move to 16 points. But with just one match left, the question is- can they climb higher before the league phase ends?
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IPL 2025 playoffs: Why finish top two will be an advantage for MI?
In the IPL playoff format, ending in the top two gives you a cushion. Teams in first and second place play in Qualifier 1. The winner of that goes straight to the final. Even the loser gets another chance - they play in Qualifier 2.
But for teams finishing third and fourth, it is much harder. They play a knockout match first and one loss sends them home.
So, for MI, getting into the top two means they can afford one slip and still have hope for the final.
IPL 2025: Where do Mumbai Indians stand right now?
As things stand, Mumbai Indians are on 16 points from 13 matches. Their net run rate is very strong, better than anyone else right now. That could really help if teams end up tied on points.
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They still have one more league match left against Punjab Kings on May 26. If they win, they’ll reach 18 points. But that alone isn’t enough. They’ll still have to wait and watch what the other teams do.
IPL 2025 playoffs: What does MI need to finish in the top two?
It’s not only in MI’s hands. They can get to 18 points, but to finish in the top two, they need a bit of luck too. Here's how things stand:
Gujarat Titans have 18 points and have one match left to play. One more win will take GT to 20, which is out of MI’s reach.
RCB are sitting at 17 points with two games left. If they win both, they go up to 21. Even one win will push them past MI.
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Punjab Kings, who also have 17 points, play DC and then MI. If they beat DC, they go to 19. And if they beat MI too, they’ll jump to 21.
So, for Mumbai to sneak into the top two, they need to beat PBKS first. But more importantly, only one among GT, RCB, or PBKS should end up with more than 18 points. If two of them cross that line, MI will stay in third or fourth place.