The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is now at the business end of the tournament. With three teams already qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, two likely contenders will compete to take the fourth playoff spot — Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI).

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were the fifth team to be eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoff race after losing to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) the other night.

With Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings already qualifying for the playoffs, only Delhi Capitals or Mumbai Indians remain from the other teams who can book their place in the IPL eliminator spot.

Both teams have two matches to play, including one Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals head-to-head.

Mumbai Indians Remaining Matches

• Vs Delhi Capitals
• Vs Punjab Kings

Delhi Capitals Remaining Matches

• Vs Mumbai Indians
• Vs Punjab Kings

Mumbai Indians, the 5-time IPL champions, are currently in the fourth spot with 14 points, having played 12 games and have the advantage of a superior net run rate (NRR) of 1.156 compared to the Number 5 spot holders, Delhi Capitals, who have 13 points in their 12 games.

Rains to Play Spoil Sport?

Mumbai Indians’ playoff chances could be impacted as their next game against Delhi Capitals in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium may face rain interruptions. As per the Met Department, rains are expected to spoil the party on the 21st, which could affect the IPL 2025 league standings.

Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals – Qualification Scenarios

Scenario 1 – Mumbai Win

If Mumbai Indians win this all-important fixture, they will end up with 16 points. This will give them an automatic qualification in the top 4, keeping their MI top 4 chances strong, with one game remaining to improve their ranking on the IPL 2025 points table.

Scenario 2 – Delhi Capitals Win

If Delhi Capitals win, they will move to 15 points. This win will seriously hamper Mumbai Indians’ playoff chances, with all eyes then on Mumbai’s last match against Punjab Kings, which becomes a must-win game for the MI Paltans. A loss here could seal their fate and send Delhi Capitals to the playoffs.

Scenario 3 – No Result Game

This scenario will put the Mumbai Indians again in a fix. Both Teams will earn 1 point each, making Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have 15 points and 14 points respectively. A win for Delhi Capitals in their last fixture against Punjab Kings will put them in the playoffs with 16 points if Mumbai Indians lose their last game against Punjab Kings.

The identity of the fourth team in the playoffs could be revealed as early as May 21 or as late as May 26.

The race to finish in the top two spots of the IPL table and earn two shots at qualifying for the final is likely to go on until the final stages of the league phase.

IPL history suggests that the teams finishing in the top 2 positions have a better chance of lifting the IPL championship trophy.

Can MI Still Qualify?

Mumbai Indians’ current form and all-round depth still make them favorites. Despite a narrow loss to Gujarat Titans nearly a fortnight ago, MI had recorded six consecutive wins, emerging as one of the most formidable IPL 2025 playoff contenders.

Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, began their IPL 2025 campaign strong with five wins in the first six matches, but their form has dipped in the second half of the season.