Starting this season in the worst way, the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians haven’t only qualified for the Playoffs in the IPL 2025 but are also looking for the top two places in the final points table. Although it is still a little tricky, it isn’t impossible for them anymore.

The joint-most successful IPL team, Mumbai Indians, who finished the 2024 season in the last or 10th position, started the IPL 2025 with four defeats in their first five matches of the season. But the atmosphere has totally changed since then, as they have won seven out of their next eight games, including six straight wins. 

IPL 2025: Teams qualify for Playoffs

Mumbai Indians are the latest to secure the Playoffs for the IPL 2025, as we have got all four teams for the IPL 2025 Playoffs after Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru already booked their places before MI. 

Meanwhile, despite confirming their spots for the IPL 2025 Playoffs, MI weren’t favourites earlier to finish among the top two teams in the points table. But while recently Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings suffered defeats, a chance has opened up for Mumbai Indians to secure the top-two finish in the points table. 

See Also: Top 3 reasons why Punjab Kings Lost to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 Match 66

IPL 2025: Why is a top-two finish important?

Every team dreams of finishing in the top two places in the points table of an IPL season to play the Qualifier 1, where the losing team still gets one more chance by playing the Qualifier 2 against the Eliminator winners. 

IPL 2025: Latest Points Table (Updated as of May 24, 2025, after the 66th match)

*NRR = Net Run Rate

Before talking about the scenarios of Mumbai Indians’ top-two finish in the IPL 2025 points table, let's check out the remaining league stage fixtures for the top four teams in the IPL 2025 points table.

• 67th match: Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings at Ahmedabad (15:30 IST)

• 69th match: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings at Jaipur (19:30 IST)

• 70th match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Lucknow (19:30 IST) 

Mumbai Indians' advantage: MI have the strongest net run rate, and the other three teams are unlikely to catch them. 

Mumbai Indians' disadvantage: MI must win their last game, as they can’t afford a winless game to fulfill their top-two finish dream. 

Mumbai Indians’ scenarios for the top-two finish in the IPL 2025 points table

• Mumbai Indians must win their match against Punjab Kings. Even a no result can’t help them secure a top-two finish.  

• Either Gujarat Titans or Royal Challengers Bengaluru must lose their respective last fixtures.

If GT win and RCB lose with the result of MI beating PBKS, GT will end on top with 20 points and MI will finish in the second place with 18 points, while PBKS and RCB will finish in the next two places with 17 points each.

If GT lose and RCB win with the result of MI beating PBKS, RCB will finish on top with 19 points, while GT and MI both will have 18 points, and MI presently have a stronger net run rate than GT. If MI maintain their stronger net run rate, at least from GT, they will finish in the second position, just above GT, and PBKS will finish in the fourth place with 17 points.  

If both GT and RCB lose and MI beat PBKS, GT and MI both will finish in the top two positions with 18 points each (net run rate will decide the table toppers), and RCB and PBKS both will finish in the next two places with 17 points each. So, MI can finish the league stage as the points table leaders.