With the IPL 2025 re-commencing from Saturday, 17th May, after a week-long hiatus due to the escalations between India and Pakistan, seven teams are still in the mix for the playoff spots. This stoppage and the upcoming resumption have changed the dynamics of the tournament. It has led to an amended timetable for the remaining 17 matches. These games have been allotted to just six venues, making it an intense few days ahead for the majority of the stakeholders involved. The uncertainty about the foreign players' availability, their capable replacements, and playing form loom large before the restart.

The Delhi Capitals (DC) are to blame for their current situation in the points table. Having begun the tournament in extreme positive fashion, they lost their golden touch midway and struggled to string up winning games. They have lost the majority of their recent matches before the pause. Now, with the league resuming for the business end of the season, the team from the Capital needs to pull up their socks to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Winning games can only be the way to reaffirm their stake in claiming their maiden IPL title. 

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Here’s a look at Delhi Capitals' potential quest for a top-four finish.

Matches Played: 11, Points: 13, NRR: 0.362

Upcoming Matches: Home – GT (18^th May); Away – MI (21^st May); Jaipur – PBKS (24^th May)

Best Possible Finish: 19 points

A lucky point due to the washout against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has given Delhi a valuable point in their qualification bid. 15 points will push them into the top four only if several other results go in their favour, while 17 points could also earn them a place at the mercy of other results. The Capitals can best finish on 19 points, which would be more than sufficient to claim a playoff spot and even a top-two position. However, their remaining matches are against teams above them in the tally, and hence it's going to be very tough for DC to get favourable results. 

It's still possible for five teams to finish on 17 or more points. Wins in all three remaining matches will ensure qualification for Axar Patel's team, but that will require a huge reversal of form, given that they have only won one of their last five matches. Their talismanic speedster in Mitchell Starc, is confirmed not to take further part in the competition. Along with their batting woes, DC would also be required to sort out their bowling options to field a strong team for the pending matches.