The IPL 2025 league stage finishes with more dramas than a Bollywood thriller, and the playoffs are locked in with four high-octane teams: Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Mumbai Indians (MI). With the race to the trophy well and truly underway, it begs the question, will this year finally be the year an underdog makes history?
Let’s take a closer look at the narratives, experiences, and chances for each of the final four, and determine who has the advantage going into the knockout phase.
1. Mumbai Indians (MI): The Power House
When you discuss the IPL playoffs, you cannot finish the discussion without mentioning the Mumbai Indians (MI). MI has five IPL title already in their cabinet. MI is not only a team but an institution. MI is consistently on the podium because of consistency of play, depth in squad, and a clinical approach to crunch games. MI is in the playoffs with their usual swagger.
MI’s major contributors this season include the revivification of Suryakumar Yadav, the lethality of Jasprit Bumrah, and MI’s new captain is emulating the calm headed behavior of Rohit Sharma. With those three leading MI, MI is still a giant threat and in their class navigations of the playoffs.
Playoff Performance History: MI has been in the playoffs ten or more times in IPL history and thrives in high-pressure scenarios (they seem to peak!). Their ability to be on form at the right time seems almost ritualistic.
Title chances: Strong. MI is a seasoned playoff team with star performers and a mindset entering playoff games that precedes the tournament. They are probably the most dangerous team in the competition. MI’s won a few close contests this season, but they would need to straighten out some of their middle-order inconsistencies.
2. Gujarat Titans (GT): The New Age Contender
Gujrat Titans may be one of the newer franchises, but they have demonstrated that they can be a serious team in a very quick period of time. In their first season in 2022, they became champions. Since then, they have qualified to the playoffs and continued to play fearless cricket.
This season, GT continues to display its disciplined bowling and aggressive batting since Shubman Gill took over. Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan have been the pitching staff’s rock, and their middle order batting has stepped up with a few timely contributions.
Playoff Experience: GT has qualified for the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. They also have a title and a runner-up title in those three seasons – something that many established franchises would be envious of.
Title Chances – Medium – High. If the Top-order is firing, and the bowling staff can hold their nerve in a high stakes match, they can go all the way again. But there can be more pressure on the young captains, who can be dealt a tough hand, and, other teams could exploit that.
3. Punjab Kings (PBKS): A Surprise Package Prepared to Make History?
Every IPL campaign, we all wonder: can Punjab Kings finally pull it all together? this time they have. The combination of young blood and overseas players hitting their stride together, PKBS have found the consistency they have lacked for years.
With a focused captain and some spark with impact players Priyansh Arya, Arshdeep Singh, etc, PBKS have managed the basics on the pitch and showed nerve and guts in their game this season. They have successfully defended low totals and chased down big ones. They are playing with flair under pressure, and this sets them apart this season.
Playoff history: Surprising enough, this is their fourth playoff in 18 seasons, and they made it to the final once, back in 2014.
Title chances: There is some chance, perhaps, there is some unpredictability. if they don’t lose their nerve or become conservative, there is a chance they can upset the Giants. However, they will burn the playoff jitters coming in for many with zero playoff experience.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): The Ever-Hopeful IPL Contender
RCB’s history in the IPL has been emotional. They have the legends – Kohli, de Villiers, Gayle – the massive following, the runs. What they haven’t had is the trophy.
This year, however, Royal Challengers Banglore looks balanced. Kohli is basically back to his old self, the young Indian core has produced, and the bowling attack is starting to round into form. Rajat Patidar’s leadership under Kohli’s guidance has provided clarity and calmness, the aggressive intent is apparent.
Playoff experience: RCB has made the playoffs eight times (to be clear, they are still determined to win their first title), and finished as runner-up three times – but never have the RCB fans been able to hoist the title.
Chances of a Title: Medium-High. With experience, passion, and a team that finally looks “complete”, RCB may finally have the “perfect storm” brewing. However, as we know historically, the psychological burden of being title less may well limit their potential.
CSK’s Fall: The Collapse of a Powerhouse
We cannot overlook the fact that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are not in the playoffs. This franchise has demonstrated unprecedented success as a franchise that treats consistent finishes and a calm posture in late-game situations as a business model, but CSK’s 2025 season will go down as one they would like to forget.
With MS Dhoni presumably retiring from the playing XI next season, it seems like the franchise would need to make some tough decisions gearing up for the season to come with their XI (and maybe squad too?).
Injuries, inconsistent early season batting, and somehow a worryingly sloppy fielding performance were the reasons for their demise this season. It’s strange for all IPL fans but it does not feel great to see IPL playoffs without the Yellow Army. Nevertheless, as CSK has demonstrated through their rise the past ten years we should never count out a team simply becasue they have not been successful for a brief period of time.
Final Reflections: A Story of Two Dreams
And so MI and GT cruise into the playoffs as teams burdened with experience and history but we also focus on the two teams who have never lifted a trophy — PBKS and RCB.
Both teams are original IPL outfits. Both have been unfortunate too many times. And both has a chance to create history. Can PBKS hold it together and win their first ever IPL Title after 18 years of anguish? Or will RCB finally make the dream of millions come true and shake off the curse once and for all?
As the playoffs reach their climax, one thing is for sure — this IPL is not over, and the best is yet to come.
So who will it be? Will the Kings from Punjab rule? Will Bangalore light up in glory? Or will MI and GT continue to build their residents legacies?
Let us know in the comments — who are you backing for IPL 2025?