MI vs GT: How Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans match at Wankhede will affect race to IPL 2025 playoffs

Mumbai Indians face Gujarat Titans in the 56th match of the 2025 Indian Premier League. And given how well off the two western Indian franchises as far as the current standings are concerned, Tuesday’s blockbuster clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will have the winning team virtually confirming their place in the playoffs that get underway two weeks from now.

The upcoming clash will be the second meeting of the season between the two franchises, with GT having defeated MI by 36 runs when they had previously met at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The victory over Mumbai would mark the beginning of a four-match winning streak and Gujarat have kept themselves in the playoffs zone ever since.

MI were at the bottom of the 10-team points table at one point, facing the prospect of ending up with the wooden spoon for the third time in four seasons. The five-time champions, however, have bounced back in style after a familiar slow start, winning six matches on the trot after losing four of their first five games.

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The Hardik Pandya-led side jumped to the top of the points table after thrashing Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs in Jaipur on Thursday, and currently are at the third spot – sitting ahead of GT due to a better Net Run Rate with both teams level on 14 points.

How MI-GT match at Wankhede will affect IPL 2025 playoff scenarios

Here’s a look at the three possible outcomes in the Mumbai-Gujarat match that will take place later on Tuesday, and how it will affect the IPL points table:

If MI win: Mumbai Indians will not only break their own record for the longest winning streak by collecting a seventh victory on the trot, they will also reclaim their spot at the top of the table. MI will go level with RCB on 16 points, and their vastly superior Net Run Rate will help them claim the higher spot on the standings.

And since no team has ever been eliminated after collecting 16 points in a season where each team has played 14 games in the league stage, MI will virtually be assured of a spot in the playoffs.

If GT win: Both MI and GT currently sit on 14 points and have an NRR that is better than that of current leaders RCB. A victory at the Wankhede on Tuesday thus will have the same effect on Gujarat as it will on Mumbai, i.e. they will move to the top of the table once again.

What works in the Shubman Gill-led side’s favour is the fact that they have a game in hand. So not only will the Shubman Gill-led side virtually assure themselves of a spot in the playoffs, they will be front-runners for a top-two finish.

If the match ends in a washout: The 18th IPL season has witnessed two washouts so far, and should there be a third on Tuesday, MI and GT will go level with the second-placed Punjab Kings on 15 points. And since both teams have a better NRR, the Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS will drop to the fourth spot with Mumbai and Gujarat occupying the second and third spots respectively.