Sunil Narine's all-around performance thrashed Delhi capitals to register Kolkata's 5th win at Sharjah. Moreover, Kolkata stays at 4th position at the IPL 2021 points table. Although, KKR came closer to seal a spot for the playoffs. Narine, Lockie Ferguson, and Venkatesh Iyer took two wickets each to restrict DC in 127-9 in 20 overs. As Shubman Gill started well for KKR and Rana, Narine finishes it for KKR. Rana scored 36* runs in 27 deliveries and Narine makes a cameo of 21 runs in 10 balls that he played.

Toss Update from Sharjah :

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to chase against Delhi capitals. However, KKR makes two changes in their team as Sandeep warrior comes in for Prasidh and Tim Southee came in for injured Andree Russel. On the other side, Delhi Capitals makes a change in their playing xi as Steve Smith came in place of Prithwi Shaw.

Also Read: RR Vs RCB IPL 2021 Match: Full Preview, Lineups, Pitch Report, And Dream11 Team Prediction

The first innings dissaster from Delhi Capitals :

Coming to bat, Shikhar Dhawan and Steve Smith started firing from the first ball as Dhawan hits back-to-back boundaries. But, sooner Dhawan(24) got caught by Iyer in Ferguson's delivery. Shreyas Iyer(1) joins Steve Smith(39) but got bowled on the next over of Sunil Narine. Skipper Rishabh Pant came when his team was in trouble and scores a valuable 39 runs in 36 deliveries.

However, Soon Steve Smith got bowled by Ferguson's 150+ delivery. Moreover, no batsman of DC stands in front of KKR bowlers except skipper Pant. However, Pant got run out in the last over to take a double. As DC finishes with a below-average score of 127-9 runs in 20 overs. Narine, Ferguson, and Iyer take two wickets each to restrict DC to a below-par score.

The Thrilling Chase from Kolkata knight Riders :

After DC fails to score a good total on the board, KKR was looking to chase down the target easily. But, DC has other plans, as in form Venkatesh Iyer got out scoring just 14 runs. Moreover, Rahul Tripathi also got out in just 9 runs. However, Shubman Gill scored valuable 30 runs before he got caught by Shreyas Iyer in Rabada's delivery.

However, soon skipper Eoin Morgan got outscoring a duck and Dinesh Kartik got bowled out on just 12 runs. Sunil Narine came and joins Nitish Rana, as the required run rate was increasing Kolkata was seen in trouble to hit boundaries as DC's bowlers were bowling in the right areas.

But, it was Narine's day as he hammered back-to-back sixes and boundaries in DC's best bowler Rabada's over. Narine(21) seals the game already before he got out in Nortje's 17th over. Nitish ran finishes it for KKR in the 19th over as KKR bounces back from the defeat against CSK. KKR finishes with 130-7 runs in 18.2 overs to do the deal for KKR.

Read Also: Every squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021

Mumbai Indians Vs Punjab Kings :

Finally, the defending champions Mumbai Indians won their first match in the second leg of IPL 2021. As they beat Punjab Kings by 6 wickets and jumps back to 5th position on the IPL points table 2021. Moreover, the good news for MI is that Hardik Pandya gets some runs against PBKS. Hardik finishes 40* runs in 30 deliveries and hits a six to seal the game for MI. However, Pollard took 2 important wickets in the first innings including KL Rahul's wicket. Also, Pollard finishes the match with Hardik. Not to forgot, Saurabh Tiwary's brilliant innings of 45 runs before Pandya came and steals the show.

Toss Update from Abu Dhabi :

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first against Punjab Kings. However, there were two changes in MI's squad. Saurabh Tiwary makes a comeback in place of Ishan Kishan and Coulter-Nile added to the playing xi in place of Adam Milne. On the other hand, for Punjab Kings, Mayank Agarwal misses out for his back pain and Mandeep Singh makes his place in the team.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Players from the 2007 world Cup who will feature in this world cup

Punjab Kings trouble in the first innings :

As Mayank Agarwal was not playing, Mandeep Singh opened the innings with his skipper KL Rahul. But, the start was not great for Punjab. As they lost back-to-back wickets in the span of 3 overs(5th to 8th overs). However, Krunal Pandya gets the first breakthrough for MI. Krunal dismisses Mandeep Singh(15) in his 3rd over and in the last over of the powerplay. After that, Kieron Pollard came to steal the show from PBKS. As Pollard took two crucial wickets of Chris Gayle(1) and KL Rahul(21) in the same over(7th over).

However, Pooran(2) also got out in the next over of Jaspreet Bumrah. After that Aiden Markram and Deepak Hooda took the charge of PBKS. As they started hitting all the bowlers out of the park. Both of them, makes a 50+ run stand between them before Markram got bowled out on 42 of Rahul Chahar's delivery. Deepak Hooda scored 28 runs in 26 balls before he get caught by Pollard in Bumrah's delivery.

Punjab Kings finishes on a below-par score of 135-6 in 20 overs. However, Pollard and Bumrah took 2 wickets each, and Krunal and Rahul took 1 each.

Read Also: ICC Launches Official Anthem Ahead Of 2021 T20 World Cup

The Chase from Mumbai Indians :

Coming to chase a below-average score De Kock struggles again in the powerplay as he was running below 100 SR. However, to prevent the increase of Net Run Rate Rohit Sharma got caught by Mandeep Singh in Ravi Bisnoi's first over. But, the trouble begins when Surya Kumar Yadav got bowled on the next delivery, as he scores a duck again. Mumbai Indians were struggling at 16-1 in 4 overs.

After that, Saurabh Tiwary came and makes a handy partnership of 45 runs with De Kock. Although, De Kock was bowled out by Mohammad Shami in the 10th over of MI's innings. However, off-form Hardik Pandya comes in to bat after that. Although, Pandya has not started well, as he was struggling to get runs in the initial stage of his innings. Saurabh Tiwary makes the job a little bit easy for MI. Before he got out on 45 runs in 37 deliveries including 3 fours and 2 sixes.

Meanwhile, Pollard came and makes a good partnership with Hardik to get closer to the target. As Hardik Pandya took the charge of Mohammad Shami in the 17th over and 19th over to seal the deal for MI. Moreover, Pandya hits 2 fours and a six on the final ball of the 19th over when 5 runs are needed to seal the game. MI finishes with 137-4 runs in 19 overs as Hardik remains not out on 40 runs and Pollard on 15 runs.

IPL 2021 Points Table :

Kolkata Knight Riders are back again in the playoffs race of IPL 2021. As they have 10 points(5 wins) now in 11 matches and stand at 4th spot in the IPL points table 2021. On the other hand, defending champions Mumbai Indians win against Punjab Kings. However, Mumbai Indians climb up to the 5th position on the points table of IPL 2021.

Read Also: Mahela Jayawardene to join Sri Lanka as a consultant during T20 World Cup

However, in terms of net run rate, KKR is ahead of MI now. As both of the teams, KKR and MI have the same points(10 points) in the same amount of matches. It will be interesting to see who books their spot in the points table of IPL 2021. However, let's take a look at the points table after the doubleheader on Tuesday.

Achieving consistent playoffs mark is a big flex for IPL franchises. Some teams have made their way to the playoffs so many times that now it feels weird when they don't qualify.

We are very close to the playoffs of IPL 2025, and some teams have already booked their berth, adding a number to their playoff appearance.

So which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times? It is time to find out.

Chennai Super Kings (12 times)

Chennai Super Kings stands as the IPL playoffs King, having qualified 12 times in their 16 seasons. This unmatched legacy grows even stronger with their title winning history.

CSK also holds the record of reaching the IPL finals most number of times (10 times), and winning 5 out of them, in the years 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (10 times)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the 10-time playoff qualification mark in IPL 2025. They were among the first three teams to qualify for the playoff this season, which made it their 10th qualification.

This side is yet to grab the title despite having qualified several times. It will be interesting to see if they can achieve that in this season itself.

Read Also: IPL Playoffs: Teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats

Mumbai Indians (10 times)

Mumbai Indians are another IPL powerhouse with exceptional playoffs record. They qualified for IPL playoffs 10 times and are also the five-time champions.

Their current position in IPL 2025 points table look pretty steady, and a win against DC would secure their spot in the playoffs, which obviously increases their count.

Can they make it to the playoffs for the 11th time? We will know soon.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

Other teams with 5+ playoff qualification

Every IPL season delivers its share of moments, but some stay in our minds longer. Remarkable sportsmanship, brilliant athleticism, and performances under pressure is what truly defined the season.

Get ready to dive into those bittersweet moments that IPL 2025 brought to us. From KL Rahul's "This is my ground" to Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet. Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025.

1. Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet

A recent heartfelt moment occurred after the end of RR vs CSK's match that many will remember. The 14-year-old star, Vaibhav Suryavanshi approached MS Dhoni, and bent down to touch his feet during the post-match handshakes.

The clips of this heartwarming moment was widely shared across the internet, highlighting the impact and inspiration Dhoni continues to provide the next generation cricketers.

𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 😊

This is what #TATAIPL is all about 💛🩷#CSKvRR | @ChennaiIPL | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/hI9oHcHav1

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 20, 2025

2. "This is my ground"- Kohli and Rahul's viral banter 

Beyond the scoreboard, IPL offers moments of pure fun. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli provided one such moment with their "This is my ground" banter.

It started with Rahul's playful Kantara-style gesture at Chinnaswamy Stadium after both the teams met in their first encounter in IPL 2025. Later, Kohli returned the favour in Delhi, mimicking Rahul's move after RCB won in their second encounter.

This lighthearted exchange showed the great bond between these rivals.

That “achha hua out ho gaya” from KL 🤣💙 pic.twitter.com/OGFB4AQ4Lx

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 28, 2025

Read Also: Best Celebrations of IPL 2025 so far: From Abhishek's papercut to Hasaranga's Pushpa move

3. Riyan Parag's historic 6 consecutive sixes against KKR!

Riyan Parag unleashed an incredible display of power-hitting against KKR, by smashing 6 consecutive sixes across 2 overs. He left the crowd and the bowlers (Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy) stunned with his brilliance.

The overs followed like:

• 13th over (bowler: Moeen Ali) - 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, WD, 6
• 14th over (bowler: Varun Chakravarthy)- 1WD, 6

 Parag became the first batter to do so in IPL history.

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4. Vaibhav Suryavanshi's debut six and century

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the youngest player to debut in IPL history, announced his presence by hitting his first ball in the IPL for a flat six! It intensifies in the later stage, when Rajasthan Royals faced GT, and this young boy scored 101 runs off 38 balls.

He not only became the youngest debutant, but also the youngest centurion in IPL history, and we're sure there's more to come in the future.

5. Punjab Kings defend lowest ever IPL total (vs KKR)

IPL 2025 gave us a huge surprise when Punjab Kings pulled off an unexpected victory against KKR by successfully defending 111 runs.

The match initially seemed like an easy win for KKR after the first inning, but the bowlers of PBKS, especially Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28) and Marco Jansen (3/17) completely turned things around!

PBKS bowled them out in 15.3 overs and sealed the victory. This became the lowest total ever defended in IPL.

Read Also: IPL Playoffs: Teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats

6. Abhishek Sharma's papercut and record-breaking century

Abhishek Sharma won hearts with his record-breaking knock of 141 runs off just 55 balls against PBKS in IPL 2025. He pulled a small note out of his pocket after reaching his century, with the message "This one is for Orange Army."

This gesture went viral and people talked about his dedication after knowing the fact that he was carrying the note for several games!

He also became the highest scoring Indian batsman in an innings in IPL history with this knock.

𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚-𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙊𝙉 💯

A stunning maiden #TATAIPL century from Abhishek Sharma keeps #SRH on 🔝 in this chase 💪

Updates ▶ https://t.co/RTe7RlXDRq#TATAIPL | #SRHvPBKS | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/ANgdm1n86w

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2025

7. Kohli welcoming Bumrah with a 6!

In a highly charged match between RCB and MI, where Jasprit Bumrah returned to action for MI, making his comeback after injury layoff, an extraordinary drama took place. Virat Kohli welcomed Bumrah with a massive six on the very first ball bowled to him.

This instantly ignited the intensity of the game where we saw two legendary players going against each other.

8. MS Dhoni's vintage run-out vs LSG

MS Dhoni delivered a classic no-look flick run-out against Lucknow Super Giants in a match in IPL 2025. The LSG batter, Abdul Samad, was caught short by Dhoni's brilliance, where he swiftly and almost effortlessly flicked the ball to get him out.

This display of precision and speed with direct-hit was pure vintage Dhoni.

Watch the video at: Jiohotstar

Read Also: Most wins after 76 games as captain in IPL

9. Shreyas Iyer's selfless 97* (PBKS vs GT)

Shreyas Iyer scored a commendable 97* off 42 balls against GT in their first match of IPL 2025. What made his knock memorable was his decision to prioritise the team over individual milestone.

Despite being just 3 runs away from a century, Iyer consciously allowed his batting partner, Shashank Singh, to continue batting and hitting boundaries.

Eventually, Iyer remained at the non-striker's end, sacrificing his hundred and being just happy for the team.

10. The Salt-David relay catch!

A spectacular moment in IPL 2025 saw Phil Salt and Tim David execute a breathtaking relay catch against MI. Salt leaped to take the catch, flicking the ball mid-air for David before crossing the boundary line.

This catch was taken during a crucial stage at the game, which left the fans stunned by their perfect sync and teamwork.

𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 💥

Phil Salt & Tim David pulled off a game-changing blinder at the ropes! ❤️

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/Arsodkwgqg#TATAIPL | #MIvRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/gJxRuQGEyV

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 7, 2025

Read Also: Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season?

Other memorable moments of IPL 2025

• First Hat-trick of IPL 2025: Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 wickets in a single over, including a hat-trick against CSK.
• Super over in IPL after 4 years: The first and only tied match of IPL 2025 till now, between RR and DC, which was an absolute roller-coaster.
• Rinku Singh's match-winning fielding: Rinku Singh executed a quick pickup and one-bounce throw in the last over against RR, which bagged KKR a crucial 1-run victory.
• Yash Dayal in last overs for RCB: Yash Dayal has consistently showcased his power to restrict the run flow in high pressure matches in the last overs for RCB.

3 teams have made their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs and only one team is yet to be decided. There is a fierce battle going on between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals for the remaining playoff spot. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have made a three new changes in their squad.

Mumbai has announced the replacement of three foreign players. The team has included Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson in the squad in place of Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch. These three foreign players of Mumbai Indians are going to join their respective national teams after playing the last league match. In such a situation, the franchise had no other option but to bring their replacements.

Also Read: Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season?

Three replacement for MI

Mumbai Indians have included England's experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow in the team as a replacement for Will Jacks for Rs 5.25 crore. Bairstow has had good experience in IPL and is considered an aggressive batsman in the T20 format. His presence is expected to strengthen the top order batting of Mumbai Indians. 

At the same time, English fast bowler Richard Gleeson has been included in the team in place of Ryan Rickelton. Gleeson has been added to Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. He has been signed by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. Gleeson's fast pace and ability to bowl yorkers in the death overs can prove to be important for the team.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Charith Asalanka has been included in the squad in place of Corbin Bosch for Rs 75 lakh. Asalanka can not only bat aggressively but can also give options to the team with his part-time off-spin bowling.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Playoffs Race: Who Will Claim the Final Spot?

IPL 2025 | Playoffs scenario

Mumbai Indians are currently in the playoff race. If the team qualifies for the next round, then these three new replacement players will be available for the team from the playoff matches. This will help the team to create balance and fill the gap of foreign players.

It is worth noting that Mumbai Indians have 2 matches left in the league stage. In one match, the team will face Delhi Capitals, while in its last league stage match, it will face the challenge of Punjab Kings. Punjab has already made its place in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

As the IPL 2025 season nears its climax on May 19, 2025, the playoff picture is almost complete. Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Punjab Kings have secured their spots in the top four, leaving one final slot up for grabs.

The race for the fourth position is heating up, with Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) battling it out for that one position.

Read Also | IPL Table toppers: IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2024

Current Standings

• Mumbai Indians: 14 points from 12 games (NRR: 1.156)
• Delhi Capitals: 13 points from 12 games
• Lucknow Super Giants: 10 points from 11 games

Upcoming Fixtures

The outcome of the following matches will determine who claims the final playoff spot:

• MI vs. DC (May 21, 2025)
• MI vs. PBKS
• DC vs. PBKS
• LSG vs. SRH (May 19, 2025), GT, and RCB

Qualification Scenarios

Who Will Make It?

Mumbai Indians are currently favoured to clinch the final playoff spot, thanks to their higher points tally and strong net run rate.

The upcoming MI vs. DC clash on May 21 is being dubbed a virtual knockout, as the winner will gain a significant advantage. However, LSG’s three remaining games give them a slim chance to stage a dramatic comeback, provided they can upset strong teams like GT and RCB.

In a highly competitive tournament like IPL, every match counts. The pressure intensifies during playoffs and Eliminator is one such example of an high-pressure knockout match. 

From close defeats to disappointing ones, want to know which teams could not manage to survive this round the most times?

Here's the teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats.

Introduction of Eliminator in IPL

IPL's playoff format expanded in 2011 with introduction of Eliminator and Qualifier matches. The previous 3 seasons consisted of two semi-finals, involving the top 4 teams.

The introduction of Eliminator added another layer of excitement and intensity to the game ever since.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

Teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats

Plenty of teams consistently made their ways to Eliminator by ending up in the 3rd or 4th place in league stage, but only few could make it to the next round.

We have 2 franchises with equal number of defeats in here.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3 defeats)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are yet to have their fairytale ending in IPL. They appeared in Eliminator 5 times and lost thrice out of them, which is most number of defeats by a team in IPL Eliminator.

• IPL 2020: lost to SRH by 6 wickets
• IPL 2021: lost to KKR by 4 wickets
• IPL 2024: lost to RR by 4 wickets 

Sunrisers Hyderabad (3 defeats)

Sunrisers Hyderabad shares the joint position with RCB for having equal number of IPL Eliminator defeats. They also played 5 Eliminator matches, and lost 3 out of them.

• IPL 2013: lost to RR by 4 wickets 
• IPL 2017: lost to KKR by 7 wickets 
• IPL 2019: lost to DC by 2 wickets

Read Also: Highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs

Other teams with more than one defeat in IPL Eliminator