Mumbai Indians (MI) have clinched the final playoff berth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, securing their spot with a dominant 59-run victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. With this win, MI joins Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the playoffs, while Delhi Capitals have been eliminated from the tournament.
The match was a must-win for both teams, with MI needing a victory to guarantee their place in the top four, and DC requiring a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that they may have later regretted as Mumbai Indians put up a competitive total on the board.
Mumbai Indians' innings was anchored by a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 73 runs from Suryakumar Yadav. His explosive innings, which came off just 43 balls and included 7 fours and 4 sixes, propelled MI to a total of 180/5 in their 20 overs. While MI kept losing wickets at regular intervals, Suryakumar held the innings together and accelerated towards the end, taking the game away from Delhi in the final few overs. Naman Dhir also contributed with a late cameo, smashing quick-fire boundaries and sixes to further boost the score. Mukesh Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi, though he seemed slightly unfit towards the end of his spell.
In response, Delhi Capitals struggled to build any momentum and were eventually bundled out for a mere 121 in 18.2 overs. Jasprit Bumrah sealed the victory by dismissing Mustafizur Rahman, triggering celebrations in the Mumbai Indians camp. The DC batting lineup faltered, lacking substance in the middle order after an early collapse. Mitchell Santner was the star performer with the ball for MI, taking 3 wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs. Other MI bowlers also kept things tight, restricting the flow of runs and picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Several Delhi batsmen failed to make an impact. KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Abishek Porel were all dismissed cheaply in the powerplay, putting the team on the back foot early in the chase. Tristan Stubbs also failed to convert his start, falling to a crucial dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah that further dented Delhi's hopes.
The win was particularly significant for Mumbai Indians, who had a slow start to the season but found their rhythm at the business end of the tournament. This victory underlines their reputation for peaking at the right time and their ability to perform under pressure. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals, who began the tournament strongly, faltered as the season progressed, ultimately leading to their elimination.
With the league stage drawing to a close, the focus now shifts to the playoffs. The New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh will host Qualifier 1 on May 29 and the Eliminator on May 30. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host Qualifier 2 on June 1 and the final on June 3. While the playoff teams are now confirmed, the positions of the teams are yet to be decided, and the race for a top-two finish remains open.
