After a month of intense cricket, the IPL is starting to enter the finishing straight and the battle to make the season ending playoffs is well and truly on.
Of the ten teams that started their IPL journey it looks like six teams have realistic hopes of reaching the coveted final four spots and remain in with a chance of being crowned 2025 IPL Champions.
In the mix for glory are the Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, RCB, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. Let’s review their chances.
Gujarat Titans - betting odds 7/2
Despite sitting at the top of the IPL standings, it’s surprising that the Gujarat Titans are second when it comes to the outright betting market.
Having amassed twelve points from their first eight games, the Titans have amassed six wins and have only lost to the Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.
A huge reason as to why the Titans have been so successful through the first part of the season is the form of two men, Sai Sudharsan and Prasidh Krishna. At the time of publish, both men lead the way when it comes to the outright bowling and batting stats and both men have played a crucial part in helping the Titans lead the way.
With plenty of power around him in the lineup, Sudharsan seems happy to play an anchoring role and let the likes of Shubman Gill and Joss Buttler power the ball to the boundary.
Sudharsan has been one of the class players of the 2025 IPL season so far and looks to have a real chance of landing the Orange Cap for the first ever time.
With a brilliant balance between bat and ball, the Titans look like they can go all the way this season and win a second IPL campaign.
Mumbai Indians - betting odds 11/4
Despite currently being outside of the top four in the standings, the Mumbai Indians are currently viewed as the favourites for outright IPL victory.
Having won five games and lost four of their first nine games of the season, the Indians looked dead and buried but have found form just when it mattered to win four consecutive games and throw the race for IPL glory wide open.
One of the reasons why the Indians have surged back into contention is the form of Sky Yadav.
Fourth in the overall standings when it comes to the overall batting stats, Yadav is averaging almost 50 across his last three innings and is providing much needed power and skill down the Mumbai order.
After last year’s drama with the captaincy between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya boiling over onto the pitch, the two seem to have settled their differences and both men seem to be working in perfect harmony.
The Indians have match winners all over the pitch and they will be hoping that experience will come in crucial as they keep up their bid of making the top 4.
RCB - betting odds 4/1
RCB are no strangers when it comes to reaching the top 4, but as it has been well documented, they are still yet to win an IPL crown and they will be hoping to change that this time around.
The IPL trophy is the only trophy missing from Virat Kohli’s but the great man is doing all he can to change that this season.
The winner of the Orange Cap last season, Kohli is hoping to become the first man in IPL history to win the crown in consecutive seasons.
Currently second in the race to finish as the Orange Cap victor, few batsmen can boast such an impressive average as Kohli and he looks to be playing at a hugely impressive level.
Despite the tight nature of the IPL table, RCB are rounding into form just when it matters. Winners of three of their last four matches, they will still have high hopes of finishing the group stage at the top of the table. They look a side to watch out for and could be the best value of the tournament.
Delhi Capitals - betting odds 9/2
Just like RCB, the Delhi Capitals are looking to land a first ever IPL title.
Buoyed by the offseason acquisition of Rishabh Pant, the Capitals are this year’s surprise package, but they look more than capable of maintaining their challenge and reaching the final four for the first time since 2020.
On paper the Capitals don’t look to have one of the most powerful batting lineups but the one area where they have excelled this season is with spin - and they have one of the best in the form of Kuldeep Yadav.
Having chipped in with twelve wickets across the Capitals first eight matches, Kuldeep has been able to strike regularly whilst also being measly with the runs. He currently leads all bowlers when it comes to number of runs conceded and if the Capitals are to finally break their playoff drought his bowling will be key.
Many believe that Kuldeep could be in the mix for being named as the MVP for the season, he will want to maintain his form as the Capitals enter the most crucial part of their season.
Punjab Kings - betting odds 5/1
It is an exciting time to be a Punjab Kings fan. Arguably the most beleaguered team in the IPL, the last time the Kings reached the playoffs was all the way back in 2014, but they have a chance of changing that record this year.
Currently on eleven points from their first nine games, they would have been frustrated not to have one more point following their match against the Rajasthan Royals being cancelled for rain.
One of the reasons why the Kings find themselves at the right end of the table is because of KL Rahul.
The former Indian opener is one of India’s best ever white ball batsmen and he is rewound the clock this season.
Only three men are above Rahul when it comes to batting averages and his average of nearly 65 has seen the Capitals repeat consistently high scores and be in with a chance of winning games.
Even the most ardent of Kings fans would admit that their team doesn’t have the quality of others, but in Rahul they do have a bonafide legend and if Rahul can keep up his good form he has every chance of leading the Kings back to the playoffs for the first time in over ten years.
Lucknow Super Giants - betting odds 16/1
Of the six teams that find themselves in the mix for IPL glory, the team with the longest odds are without doubt the Lucknow Super Giants. However at the time of writing the team find themselves just a point outside of the top four and will be hopeful of stringing some victories together to cement their place.
The reason for Lucknow’s slide down the table has been their form over the last few games. After a fast start where they won four of their first six games, the team has faltered of late, losing two of their last three and the pressure to stop that slide is well and truly on.
One of the reasons why the Super Giants were dominating at the start of the season was because of Nicholas Pooran, but of late the West Indian has come off the boil.
Nobody in the IPL has come close to hitting as many sixes as Pooran with him leading the way with 31.
However, in his last two innings he has just scored 20 runs and has seen his lead in the race to be crowned the Orange Cap winner overthrown by Sai Sudharsan.
If the Super Giants are to win a first ever IPL title they need Pooran firing again.
Tom Gibson
Tom Gibson, 33, possesses a keen interest in cricket combined with expertise in betting. Based in Newcastle, he is well-acquainted with the dynamics of the game and the betting world. With numerous years analyzing cricket matches and odds, Tom offers a unique perspective on the intersection of the sport and betting strategies