Mumbai Indians (MI) are back in the IPL playoffs after a strong 59-run win against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, May 21. This win, in what was a virtual knockout match, sealed MI’s place in the playoffs.
After losing early wickets at 58/3 and later at 123/5, MI bounced back thanks to a steady 73* from Suryakumar Yadav and a quickfire 24* off 8 balls by Naman Dhir. Their total proved more than enough as MI’s bowlers—especially Mitchell Santner and Jasprit Bumrah, who took three wickets each—bowled out DC for just 121.
The win takes MI to 16 points from 13 matches. It’s been a stunning turnaround after a poor start to the season, where they won just one of their first five games. They’ve now won seven of their last eight and look strong heading into the playoffs.
What MI Need to Reach the Top Two
Making the playoffs is great, but finishing in the top two is even better. It gives teams a second chance even if they lose their first playoff game.
Here’s what MI need for a top-two finish:
- Two out of Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) must lose both their remaining matches.
- If teams are tied on 18 points, MI need a better Net Run Rate (NRR) to edge ahead.
- Rain or abandoned games could complicate things by splitting points.
Can a Team Win the IPL Without a Top-Two Finish?
It’s rare. Since the current playoff format began in 2010, only one team has done it—Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, who won three straight knockout games to claim the title.
If MI finish outside the top two, they’ll need to take the same tough path—three straight do-or-die wins to lift the trophy. But with their strong form and playoff experience, they can’t be counted out.
Still, their top-two dream depends on other results going their way.