As IPL 2025 nears its high-stakes finale, the playoff race is wide open, and Sunday’s double-header saw a major shake-up in both the Orange and Purple Cap standings.
Chennai Super Kings handed Gujarat Titans a heavy 83-run defeat in Ahmedabad, while Heinrich Klaasen’s stunning century powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a record 278 and a thumping win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
From Dhoni's future to final-day playoff scenarios, here's your full May 26 IPL roundup:
Purple Cap Shake-up: Noor Edges Ahead
CSK may be out of playoff contention, but Noor Ahmad signed off in style, taking 3 for 21 to move to the top of the Purple Cap standings with 24 wickets in 14 matches.
GT’s Prasidh Krishna, who has 23 wickets from as many games, sits second and remains in the hunt with playoffs to come. MI’s Trent Boult (19) and RCB’s Josh Hazlewood (18) occupy the next two spots, while GT’s R Sai Kishore and KKR’s Varun Chakravarthy are tied at 17 wickets each, but the latter dropped to sixth after a forgettable outing in Delhi.
Orange Cap Race: Sudharsan-Gill Stay 1-2
Despite GT’s collapse for 147 in the face of CSK’s 230, B Sai Sudharsan top-scored again with 41, taking his season tally to 679 runs and retaining the Orange Cap.
Skipper Shubman Gill stayed second with 649 despite a poor outing. MI’s Suryakumar Yadav, LSG’s Mitchell Marsh, and RR’s Yashasvi Jaiswal follow in the top five. RCB’s Virat Kohli (548 runs) is looming close and could break into the top three with a strong performance against LSG.
Klaasen Blasts Third-Fastest IPL Century
In a stunning display of power-hitting, Heinrich Klaasen smashed an unbeaten 105 off just 39 balls — the third-fastest IPL century ever — to lead SRH to 278/3 in Delhi.
The knock dismantled KKR’s hopes and ended SRH’s five-match losing streak against them. The left-arm spin duo of Harsh Dubey and Eshan Malinga, along with veteran Jaydev Unadkat, picked up three wickets each to complete the rout and momentarily lift SRH to sixth.
CSK Finish Last as Dhoni Keeps Future Open
Chennai Super Kings’ biggest win of the season was bittersweet as they officially ended at the bottom of the IPL 2025 table — their worst-ever finish. Post-match, MS Dhoni addressed speculation about his future, stating he would take “four-five months” to decide.
“I’ll go back to Ranchi, enjoy a few bike rides and then think,” he said. Dhoni, who turns 44 in July, remains undecided about returning for IPL 2026, emphasizing fitness and hunger over age or stats.
Playoff Picture: Top Two Spots Up for Grabs
The battle for a top-two finish — and a spot in Qualifier 1 — is intensifying. With GT, PBKS, RCB and MI already qualified, none are guaranteed a place in the first Qualifier yet. GT’s loss to CSK dented their NRR, making them vulnerable to dropping into the Eliminator.
If PBKS beat MI, they go to 19 points and seal a top-two finish. RCB can then join them with a win over LSG. However, if MI win, they’ll likely surpass GT on NRR and join RCB (if they win) in the top two. GT’s only path to Qualifier 1 now depends on RCB losing or PBKS-MI ending in a no result.
Scenario Watch: Weather Could Play a Role
In the event of a washout in the PBKS vs MI clash, both teams would share a point, placing PBKS at 18 and MI at 17 — a major boost for GT, who would retain a top-two finish. RCB would then only need a win to join GT in Qualifier 1.
But if RCB lose and PBKS-MI is washed out, PBKS could sneak into the top two. No reserve days for league matches add a layer of unpredictability, making weather a silent wildcard in this playoff puzzle.
From Control to Chaos: GT’s Tumble
Once table-toppers, GT have endured two successive thrashings — including Sunday’s 83-run loss — and now need results elsewhere to fall in place. Their fate hinges on either an RCB loss or a PBKS-MI no result. With no more league games left, GT find themselves watching from the sidelines as their Qualifier 1 hopes hang by a thread — a reminder of how brutal IPL margins can be.
