Gujarat Titans (GT) lost control of finishing in the top two in the IPL 2025 group stage after their huge 83-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 25). After opting to bat first, CSK scored 230/5 in the first innings before bowling out the hosts for 83 runs in under 19 overs. GT now have 18 points after 13 matches — which can be surpassed by all three other teams in the top four, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians. Had GT beaten CSK, they’d have cemented not only a top-two finish but also a first-placed finish in the season. Their hopes of retaining the top two are dependent on RCB. If they lose to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final league match, GT will finish second and play in the first Qualifier. In this scenario, in the match between PBKS and MI, the winner will become the other team to qualify and finish first. What if RCB beats LSG? Then Rajat Patidar’s side will secure a top-two finish for themselves, and GT’s only hope of making it to the top two would be the MI-PBKS match getting washed out. In that case, GT and PBKS will have 18 points each, with the latter’s number of wins less than the former. But if that match gives a result, the winner will finish in the top two alongside RCB. MI, if they win, will have the same number of points and wins as GT but will be ahead on the virtue of their better NRR. A top-two finish is crucial for all franchises. The best two sides play the first Qualifier, where the winner goes to the Final and the loser gets another chance to make it to the summit clash by playing in the second Qualifier. Whereas the third and fourth-placed sides compete in the Eliminator, which is a knockout match. Secondly, even if the third or fourth-placed side wins the Eliminator, they need to win two more matches (the second Qualifier and the Final) to win the trophy. Three consecutive wins at the business end of the tournament is a difficult task which every team would like to avoid.