IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans’ Path to Top-Two Finish After Lucknow Super Giants Setback

In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) stumbled to their fourth defeat of the IPL 2025 season on Thursday, succumbing to a 33-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). This marks GT’s second defeat to LSG this season, adding to earlier losses against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Despite the setback, Shubman Gill’s side continues to lead the points table with 18 points from 13 matches, a testament to their dominant run earlier in the tournament.

However, this loss has tightened the race for a top-two finish, a coveted position in the IPL standings. Securing a spot in the top two grants teams the privilege of playing in Qualifier 1, which offers a second opportunity to reach the final via the Qualifier 2 pathway if they lose—an advantage that could define the road to the IPL trophy. With all four playoff spots already clinched, the battle now shifts to positioning, and GT’s path has just become a tad more challenging.

Let’s break down how the Gujarat Titans can still lock in a top-two finish. GT have one league match remaining against the formidable Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, May 25, at their home ground in Ahmedabad. A victory in this clash would propel them to 20 points, almost guaranteeing a top-two spot. Currently, only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), both sitting on 17 points from 12 games, pose a mathematical threat. If either team wins their remaining two matches, they could reach 21 points, potentially overtaking GT on net run rate—a tiebreaker that could come into play if points are level.

Under Shubman Gill’s leadership, GT have shown resilience and flair throughout the season, with standout performances from players like Rashid Khan, whose spin wizardry has often turned games in their favor, and Sai Sudharsan, who has anchored the batting lineup with consistency. However, the recent loss to LSG exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in their middle-order batting and death-over bowling, areas they must address before facing a seasoned CSK side led by the legendary MS Dhoni.

In conclusion, while the defeat to Lucknow Super Giants has made things interesting at the top of the table, Gujarat Titans’ fate largely remains in their own hands. A win against CSK could seal the deal, but they may also need favorable results elsewhere to ensure they don’t slip on net run rate. As the IPL 2025 league stage nears its climax, all eyes will be on Ahmedabad this Sunday to see if GT can reclaim their momentum and march confidently into the playoffs with a top-two finish.