Explained: What happens if rain ruins Mumbai vs Delhi playoff decider in IPL 2025

Dubai: It was always going to come down to this — Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, two teams with contrasting journeys, now locked in a high-stakes battle for the final playoff spot in Indian Premier League Season 18. But as the cricketing world turns its eyes to Wankhede Stadium today, another player might crash the party: the Mumbai monsoon.

Intermittent showers began sweeping through the city on Tuesday evening, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for Wednesday. Thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rain are all on the cards — and if they arrive on schedule, the fate of Match No. 63 may lie in the clouds rather than on the pitch.

When forecasts muddy the forecast

For both Mumbai and Capitals, the equation is straightforward on paper: win and take control of your destiny after Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings booked their spots in the playoffs. But the looming rain threat complicates everything.

Mumbai, sitting on 14 points from 12 matches, need just one more win to secure a playoff berth. Delhi, a point behind, must win both their remaining games — today against Mumbai, and Saturday’s showdown with Punjab Kings — to stay alive.

A washout? That would leave both teams crossing their fingers and leaving it to the clash against Punjab. But even there, Mumbai may have the edge — they face Punjab last, on Monday, when they’ll already know where they stand.

Tale of two trajectories

Delhi started hot, winning their first four games in style. Mumbai floundered early, losing four of their first five. And yet, here they are, neck-and-neck with everything to play for. It’s a testament to how quickly fortunes shift in this tournament — and how evenly matched these sides now appear.

But Delhi will need more than just belief to get over the line. They’ve relied heavily on KL Rahul, who has racked up a century and three fifties this season. Support has come in bursts from Abhishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs and Faf du Plessis — but there’s been a missing spark, the kind of X-factor that wins tight games under pressure.

Starc missing, Fizz misfiring

The absence of Mitchell Starc hasn’t helped. The Australian quick hasn’t returned to the squad post-break, leaving Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman to fill the void. The left-arm pacer has covered over 2,100km to feature in back-to-back games, but the results haven’t followed — and a bruising 10-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans still lingers.

Mumbai reload for the final push

Meanwhile, Mumbai have made strategic moves of their own, roping in Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson and Charith Asalanka as replacements for Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch — all departing for national duties. These reinforcements will only be available if Mumbai make the knockouts, but the message is clear: MI are planning for the long haul.

Right now, though, it’s about the next 40 overs — or however many the rains allow.

For Delhi, it’s do-or-die. For Mumbai, it’s a chance to seal the deal. But for both sides, it may just come down to whether the Wankhede sees cricket — or chaos from the skies.

Points table:

Mumbai Indians: 14 points (12 matches)

Delhi Capitals: 13 points (12 matches)

Remaining fixtures: Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings (Saturday), Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings (Monday).