The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been one of the most popular and exciting cricket tournaments globally since its inception in 2008. The league has witnessed some thrilling moments, nail-biting finishes, and exceptional performances from teams and players alike. Over the years, several teams have consistently displayed their dominance in the league and managed to lift the coveted IPL trophy. In this blog, we will take a look at the top five best-performing teams in IPL history based on their overall win-loss record, tournament titles, and individual performances.
Number 1. Mumbai Indians (5 Titles)
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Undoubtedly, the Mumbai Indians (MI) are the top team in IPL and one of the best T20 teams globally, with an impressive record of five IPL championships in the last eight seasons. Their T20 prowess has been evident to the world, making them a force to reckon with.
Initially, MI’s IPL campaign was shaky, finishing fifth and seventh in their first two seasons. Nonetheless, since the 2010 season, they have been remarkably consistent, reaching the finale in 2010 but losing to Chennai Super Kings. Despite failing to advance to the final in 2011 and 2012 playoffs, their fortunes began to change when Rohit Sharma took over as captain in 2013. Under his leadership, MI has won five championships in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Number 2. Chennai Super Kings (4 Titles)
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In the history of the Indian T20 league, only the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have come close to challenging the Mumbai Indians for the title of best IPL team. Their IPL victory percentage of 60.27 percent is the highest among the 13 teams that have participated in the league, with 111 wins out of 186 games, the second-highest tally in the sport’s history.
Since the inaugural season, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, CSK has been a model of consistency. They have participated in 11 of the IPL’s 13 seasons and have finished in the top four or playoffs ten times. CSK holds the record for the most IPL finals, having reached eight of them, and has won the championship thrice, in 2010, 2011, and 2018. In fact, they had qualified for the playoffs in ten consecutive seasons until 2020, when they missed out for the first time.
CSK reached the final in their debut season in 2008 but were unable to progress beyond the semi-finals the following year. They went on to win the IPL in 2010 and 2011, becoming the first team to defend their title. They reached the final in 2012, 2013, and 2015, while falling short in the second Qualifier in 2014. In 2018, after a two-year suspension, CSK staged a remarkable comeback to clinch their third championship, followed by a close call in the IPL 2019 final.
Number 3. Kolkata Knight Riders (2 Titles)
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The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a rocky start to their IPL journey, much like the Mumbai Indians. They had three difficult seasons in a row, finishing in the sixth, ninth, and sixth positions, respectively, in the first three seasons of the IPL. Their fortunes, however, began to change in 2011.
KKR secured the services of Gautam Gambhir in the 2011 IPL auctions and appointed him as captain. This marked the beginning of a successful run for KKR. In 2011, they made it to the playoffs and finished fourth. They won their first IPL trophy in 2012, defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final. They failed to repeat their impressive performance in 2013, finishing in seventh place.
But KKR bounced back in 2014, winning nine consecutive games towards the end of the season to clinch their second IPL title, beating Kings XI Punjab in the final. They narrowly missed the playoffs in 2015, finishing in sixth place, before making it to the playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2018. However, KKR has only made the playoffs once in the three seasons since Gambhir’s departure in 2018.
Number 4. Sunrisers Hyderabad (1 Title)
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The Hyderabad-based franchise, formerly known as Deccan Chargers, was replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite having a relatively lower count of victories to their name, the team has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable and skilled outfits in IPL history. Guided by the able leadership of David Warner, SRH clinched the IPL title in 2016 and finished runners-up in 2018. The squad has garnered a massive fan following, fondly referred to as the “Orange Army,” owing to their distinctive orange team color. The team’s unwavering commitment to providing an exhilarating game of cricket has made them a consistent crowd favorite.
Number 5. Rajasthan Royals (1 Title)
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The Rajasthan Royals have established themselves as a highly successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League. In fact, they clinched the IPL championship title in the inaugural season of the tournament in 2008, under the remarkable leadership of Shane Warne. Despite this, their most noteworthy performance after their triumphant season came in 2013, where they secured a third-place finish. Additionally, they have qualified for the playoffs in both the 2015 and 2018 seasons, showcasing their consistent and commendable performance in the league.
