In 2008, Rajasthan Royals (RR) claimed the inaugural IPL trophy under the leadership of Australian cricketing legend Shane Warne. RR chose fielding after winning the toss when facing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final. CSK scored a total of 163 runs in their 20 overs while losing 5 wickets. RR’s bowler Yusuf Pathan starred with the ball, taking three wickets for 22 runs. In their chase, RR faced early setbacks but battled through their middle order, taking its team to the top of the winner’s list.
In 2009, Deccan Chargers (DC) won their first IPL title against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), winning by six runs in a closely contested match. Captained by Adam Gilchrist, DC finished fourth in the group stage table, while RCB, led by Anil Kumble, stood at the third position. Opting to field first after winning the toss, RCB team restricted DC to 143 runs in 20 overs. In response, Royal Challengers Bangalore struggled to build momentum and ultimately, Deccan Chargers emerged victorious.
In 2010 IPL season, Chennai Super Kings became the winning team after defeating Mumbai Indians by 22 runs in the final. CSK, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the best captains in cricket, secured the third position with seven wins in 14 matches. They advanced to the final after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers in the semi-finals, showcasing their resilience and tactical acumen throughout the season.
In 2011, Chennai Super Kings continued their dominance in the IPL by winning their second successive title with a 58-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Murali Vijay’s outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award, contributing significantly to CSK’s triumph. With this win, Chennai Super Kings became the first team to win the IPL on more than one occasion, setting a milestone in the league’s history.
In 2012, Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL trophy in a thrilling final against CSK. CSK opted to bat first and set a challenging total of 190/3 in their 20 overs. Kolkata Knight Riders responded with determination and skill, successfully chasing down the target with just 2 balls to spare, becoming the the winning team.
In 2013, Mumbai Indians (MI) became the winning team in the IPL, under the guidance of their captain, Rohit Sharma. This victory came in MI’s second appearance in an IPL final, having previously lost to CSK in 2010. Notably, this match marked the end of an era as Sachin Tendulkar concluded his IPL career.
In 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their second IPL title in a final against Kings XI Punjab. Opting to field first after winning the toss, KKR faced a challenge as Kings XI Punjab scored a total of 199/4 in their 20 overs. However, KKR displayed strategic skills in their chase, successfully reaching the target with three balls to spare, losing seven wickets along the way. Manish Pandey’s standout performance earned him the man of the match award in the final, highlighting his crucial contributions to the team.
In 2015, Mumbai Indians won their second IPL title with a 41-run victory over CSK. This marked Mumbai Indians’ third appearance in an IPL final, having previously defeated the same opposition at the same venue in 2013. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the winning team, played a pivotal role, scoring a crucial 50 runs to lead his team to victory.
In 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured their first IPL title with a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Winning the toss, SRH team opted to bat first and set a target of 208/7 in their 20 overs. In response, RCB fought well but fell just short, managing 200/7 in their allotted overs. Despite their efforts, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling and strategic field placements ensured they won the match by 8 runs.
In 2017, Mumbai Indians marked their name in IPL history by claiming their third title in a final against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). MI, competing in their fourth IPL final, delivered a breathtaking performance that ended in a nail-biting clash. Setting a target of 129 runs, thanks in part to Krunal Pandya’s crucial innings of 47, Mumbai Indians relied on their bowlers to defend the total. In a tense finish, they restricted the competing team to 128/6, winning the match by a mere 1 run.
In 2018, Chennai Super Kings made a historic return to the IPL after a two-year suspension, reclaiming their dominance with a victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. Facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the winning team delivered a brilliant performance with a total of 181 runs. Shane Watson emerged as the hero of the match, smashing an impressive 117 not out off just 57 balls. His explosive innings, combined with contributions from the team, ensured CSK secured their third IPL title.
In 2019, Mumbai Indians secured their fourth IPL title in a thrilling final against CSK, becoming the most winning team in IPL history. Opting to bat after winning the toss, MI scored a total of 149 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs, with Kieron Pollard top-scoring with 41 runs. In reply, Chennai Super Kings, led by Shane Watson’s 80 runs, set a strong chase. However, Jasprit Bumrah from the winning team delivered a crucial performance, claiming two wickets for just 14 runs in his spell. With CSK needing two runs off the final ball, Mumbai Indians’ tight bowling ensured a narrow victory by just one run.
In 2020, Mumbai Indians won their fifth IPL trophy against Delhi Capitals (DC). As the defending champions, MI displayed their strength in the final, securing victory by five wickets. With this win, Mumbai Indians continued to be the most winning team in IPL history, showcasing their consistency, skill, and ability to perform under pressure on cricket’s grandest stage.
In 2021, Chennai Super Kings won their fourth IPL title in a season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to end on 30 May 2021 in Ahmedabad, the tournament and final were relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to pandemic-related concerns. In the final showdown against Kolkata Knight Riders, CSK became the winning team, securing victory by 27 runs.
In 2022, Gujarat Titans (GT) made a spectacular debut in the IPL by winning their first IPL trophy. Led by Hardik Pandya, GT delivered a commanding performance in the finals against Rajasthan Royals. The team chased down the 130 runs target with ease to secure a seven-wicket victory.
In 2023, Chennai Super Kings won their fifth IPL title in a competitive final against Gujarat Titans. Opting to field after winning the toss, CSK faced a challenging total of 214 runs for 4 wickets. Following a delay due to inclement weather, CSK’s target was adjusted to 171 runs in 15 overs under the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method. Despite the challenging conditions, the team executed a remarkable chase, winning by five wickets, making them the most winning team alongside Mumbai Indians.
In 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders celebrated their third IPL title with a commanding victory over SRH in the final. Demonstrating their power in T20 cricket, KKR delivered a great performance, chasing down their target with 8 wickets in hand. As they look forward to the next season, Kolkata Knight Riders will aim to maintain their winning momentum and continue their legacy as one of the top teams in the league.