Which is the Best Team in IPL History – The debate over the question of Which is the Best Team in IPL History has never ended since the IPL inaugural edition. It was in 2008 when the BCCI successfully staged the first season of the Indian Premier League.
Following its massive response from fans, BCCI continues to host the famous T20 league without skipping any season. Though in a pandemic situation, BCCI hosts the IPL 2020 in UAE and decides to stage the second phase of the IPL 2021 season also in the United Arab Emirates.
To increase the enthusiasm, BCCI adds 2 new teams in the IPL 2022 season. BCCI earned a whopping 12,715 crores after auctioning 2 new IPL franchises – Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans.
Best Team in IPL History
Though cricketers play the league with great sportsmanship, the controversy about Which is the best team in IPL history always remains hot.
One of the major reasons for this banter among the fans is due to their favorite players from all around the world get featured in the various teams of the cash-rich league.
Though fans celebrate their favourite player’s team as the best, cricket experts judge the best team in IPL by analyzing each team based on their performance, winning percentage, and considering many other factors including the fair play points. Here take a look at the winning percentage of each IPL team since 2008:
IPL Team Winning Percentage
Following are the details of the IPL team’s winning percentage based on their total played matches so far.
Tie+W and Tie+L indicate matches tied and then won or lost in a tiebreaker such as a bowl out or one-over-eliminator (“Super Over”)
The result percentage excludes no results and counts ties (irrespective of a tiebreaker) as half a win
| Team | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | Tied | Tie+W | Tie+L | NR | % |
| Gujarat Titans | 2022-2023 | 33 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69.69 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 2008-2023 | 226 | 131 | 91 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 58.96 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 2022-2023 | 30 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 58.62 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2008-2023 | 248 | 138 | 105 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 56.68 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2008-2023 | 241 | 119 | 114 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 51.05 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2008-2023 | 209 | 101 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 50.24 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 2016-2017 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2008-2023 | 243 | 114 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 48.73 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2013-2023 | 167 | 78 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 48.19 |
| Punjab Kings | 2008-2023 | 232 | 104 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 45.68 |
| Delhi Capitals | 2008-2023 | 239 | 105 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 45.33 |
| Gujarat Lions | 2016-2017 | 30 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 |
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011-2011 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Deccan Chargers | 2008-2012 | 76 | 29 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38.65 |
| Pune Warriors | 2011-2013 | 46 | 12 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26.66 |
*Team – was defunct owing to various reasons
Though Mumbai Indians lead the table with the maximum number of wins in the total seasons played so far, they fail to lead in the winning percentage column. Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans have the highest winning percentage compared to the other playing teams. But before declaring Gujarat as the winner we have to remember that they have played just 2 seasons so far.
Are you curious about the result regarding Which is the Best Team in IPL History? Before entering the debate, first, we have to be clear about the team with the highest winning percentage.
Everyone might guess the LEGEND team correctly right now. Yes, MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings lead the column of winning percentage in IPL history(minimum 10 seasons).
Next to CSK, there stands Lucknow Super Giants in the third spot but when we consider our basic eligibility of minimum 10 seasons, they failed to tick the column. Mumbai Indians hold the fourth spot and also fill our basic eligibility column.
The two teams have a close difference of just 2.28 per cent in the winning percentage race. Generally, CSK and MI matches will have huge expectations when comparing other matches in IPL. That too particularly CSK and MI finals always will have a special slot in the IPL as of India vs Pakistan matches.
Head-to-head
The two teams faced each other for the first time on 23 April 2008 at the M. A. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Chennai. CSK won a high-scoring thriller by 6 runs as their 208 proved too much for Mumbai in the end.
Out of 36 encounters so far, Mumbai Indians have won 20 and Chennai Super Kings have won 16.
| Matches Played | 36 |
| CSK Won | 16 |
| MI Won | 20 |
| Tie | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the only two franchises to have faced each other in an IPL final four times. Out of which MI beats CSK three times in finals.
MS Dhoni who led the CSK from IPL 2008 to 2023 is considered one of the most successful captains of all time. Notably, CSK too have won the IPL trophies 5 times and shares the first position with Mumbai Indians in the highest trophy winners list in IPL history.
CSK have won 5 titles in 14 seasons while Mumbai won 5 titles in 16 seasons. It is worth mentioning that if CSK played the IPL 2016 and 2017 they would have a higher winning ratio along with an additional trophy as of now. On behalf of the spot-fixing controversy in the IPL 2013 finals, CSK and RR faced 2 years ban from the IPL tournament in 2015.
On decoding the close data, it’s worth mentioning that Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings both are the best teams in IPL history with 5 trophies each under their names. CSK equals the Mumbai Indians in trophies count with their unbelievable victory in IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans.
The debate is not yet over, in terms of the most successful teams in IPL history no one can beat the Chennai Super Kings.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings both may be considered as the best team in IPL history in terms of winning the trophies but they still bide behind CSK in terms of winning percentage.
It’s not an easy task to maintain a winning percentage of nearly 60 from playing 226 matches(which is 22 matches shorter than MI).
Apart from leading the percentage column, CSK has won the IPL fair play award 6 times by playing 14 seasons. Whereas MI have only 2 fair play award under their name.
Thus, the Chennai Super Kings are considered the most successful team in IPL history as of winning percentage calculation.
Kolkata Knight Riders are the team to hold the third position(considering 10 seasons) in the table of teams with the highest winning ratio in IPL. While SRH has the lowest number of matches to lose in IPL history on comparing to the other active teams.2.
Fair Play Award Winners List
Each team can earn a total of 10 fair play points in a match. The teams are allotted these points by two on-field umpires and the third umpire. Fair Play points are awarded on the following basis.
- 4 points are allocated for playing with the right spirit of the game.
- 2 points are allocated for showing respect towards the opposition.
- 2 points for respecting the laws of the game.
- 2 points for respect towards the umpires.
| Season | Team |
| 2023 | Delhi Capitals |
| 2022 | Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans |
| 2021 | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2019 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2018 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2017 | Gujarat Lions |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2015 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2014 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2013 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2012 | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2009 | Kings XI Punjab |
| 2008 | Chennai Super Kings |
IPL Winners List
Following are the details of the winners of the Indian Premier League since 2008 along with the runner-up details:
| Season | Stadium (Final Match) | Winner Team | Runner up Team |
| 2023 | Narendra Modi Stadium | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans |
| 2022 | Narendra Modi Stadium | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2021 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2020 | Dubai International Cricket Stadium | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals |
| 2019 | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2018 | Wankhede Stadium | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2017 | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant |
| 2016 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2015 | Eden Gardens | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2014 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kings XI Punjab |
| 2013 | Eden Gardens | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2012 | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2011 | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2010 | DY Patil Stadium | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians |
| 2009 | Wanderers Stadium (South Africa) | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2008 | DY Patil Stadium | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings |
