Cricket

List of Lowest-Ranked Teams to Win IPL

A list of IPL champion teams that overcame low league-stage rankings or underdog status to win the tournament, showcasing the unpredictability of T20 cricket.

6 itemsUpdated Mar 23, 2026

The IPL's playoff format has made it possible for teams not finishing at the top of the league stage to go on and win the tournament. The biggest underdog story remains Rajasthan Royals in 2008, who were the least fancied team in the auction but won the inaugural title through Shane Warne's brilliant captaincy and team-building. Deccan Chargers went from finishing last in 2008 to winning the title in 2009. Chennai Super Kings won the 2023 title after finishing mid-table during the league stage. This list celebrates the teams that defied rankings and expectations to lift the IPL trophy.

#	Name	Year	Captain	Key factor	Pre tournament rank
1	Rajasthan Royals — 2008 Biggest Underdog Champions in IPL History Rajasthan Royals were the least fancied side at the 2008 auction, spending the least on players. Under Shane Warne's genius captaincy and Yusuf Pathan's fireworks, they defied every prediction to win the inaugural IPL title.	2008	Shane Warne	Team cohesion, Warne's captaincy, Yusuf Pathan's all-roun...	Lowest auction spend
2	Deccan Chargers — 2009 From Last Place to Champions Deccan Chargers finished last in IPL Season 1 (2008) and were expected to struggle again in 2009. Instead, under Adam Gilchrist's calm leadership and a disciplined bowling attack, they won the title in South Africa.	2009	Adam Gilchrist	Bowling attack in South Africa conditions, Gilchrist's le...	Finished last in 2008 (Season 1)
3	Kolkata Knight Riders — 2012 From Perennial Underachievers to Champions KKR had been one of the most high-profile yet underperforming franchises, known more for Shah Rukh Khan's ownership than on-field success. In 2012 under Gambhir, everything clicked and they won convincingly.	2012	Gautam Gambhir	Gambhir's leadership, Bisla's final performance, team dis...	Not among favourites
4	Chennai Super Kings — 2018 Champions After 2-Year Suspension CSK returned from a 2-year suspension (2016–2017) due to the BCCI spot-fixing scandal. Many doubted if their older squad could compete. Instead, under Dhoni, they won their third title — one of sport's great comeback stories.	2018	MS Dhoni	Shane Watson's final masterclass, experienced squad, Dhon...	2-year suspended franchise returning
5	Gujarat Titans — 2022 Brand New Franchise to Champions in One Season Gujarat Titans were a brand-new franchise in 2022, making their IPL debut. No one expected a first-year franchise to win the title, yet Hardik Pandya built a cohesive unit that won convincingly from day one.	2022	Hardik Pandya	Hardik Pandya's leadership, Rashid Khan's bowling, balanc...	Debut franchise, never played IPL before
6	Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 2025 18 Years of Heartbreak Ended as Underdogs While RCB were not the lowest-ranked entering 2025, they had been considered serial chokers and were not the pre-tournament favourites. Their triumph under Rajat Patidar — a relatively inexperienced captain — after 18 years was a stunning underdog story.	2025	Rajat Patidar	Team unity, Krunal Pandya's bowling, Virat Kohli's consis...	Not pre-tournament favourites, 18-year title drought

This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 23, 2026.

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