The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the biggest and most popular Twenty20 cricket leagues in the world. The tournament has been played annually since 2008 and has seen some of the most thrilling and exciting cricket matches in history. In this blog, we’ll take a trip down memory lane and look back at the IPL winners from the first edition to present day.
1st Edition – Rajasthan Royals
The inaugural edition of the IPL was held in 2008, and it was won by the Rajasthan Royals. The team was captained by Australian all-rounder Shane Warne and had some fantastic players like Yusuf Pathan, Shane Watson, and Graeme Smith. In the final, they defeated the Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets to become the first-ever IPL champions.
2nd Edition – Deccan Chargers
The second edition of the IPL was held in South Africa due to security concerns in India. The Deccan Chargers, who had finished last in the previous edition, shocked everyone by winning the tournament. Adam Gilchrist led the team, which also included the likes of Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds. They defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final by 6 runs to lift their first-ever IPL trophy.
3rd Edition – Chennai Super Kings
The third edition of the IPL was held in India, and it was won by the Chennai Super Kings. The team, led by MS Dhoni, had a fantastic campaign, winning 9 out of their 14 league matches. In the final, they defeated the Mumbai Indians by 22 runs to lift their first-ever IPL trophy.
4th Edition – Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings became the first team to win back-to-back IPL trophies when they won the 4th edition of the tournament. They defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final by 58 runs to lift their second IPL trophy.
5th Edition – Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders had a poor start to the tournament, winning only 5 out of their 11 league matches. However, they bounced back in style, winning all their remaining matches to finish in fourth place. In the playoffs, they defeated the Delhi Daredevils and the Chennai Super Kings to reach the final. In the final, they defeated the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, by 5 wickets to win their first-ever IPL trophy.
6th Edition – Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians had finished runners-up in the previous edition, but they went one better in the 6th edition of the IPL. Led by Rohit Sharma, they defeated the Chennai Super Kings in the final by 23 runs to lift their first IPL trophy.
7th Edition – Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders became the third team to win the IPL twice when they won the 7th edition of the tournament. Led by Gautam Gambhir, they defeated the Kings XI Punjab in the final by 3 wickets to lift their second IPL trophy.
8th Edition – Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians became the second team after the Chennai Super Kings to win the IPL twice when they won the 8th edition of the tournament. Led by Rohit Sharma, they defeated the Chennai Super Kings in the final by 41 runs to lift their second IPL trophy.
9th Edition – Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had replaced the Deccan Chargers in 2013, won their first-ever IPL trophy in the 9th edition of the tournament. Led by David Warner, they defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final by 8 runs to lift their maiden IPL trophy.
10th Edition – Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians became the first team to win the IPL thrice when they won the 10th edition of the tournament. Led by Rohit Sharma, they defeated the Rising Pune Supergiant in a thrilling final by just 1 run to lift their third IPL trophy. The match went down to the wire, with Mumbai Indians defending a modest total of 129 runs, thanks to some fantastic bowling by Mitchell Johnson and Jasprit Bumrah.
11th Edition – Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings returned to the IPL after a two-year suspension and immediately made an impact by winning their third IPL trophy in the 11th edition of the tournament. Led by MS Dhoni, they defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final by 8 wickets to lift their third IPL trophy. Shane Watson’s scintillating century in the final was the highlight of the tournament.
12th Edition – Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians won their fourth IPL trophy in the 12th edition of the tournament. They defeated the Chennai Super Kings in the final by 1 run in a repeat of the 2019 final. The Mumbai Indians put up a fighting total of 149 runs, and their bowlers did an excellent job to defend it in a nail-biting finish.
13th Edition – Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians won their fifth IPL trophy in the 13th edition of the tournament, held in the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by Rohit Sharma, they defeated the Delhi Capitals in the final by 5 wickets to lift their fifth IPL trophy. The Mumbai Indians put up a clinical performance throughout the tournament and were deserved champions.
Conclusion
The IPL has produced some unforgettable moments and thrilling matches since its inception in 2008. The tournament has seen some dominant performances from teams like the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, while the Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers have also tasted success. The IPL has become one of the most prestigious and lucrative cricket leagues in the world, attracting top players from across the globe. As we look forward to the 14th edition of the IPL, we can expect more exciting cricketing action and some new champions to emerge.