Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians is among the most consistent teams in IPL history. Mumbai Indians is the most successful teams in IPL history as well, having won 4 IPL Titles (2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018). Mumbai Indians has won two Champions League T20 Titles as well (2011, 2013, the tournament is now dysfunctional).

The team has been ably led by Sachin Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma over the years, and has retained their core strength of players for many a year.

Having last won the IPL in 2019, Mumbai Indians is known to get off to a slow start, before picking up pace, and going through long undefeated spells, in due course of an IPL season. Mumbai Indians has been known to employ an explosive brand of both batting and bowling, and plays 2 or more all-rounders in its teams at all times.

Rohit Sharma is the leading run scorer in Mumbai Indians’ history, while Lasith Malinga is their leading wicket taker. It must be noted that Mumbai Indians initially struggled in the IPL, before emerging as a strong team in IPL 2013 – The rest is history.

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings is the most consistent team in IPL history, having reached 8 IPL Finals. That being said, they have only won 3 of the Finals they have partaken in (2010, 2011, and 2018). Chennai Super Kings has won two Champions League T20 Titles as well (2010, and 2014).

The team has been led by MS Dhoni since its inception in 2008, and has retained its core strength of players over the years, much like Mumbai Indians. Chennai Super Kings was dissolved from the IPL for the 2016, and 2017 IPL seasons, after Gurunath Meiyappan, the Team Principal of the Chennai Super Kings was arrested for match-fixing, and betting scandals.

Chennai Super Kings returned to the IPL in 2018, memorably lifting the IPL crown for the third time in their history. Chennai Super Kings once again reached the IPL Final in 2019, only to lose to Mumbai Indians by 1 run.

Chennai Super Kings are known to play a positive brand of cricket, and play 2 or more all-rounders in their teams at all times. They bat deep, and mix up their bowling options.Chennai Super Kings put in relatively strong performances throughout an IPL season. They have an ageing squad, and need to freshen things up in the near future.

Suresh Raina is the leading runs scorer in Chennai Super Kings’ history, while Dwayne Bravo is their leading wicket taker.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad is among the strongest teams in the IPL. They won the IPL as Deccan Chargers, in 2009, before being renamed as Sunrisers Hyderabad in May, 2019, after being bought by Sun TV Network. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the IPL in 2016.

Sunrisers Hyderabad has been captained by Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, and David Warner, among others. David Warner is the leading run scorer in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s history, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar is their leading wicket taker.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have had a historically good bowling attack, and are known to defend low totals. Ever since the 2016 IPL, they have qualified for the Playoffs in each season, and have retained their core strength of players.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders have a rich IPL history, with plenty of highs, and a few lows. Kolkata Knight Riders have won 2 IPL Titles (2012, 2014). Kolkata Knight Riders hold the record for most consecutive T20 wins by an Indian T20 team – 14. Kolkata Knight Riders is among the most popular IPL teams, and is captained by Dinesh Karthik.

Gautam Gambhir is the most successful Kolkata Knight Riders captain, having led the team to both their title wins. Incidentally, he is also the leading run scorer in Kolkata Knight Riders’ history, while Sunil Narine is their leading wicket taker.

Kolkata Knight Riders play a smart brand of cricket, and are known to post good totals on the board. They have always had a strong bowling attack, and rely on their top order batsmen to score the bulk of their runs. Kolkata Knight Riders have had a topsy-turvy IPL history.

Since they first won the IPL in 2012, they have reached the Playoffs only 4 times, winning once, in 2014. Brendan McCullum is the Head Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. He is famous for having hit the then highest score of 158, in the first match of the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Delhi Capitals

The tale of Delhi Capitals is quite interesting. Delhi Capitals have always had talented squads, but have never quite made it across the line. Delhi Capitals is one of three teams to have never won the IPL. They are the only IPL team to have never played in an IPL Final.

The leading run scorer in Delhi Capitals’ history is Virender Sehwag, while the leading wicket taker is Amit Mishra. The team qualified for the Playoffs in 2019, after 7 long years. The Delhi Capitals were initially called Delhi Daredevils. The team’s name was changed to Delhi Capitals in December, 2018.

Since the 2013 season of the IPL, Delhi Capitals have finished in the bottom three in 6 of 7 seasons. Their best result is 3rd, in 2012, and 2019. Incidentally, they finished the 2012 season’s group stage in 1st place. They reached the semi-finals of the 2012 Champions League T20.

Delhi Capitals have lost the most matches in IPL history – 97.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore is an ‘almost’ team, to say the very least. Ably led by Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore has reached an IPL Final twice (In 2009, and 2016), only to end up on the losing side. They have been given the tag of “Underachievers”.

Royal Challengers Bangalore hold the dubious record of posting both the highest, and lowest scores in IPL history – 263-5, and 49/10 respectively. Virat Kohli is the leading run scorer in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s history, as well as IPL history. Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket taker in their history.

Kohli scored a record 973 runs in the 2016 season of the IPL, only to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Final.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are heavily dependent on their top-order batsmen, and often require a mammoth total on the board, to give their bowlers a chance. Since the 2017 season of the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore has finished in the bottom three all three times, finishing last on two occasions.

Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab is one of three teams to have never won the IPL. While the team has had a chance to lift the IPL crown, it was not able to take it. Kings XI Punjab reached the 2014 IPL Final, topping the group stage on its way there, only to lose to Kolkata Knight Riders, despite posting 200 runs on the board.

Kings XI Punjab is captained by KL Rahul. Shaun Marsh is the leading run scorer in Kings XI Punjab’s history, while Piyush Chawla is their leading wicket taker. Kings XI Punjab have reached the Playoffs only twice in IPL history, ending up as Runner-up on one occasion.

Since the 2015 season of the IPL, Kings XI Punjab has finished in the bottom three on 4 occasions. Kings XI Punjab reached the semi-finals of the 2014 Champions League T20.

Rajasthan Royals

The case of Rajasthan Royals is a curious one. Rajasthan Royals got off to a flier, winning the first ever edition of the IPL, in 2008, under the stewardship of Shane Warne. They have stalled ever since.

The leading runs scorer in Rajasthan Royals’ history is Ajinkya Rahane, while their leading wicket taker is Shane Watson. Rajasthan Royals was expelled from the IPL for two seasons – 2016, 2017 – after Raj Kundra, the Co-Owner of Rajasthan Royals was determined to have participated in match-fixing, and betting scandals.

The team has performed well since the 2013 season of the IPL, and has participated in the Playoffs in 3 of 5 occasions.

(Image: A fast bowler bowls a delivery, as the umpire in the picture looks on cheerfully| © shents | Licence: Pixabay License)