IPL Champions Through the Years, 2008 to 2025

Eighteen finals, eight different champions and more than a few last-ball heartbreaks. The IPL's roll of honour tells the story of the league itself: early surprises, two great dynasties, and the long wait of a fanbase that finally ended in 2025.

The early years: anyone can win

2008, Rajasthan Royals. The cheapest squad at the auction, captained and coached by Shane Warne, won the inaugural title with a last-ball win over Chennai. It remains the league's great underdog story.

2009, Deccan Chargers. Played in South Africa because of the Indian general election, the second season was won by the team that had finished last the year before. Adam Gilchrist's side beat RCB in the final.

The Chennai era begins

2010 and 2011, Chennai Super Kings. MS Dhoni's CSK became the first team to defend the title, beating Mumbai in 2010 and Bengaluru in 2011. Their formula of experienced players and a spin-friendly home ground would define the next decade.

2012, Kolkata Knight Riders. Gautam Gambhir's team won their first title, chasing 191 in the final against Chennai with Manvinder Bisla playing the innings of his life.

Mumbai's rise

2013, Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy mid-season and Mumbai finally won, beating Chennai in the final in Kolkata.

2014, Kolkata Knight Riders. A nine-match winning streak carried KKR to their second title, with Manish Pandey's 94 sealing the final against Kings XI Punjab.

2015, Mumbai Indians. Mumbai beat Chennai again in the final, this time by 41 runs, to start a pattern of odd-year triumphs.

2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad. David Warner's Sunrisers held off RCB, despite Virat Kohli's record 973-run season for the losing side.

2017, Mumbai Indians. The tightest final of them all: Mumbai defended 129 and won by a single run against Rising Pune Supergiant.

Two dynasties trade blows

2018, Chennai Super Kings. Back from a two-year suspension, an ageing CSK side nicknamed the "Dad's Army" beat Hyderabad in the final, with Shane Watson scoring a century.

2019, Mumbai Indians. Another one-run final, this time against Chennai, with Lasith Malinga defending two off the last ball.

2020, Mumbai Indians. Played in the UAE during the pandemic, Mumbai became the first side to win back-to-back titles since CSK, beating Delhi Capitals comfortably. It was their fifth crown.

2021, Chennai Super Kings. A season split between India and the UAE ended with CSK beating KKR for their fourth title.

New names and a fifth for Chennai

2022, Gujarat Titans. A debut season title. Hardik Pandya's new franchise topped the table and beat Rajasthan in the final in front of 100,000 people in Ahmedabad.

2023, Chennai Super Kings. A rain-delayed final against Gujarat that finished after midnight, with Ravindra Jadeja hitting the winning boundary off the last ball. CSK drew level with Mumbai on five titles.

2024, Kolkata Knight Riders. With Gambhir back as mentor, KKR dismantled Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to win their third title.

2025: Bengaluru's wait ends

2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Three lost finals, eighteen seasons and a fanbase that never stopped chanting "Ee Sala Cup Namde". In 2025 the chant finally came true as RCB edged Punjab Kings in a tense final to lift their first trophy, with Virat Kohli at last a champion with the franchise he had represented since 2008.