Cricket in Numbers: Which IPL Team Has Made the Most Playoff Appearances?

As the IPL 2025 Playoffs approach and the four teams for this season have already been decided, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on history and which teams have shown the most consistency over the years. Let’s have a look at the franchises that have qualified for the playoffs the most number of times in IPL history and dominated the league stages.

Chennai Super Kings — 12 Times

At the top of the list for playoff consistency in the Indian Premier League (IPL) sits Chennai Super Kings (CSK). They’ve made it to the playoffs an incredible 12 times out of their 16 seasons, a record that’s tough to beat. With MS Dhoni’s cool-headed leadership, a mix of wily veterans, and some clever game plans, CSK has shown they know how to shine when the stakes are high. Their playoff runs came in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023, proving they’ve got a knack for rising to the occasion.

Season	Result after Reaching Playoffs
2008	Runners-Up
2009	Semi-Finals
2010	Champions
2011	Champions
2012	Runners-Up
2013	Runners-Up
2014	Qualifier-2
2015	Runners-Up
2018	Champions
2019	Runners-Up
2021	Champions
2023	Champions

CSK’s journey kicked off in 2008, reaching the final but falling short against the Rajasthan Royals. In 2009, they pushed to the semifinals before Royal Challengers Bangalore stopped them. The 2010 season was a game-changer, with CSK grabbing their first title by beating Mumbai Indians, and they backed it up in 2011 with a 58-run thrashing of Bangalore, thanks to Murali Vijay’s blazing 95.

From 2012 to 2015, they were playoff regulars, hitting the finals in 2012 and 2013 (losing to Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians) and making the semifinals in 2014 and 2015. A two-year suspension in 2016 and 2017 hit pause, but CSK came roaring back in 2018, snagging their third title against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In 2019, they reached the final but lost a tight one to the Mumbai Indians. After a rare miss in 2020, they bounced back in 2021, clinching their fourth title against Kolkata. In 2023, they sealed their fifth championship, tying Mumbai for the most titles, by outclassing Gujarat Titans.

Mumbai Indians — 11 Times

Coming to the second team on the list of Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff appearances, Mumbai Indians (MI) have carved out a formidable legacy, qualifying for the playoffs 11 times in 18 seasons. With their latest qualification in 2025, MI have reached the knockout stage in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2025, showcasing their consistency and knack for thriving in high-stakes moments.

Season	Result after Reaching Playoffs
2010	Runners-Up
2011	Qualifier-2
2012	Eliminator
2013	Champions
2014	Eliminator
2015	Champions
2017	Champions
2019	Champions
2020	Champions
2023	Qualifier-2
2025	To be Decided

Matching Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with five IPL titles, MI’s success is built on strategic squad-building, grooming match-winners, and a fierce rivalry with CSK, often called the IPL’s “El Clasico”. MI’s playoff journey began in 2010, reaching the final but losing to CSK. In 2011, they made the playoffs, finishing third after a loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second qualifier, and the 2012 season saw them reach the playoffs again, but they fell short in the eliminator. MI claimed their first title in 2013, defeating CSK in the final, and reached the playoffs in 2014, though they were knocked out in the eliminator.

Their second title came in 2015, again beating CSK in the final. In 2017, MI secured their third championship, edging out Rising Pune Supergiant by one run in a thrilling final. The 2019 season saw MI clinch their fourth title, defeating CSK by one run in another nail-biter. In 2020, MI dominated, winning their fifth title against Delhi Capitals and after a semifinal appearance in 2023, MI returned to the playoffs in 2025, reinforcing their status as a powerhouse.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 10 Times

The third team that is present here is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who have secured their spot in the knockout stages 10 times across 18 seasons, with their latest qualification in 2025. Despite boasting star-studded line-ups featuring the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle, RCB’s elusive quest for an IPL title continues, leaving their passionate fanbase yearning for that elusive trophy. Their playoff years are 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, reflecting a team that’s often close but hasn’t crossed the finish line.

Season	Result after Reaching Playoffs
2009	Runners-Up
2010	Eliminator
2011	Runners-Up
2015	Qualifier-2
2016	Runners-Up
2020	Eliminator
2021	Eliminator
2022	Qualifier-2
2024	Eliminator
2025	To be Decided

RCB’s playoff journey began in 2009, reaching the semifinals but falling to Deccan Chargers. In 2010, they again made the semifinals, only to lose to the Mumbai Indians. The 2011 season saw them reach the final, powered by Gayle’s explosive batting, but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a 58-run victory. After missing the playoffs for a few years, RCB returned in 2015, reaching the qualifier but losing to CSK.

Their 2016 campaign was a high point, with Kohli’s record-breaking 973 runs leading them to the final, only to be defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad. In 2020, RCB reached the eliminator but were knocked out by Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 2021 and 2022 seasons saw them reach the playoffs, with eliminator losses to Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, respectively. In 2024, they made the eliminator but fell to the Rajasthan Royals again, and their 2025 qualification keeps hope alive for a team that’s consistently competitive.

Kolkata Knight Riders — 8 Times

As the list comes to the 4th position here, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stand out with eight playoff appearances in 17 Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, clinching three titles and showcasing flashes of brilliance alongside inconsistent patches and their playoff years—2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2024—highlight a journey marked by Gautam Gambhir’s inspiring leadership and a passionate fanbase that makes KKR one of the IPL’s most commercially vibrant franchises and KKR’s playoff run began in 2011, reaching the eliminator but losing to Mumbai Indians.

Season	Result after Reaching Playoffs
2011	Eliminator
2012	Champions
2014	Champions
2016	Eliminator
2017	Qualifier-2
2018	Qualifier-2
2021	Runners-Up
2024	Champions

In 2012, under Gambhir’s captaincy, they claimed their first IPL title, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a thrilling final, with Manvinder Bisla’s 89 stealing the show. The 2014 season saw KKR at their peak again, securing their second title against Kings XI Punjab, thanks to Manish Pandey’s 94. In 2016, they reached the playoffs but were knocked out in the eliminator by Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 2017 season brought another playoff appearance, ending in a qualifier loss to the Mumbai Indians.

In 2018, KKR made the playoffs again, but Sunrisers Hyderabad ousted them in the qualifier. After a few lean years, KKR roared back in 2021, reaching the final but falling to CSK, with Eoin Morgan leading the charge. In 2024, KKR clinched their third title, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Shreyas Iyer and mentor Gambhir steering a revitalized squad. With stars like Andre Russell and a growing young core, KKR’s ability to bounce back from inconsistent seasons has kept them competitive.

Sunrisers Hyderabad — 7 Times

Holding the last spot among the top IPL playoff qualifiers, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have carved out a solid reputation, reaching the playoffs seven times in their 12 seasons since starting in 2013 and they bagged their only IPL title in 2016, led by David Warner, and have become known for their killer bowling attack and their playoff years—2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2024, showcase a team that mixes smart tactics, young guns, and seasoned pros, hitting a 58.3% playoff qualification rate.

Season	Result after Reaching Playoffs
2013	Eliminator
2016	Champions
2017	Eliminator
2018	Runners-Up
2019	Eliminator
2020	Qualifier-2
2024	Runners-Up

SRH kicked off their playoff run in 2013, their first season, making it to the eliminator but losing to Rajasthan Royals and in 2016, they hit their stride, winning the IPL title against Royal Challengers Bangalore, with Warner’s captaincy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling swinging the game and the next year, 2017, they were back in the playoffs but got knocked out in the eliminator by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and in 2018, SRH went all the way to the final, only to be stopped by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), despite Kane Williamson’s brilliant batting.

They reached the playoffs again in 2019, exiting in the eliminator against Delhi Capitals. In 2020, they made it to the qualifier but fell to Delhi Capitals once more. In 2024, SRH showed their grit, reaching the final, but KKR took them down in the title match, with Pat Cummins leading the charge.