One unique record held by each IPL franchise
The Indian Premier League in the last 12 years has given us a lot of joy and entertainment. One of the most defining things about the IPL has been its unpredictability and differences as well as similarities between all franchises. At their peak, each franchise has had a golden run and broken certain unbelievable records. On the flip side, during tough times, they have been a part of unwanted feats as well. Let us look at one unique record held by each IPL team.
Chennai Super Kings – Reached playoffs in all the seasons they were part of
The most consistent team of the IPL, Chennai Super Kings, has remarkably managed to reach the playoffs in every season they have played. CSK, since 2008, has always stuck to their core and backed its match winners. They have truly believed in the line, ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’. This thought process has paid rich dividends as they have been able to lift the cup in years; 2010, 2011 and 2018. They have also reached the finals a number of times in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019. This season, however, has been an anomaly for CSK and they find themselves at 7th place on the table. It will be interesting to see if they can turn things around and keep their record intact.
Royal Challengers Bangalore – Team with the highest and lowest score in an IPL innings
RCB have easily been one of the most entertaining teams in the IPL. They have enthralled and disappointed their fans in equal measure. After finishing 7th in the points table in 2008, they quickly turned it around in the next season by reaching the finals. This extreme fluctuation between highs and lows has become synonymous with RCB. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the IPL’s highest and lowest scores, both belong to RCB. In 2013, Chris Gayle, who was at the peak of his powers, powered his way to 175* against Pune Warriors India and helped RCB post 263 on the board. 4 years later, the wheels came off for RCB in a chase against KKR, as they collapsed to 49 all out, with none of the batsmen reaching double digits. 263 and 49. RCB in a nutshell.
Kings XI Punjab – Used the highest number of captains so far
Kings XI Punjab has been the most inconsistent and unsettled team in the IPL. Having reached the playoffs in just 2 seasons; 2008 and 2014, KXIP has suffered due to continuous chopping and changing. They have not backed their players enough, and that includes their captain. They have been captained by several players from Yuvraj Singh to Adam Gilchrist and now K.L Rahul. Rahul is shockingly the 12th captain to lead the team from Punjab. KXIP has once again got off to a very poor start this season and only time will tell if they do end up sticking with K.L Rahul.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Most consecutive wins
KKR had 3 underwhelming seasons from 2008-2010. However, the arrival of Gautam Gambhir as their skipper in 2011, triggered a dramatic turnaround for them. They became a force to reckon with and ended up lifting the title twice in 3 years, in 2012 and 2014. While the first IPL win is always the sweetest, the 2014 win was astonishing in its own right. KKR had got off to a horrid start and managed just 2 wins in their first 7 games. However, led by Gambhir, KKR got on an unbelievable winning streak, as different players kept taking responsibility in different matches, and KKR won an unbelievable 9 games in a row to take home the title.
Mumbai Indians – Largest win margin in terms of runs
Mumbai Indians, the most successful franchise in the IPL with 4 titles, has been a dominating force. They have been a ruthless team and played some outstanding cricket in the last 12 years. They were at their devastating best when in 2017 they demolished Delhi by 146 runs. Batting first, MI was able to put up 212 on the board after a stunning batting performance. Delhi, for whom the match was a do or die game, succumbed to the pressure and were bundled out for a mere 66, handing MI a massive victory by 146 runs. The record stands till date.
Rajasthan Royals – Highest successful run chase in IPL
The perennial overachievers of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals, who have always managed to punch above their weight, started this season on a historic note. Playing just their second match, they chased down a record total of 224 to break their own long-standing record of the highest run chase in IPL. They were down and out halfway through the chase, but some clean striking from Sanju Samson and an astounding turnaround by Rahul Tewatia, helped them clinch the game in a dramatic way. It was ironic, that a team who hasn’t ever been known for the firepower in their batting, now has the two highest run chases to their name.
Delhi Capitals – Most consecutive losses and no final appearance
Delhi Capitals might be enjoying a glorious run at the top of the points table this season, but they have also endured several painful seasons in the past. They are the only team to have never reached the finals and have an embarrassing record of facing most losses in a row, 11. They had an absolutely horrendous 2014 season, losing 12 games in 14, which included 9 consecutive losses in their last 9 games. This losing streak spilled over to the next season as they lost another 2 games, hence losing 11 in a row. They would be happy; they have been able to leave behind those horrors and are perhaps the team to beat in this edition of the IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Highest first wicket partnership in IPL
Watching David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, two of the leading T20 players, bat together would have just been a dream, had the IPL not existed. In just their 3rd match together, the duo unleashed mayhem. Batting first against RCB, they mercilessly thrashed the bowlers as they went on to form a record-breaking opening wicket partnership of 185. Both the talented batsmen were able to score their respective tons, as their collective effort helped SRH put 231 on the board. RCB, too overwhelmed by the onslaught, ended up losing the encounter by 118 runs.
