Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the reigning IPL champions - and back-to-back ones at that, becoming only the third franchise in the tournament's 19-season history to defend the title. Their 2026 win over Gujarat Titans sits alongside the 2025 triumph in what is quickly becoming one of cricket's most dramatic franchise turnarounds. Below is the complete year-by-year IPL final winners list from 2008 to 2026, with runner-up, winning margin, venue, and the moments that decided each final - plus the competitive picture that a single search result can't give you.
Quick Answer
Across 19 IPL seasons, 8 different franchises have lifted the trophy. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lead with 5 titles each. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the current champions, having beaten Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 final at Narendra Modi Stadium on 31 May 2026 - their second successive title after ending an 18-year wait in 2025.
हिन्दी: आईपीएल के 19 सीजन में 8 अलग-अलग टीमों ने खिताब जीता है और रॉयल चैलेंजर्स बेंगलुरु 2026 के मौजूदा चैंपियन हैं।
Stats verified via ESPNcricinfo and the official IPL site (iplt20.com), updated 1 June 2026.
Complete IPL Winners List (2008-2026)
The table below covers all 19 IPL finals. Three of the last five finalists appear as runners-up, which tells its own story about how difficult it is to actually lift the trophy once you get there.
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Margin | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | 3 wickets | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 6 runs | New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | 22 runs | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 58 runs | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings | 5 wickets | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 23 runs | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings | 3 wickets | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 41 runs | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 runs | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant | 1 run | Rajiv Gandhi International, Hyderabad |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 8 wickets | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 1 run | Rajiv Gandhi International, Hyderabad |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | 5 wickets | Dubai International Stadium |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | 27 runs | Dubai International Stadium |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | 7 wickets | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans | 5 wickets (DLS) | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 8 wickets | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Punjab Kings | 6 runs | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Titans | 5 wickets | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
What the 19-Season List Reveals
Nineteen finals, eight different champions - that is a higher champion-diversity rate than the English Premier League across the same span (five different clubs). Three franchises hold 13 of the 19 trophies: MI (5), CSK (5), KKR (3). The remaining six titles are shared among five sides, with RCB now on 2 after their back-to-back run. Five defunct franchises played but only one won - the Deccan Chargers in 2009, before the BCCI terminated the franchise in 2012. Three active teams - Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants - are still waiting for their first title.
Champions by Number of Titles
| Rank | Team | Titles | Years Won | Finals Played | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1= | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 | 6 | 83% |
| 1= | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 | 10 | 50% |
| 3 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2024 | 4 | 75% |
| 4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2 | 2025, 2026 | 5 | 40% |
| 5= | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 | 2 | 50% |
| 5= | Deccan Chargers (defunct) | 1 | 2009 | 1 | 100% |
| 5= | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 | 3 | 33% |
| 5= | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 2022 | 3 | 33% |
Why Defending the IPL Title Is So Hard
Of 19 seasons, only three times has a champion successfully defended - CSK in 2010-11, MI in 2019-20, and now RCB in 2025-26. That is a retention rate of roughly 16%. The auction system is built to level things: a defending champion does not get cheaper retentions, the other nine sides can outbid them for every key player, and the physical toll of 14 league games plus three playoff matches across two months burns through depth squads. RCB became only the fourth squad in history - joining those two - to navigate all of that.
KKR are the quiet statistic here. Three titles from four finals is the best conversion rate among franchises with multiple appearances. MI are second: five from six. CSK reached 10 finals and won half. The conversion gap between these three franchises tells you almost everything about how they have built their rosters - tight cores and repeatable structures rather than star-chasing.
The Rivalry That Defined the First 13 Seasons
Between 2010 and 2019, CSK and MI met in 7 IPL finals. CSK won three of them (2010, 2011, 2018), MI won four (2013, 2015, 2017 - though via a different route in 2017 - and 2019). The 2019 edition, settled by 1 run, is the tightest final in IPL history and arguably the defining image of what made that rivalry so compelling. Both were watching someone else lift the trophy by 2022.
IPL 2026 Final - RCB Make History Again
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026, chasing 156 with 12 balls to spare. Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls - his fastest IPL fifty in a final - and was named Player of the Match. Rasikh Salam had done the damage with the ball: 3/27 in four overs to restrict GT to 155/8. Washington Sundar's unbeaten 50 kept Gujarat competitive from 59/3, but RCB's top-order firepower made the chase look straightforward by the 12th over.
It was GT's third final appearance in five seasons and their second defeat, after the 2023 DLS loss to CSK at the same ground. For RCB, the win completed a transformation that looked implausible even three seasons ago.
IPL 2025 Final - RCB's 18-Year Wait Ends
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 6 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium on 3 June 2025, posting 190/9 and defending it. Virat Kohli top-scored with 43. Krunal Pandya bowled 2/17 in his four overs to break Punjab's back at the midpoint of the chase, and he was named Player of the Match - making him the only player to win POTM in two separate IPL finals (2017 for MI, 2025 for RCB). Shashank Singh finished unbeaten on 61 off 30 balls but it was not enough; Punjab fell 6 short at 184/7. It ended an 18-year wait that had seen RCB lose finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
The Three Back-to-Back Champions - A Comparison
| Franchise | Seasons | Finals Won | Combined Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 2010 and 2011 | 22 runs, then 58 runs | Dominant in both |
| Mumbai Indians | 2019 and 2020 | 1 run, then 5 wickets | Nervy, then comfortable |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2025 and 2026 | 6 runs, then 5 wickets | Tense, then controlled |
Most Final Appearances Without Winning
Punjab Kings have reached two finals - 2014 against KKR and 2025 against RCB - and lost both. Delhi Capitals reached the 2020 final and lost to MI. Lucknow Super Giants, in the league since 2022, have not yet reached a final. Among the defunct sides, Rising Pune Supergiant lost the 2017 final to MI by 1 run in their only final appearance - the cruelest possible exit. No active franchise has reached more finals without winning than Punjab Kings.
IPL Final Venues - Where Champions Are Made
Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has hosted four of the last five IPL finals (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026), the only exception being the 2024 final at MA Chidambaram in Chennai. Before the Ahmedabad era, finals rotated between grounds that have since faded from the hosting rota. Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosted in 2013 and 2015; Rajiv Gandhi International in Hyderabad hosted the two 1-run thrillers (2017 and 2019). The UAE stint produced two neutral-venue finals in 2020 and 2021, when COVID made the full IPL a bio-bubble event. The 2009 edition remains the only IPL final played outside India, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg while the general election ran concurrently in India.
Which Active Franchise Has the Best Chance of a First Title?
Delhi Capitals have reached one final (2020) in 17 seasons. That is the lowest conversion of promise to presence for a long-standing franchise - Delhi were consistently in the top half of the table through 2019-2022 and still only one final. Their issue is not talent; it is the same late-tournament fragility the old pre-2025 RCB had. Punjab Kings have now lost two finals; you would expect them to return. LSG were built with genuine structural intelligence and Rishabh Pant's captaincy gives them something new for 2027 - they are probably the best-positioned of the three never-won teams.
The more interesting question is whether RCB make it three in a row in 2027. No team in IPL history has ever won three consecutive titles. MI tried it in 2020-21 and fell in the qualifier stage. CSK tried in 2011-12 and lost the 2012 final to KKR. Three in a row would be the single biggest dynasty moment in IPL history. The audit in favour: Virat Kohli at 38 will still be playing T20 cricket at Kohli-level, and Rajat Patidar has proved he can lead a side all the way. The audit against: the auction has a way of redistributing talent brutally, and every other franchise will be building specifically to stop RCB.
MI and CSK on five titles each is the right outcome for the league's first phase. Both built structured, repeatable systems - MI through a player development pipeline that churned out Bumrah, Hardik, and Rohit's captaincy brain; CSK through Dhoni's ability to extract 110% from players other franchises had given up on. The fact that the 2010s ended with MI on five and CSK on three (before 2018 and 2021 erased that gap) tells you how competitive the rebuild cycles were.
What nobody predicted was RCB winning twice in a row the moment they finally broke through. Part of me thinks Virat Kohli's individual brilliance has finally found a squad good enough to make it count, and Rajat Patidar's captaincy is genuinely underrated - he does not panic at the crease or in team selection. The all-time IPL captains by title list now has Patidar on two, level with Gambhir. That comparison would have seemed absurd in 2022. That is what winning in sport does to a legacy.
IPL Final Winners - Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the IPL 2026 final?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2026 final by 5 wickets against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and was named Player of the Match. RCB restricted GT to 155/8 - Rasikh Salam taking 3/27 - then chased down the target in 18 overs.
Which team has won the most IPL titles?
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are tied with the most IPL titles - 5 each. MI won in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. CSK won in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Kolkata Knight Riders are third with 3 titles (2012, 2014, 2024). Royal Challengers Bengaluru are fourth with 2 (2025, 2026), followed by four teams on 1 each: Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans.
Which IPL teams have never won the trophy?
Three active franchises have never won the IPL title: Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. Punjab Kings have reached two finals (2014 against KKR, 2025 against RCB) and lost both. Delhi Capitals reached the 2020 final and lost to Mumbai Indians. Lucknow Super Giants have been in the league since 2022 but are yet to reach a final.
Who has played in the most IPL finals?
Chennai Super Kings have played in 10 IPL finals - more than any other franchise - winning 5 and losing 5. Mumbai Indians are second with 6 final appearances, winning 5 and losing 1 (to CSK in 2010). Royal Challengers Bengaluru have played in 5 finals, now winning 2. KKR have played 4 finals, winning 3.
Has any team won the IPL three times in a row?
No. The record for consecutive IPL titles is two, held by three different franchises: CSK in 2010-11, MI in 2019-20, and most recently RCB in 2025-26. Defending two titles in a row is the hardest thing in IPL cricket, given the auction reset each year. No team has ever won three straight IPL championships.
What is the closest margin in an IPL final?
Mumbai Indians have won two IPL finals by 1 run - the closest possible winning margin in cricket. In 2017, MI beat Rising Pune Supergiant by 1 run at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. In 2019, they beat Chennai Super Kings by 1 run at the same ground. Both matches went down to the final ball.
Bottom Line
19 seasons, 8 different champions, and still enough parity to produce genuine first-timers almost every other year since 2018. The IPL winners list is not simply a ledger of the richest rosters - Gujarat Titans won their first title on debut in 2022, Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition as underdogs, and RCB spent 17 years in near-misses before back-to-back titles. Whatever comes next, the list keeps getting more interesting rather than more predictable. For the live standings and the road to the next final, see our all-time Orange and Purple Cap winners list and track which players are building the next dynasty.
