1 team has almost a quarter of the IPL’s 18 last place finishes, while 5-time champions have ended last twice in last 4 seasons
The pool stage of this season’s Indian Premier League is over, and while it remains to be seen which side will top the table, the bottom is already decided, with Chennai Super Kings picking up the wooden spoon for the first time in their history.
It’s been a very disappointing campaign for the men in yellow, but their fans can hardly complain – finishing last once in 18 seasons is pretty good going. But which other teams have propped up the table in the past?
Let’s take a moment to see which teams have finished last over the years.
2008: Deccan Chargers
The inaugural season of the IPL was a learning curve for everyone involved, but no team struggled more than the Deccan Chargers.
Despite having big names like Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, and Shahid Afridi, the team failed to click, finishing at the bottom with just two wins from 14 matches.
Their form turnaround in 2009, when they won the title, remains one of the league’s most remarkable comebacks.
2009: Kolkata Knight Riders
The second edition of the IPL, held in South Africa, proved difficult for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The team, led by Brendon McCullum, lacked consistency and tactical clarity.
Off-field controversies and coaching disagreements further hampered their campaign, resulting in a last-place finish. With just three wins, it was a season to forget.
2010: Punjab Kings
Despite showing flashes of promise in earlier seasons, Kings XI Punjab slumped to the bottom in 2010.
Yuvraj Singh struggled for form as captain, and the team managed just four wins. Their inconsistent bowling and underperforming overseas stars contributed heavily to their downfall.
2011: Delhi Capitals
The restructured format of 2011, with 10 teams and two groups, didn’t help the Delhi Daredevils.
Virender Sehwag led a side that lacked depth and firepower, especially in the bowling department. Their three-win campaign was marked by collapses and misfiring strategies.
2012: Pune Warriors
The now-defunct Pune Warriors India had a turbulent time in the IPL, and 2012 was particularly poor.
Plagued by off-field instability and leadership changes, they managed just four wins. Despite having promising names like Steve Smith and Sourav Ganguly, they could not find momentum.
2013: Delhi Capitals
Delhi again found themselves at the bottom, managing only three wins.
Injuries, a lack of cohesion, and underwhelming performances from key players like Mahela Jayawardene and Virender Sehwag led to a disastrous season.
2014: Delhi Capitals
Back-to-back wooden spoons for Delhi cemented their reputation as the league’s underachievers at the time. With Kevin Pietersen at the helm, the side again failed to deliver, winning just two matches.
A weak bowling unit and top-order failures haunted them throughout the season.
2015: Punjab Kings
A year after reaching the final, Kings XI Punjab hit rock bottom. George Bailey’s side couldn’t replicate their attacking form from 2014.
Glenn Maxwell’s dip in form and the lack of effective death bowling hurt them badly as they ended the campaign with just three wins.
2016: Punjab Kings
The woes continued for Punjab, with another last-place finish. Murali Vijay took over captaincy mid-season, but it did little to change their fortunes.
A leaky bowling attack and poor finishing in tight games cost them repeatedly.
2017: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
One of the most shocking last place finishes in IPL history. After reaching the final in 2016, RCB’s 2017 season was a disaster.
Despite having Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle, they managed only three wins. Injuries, poor form, and a lack of team balance proved costly.
2018: Delhi Capitals
Delhi‘s last season as the Daredevils before rebranding saw yet another wooden spoon.
Gautam Gambhir started the season as captain but stepped down midway, with Shreyas Iyer taking over. Despite some spirited performances, they ended last with just five wins.
2019: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB once again underperformed, with another bottom-place finish.
Kohli’s side started with six straight losses, and though they recovered some form late in the season, it was too little too late.
Bowling inconsistency continued to plague them.
2020: Rajasthan Royals
The COVID-hit season in the UAE saw Rajasthan Royals struggle despite having both Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes in their ranks. Steve Smith’s captaincy failed to inspire, and their batting collapses were frequent.
They finished with six wins, but the worst net run rate saw them end up last.
2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad
A season marred by internal strife. SRH changed captains mid-season, dropping David Warner, their former hero. With only three wins, this was one of their most turbulent campaigns.
Injuries and poor form from their overseas stars further hurt their chances.
2022: Mumbai Indians
The five-time champions were shock strugglers in 2022. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan failed at the top, and Jasprit Bumrah received little support with the ball.
They lost their first eight matches, finishing with just four wins and ending bottom for the first time.
2023: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Another disappointing campaign for SRH. A lack of identity, confused selections, and inconsistent performances plagued their season.
With only four wins and a poor net run rate, they again finished last.
2024: Mumbai Indians
A second wooden spoon finish in three seasons for Mumbai Indians saw their dominance in the league be called into question. Injuries to key players and misfiring big names like Suryakumar Yadav and Tim David saw them slump to the bottom once more.
They managed just four wins from 14 outings, with three of those wins coming in their last five outings, when it was already way too late.
2025: Chennai Super Kings
For the first time in IPL history, CSK finished at the bottom of the table. Surrounded by speculation of MS Dhoni’s retirement CSK lost confidence as they came out on the wrong side of almost all their close encounters.
The late arrival of South African power-hitter brought some spark and momentum, but it was too late as CSK finished with four wins. They were level on points with Rajasthan Royals but behind them based on run rate.
One poor season in nearly two decades, however, won’t tarnish their legacy.