Most Dangerous Team in IPL History

To be able to put in a dominant performance over a certain period, irrespective of the conditions and barriers, makes a team threatening to the opposition. Like many other sports, this is quite relevant in cricket. With the advent of franchise tournaments, the focus has now shifted from international cricket to franchise tournaments where some of the teams have built a reputation of tormenting opposition consistently.

Among the numerous franchise cricket leagues that are held globally, the Indian Premier League stands tall with its lucrative list of high-profile cricketers taking the field. The rich blend has often entertained the masses with its quality cricket, unleashing some of the dominant cricket sides of the world. Some of these units have not just overpowered their counterparts on a particular season or two but for the majority of the IPL. In this piece, we shall take a look at the most dangerous teams in IPL history.

IPL 2024 Highlights

The previous edition of the Indian Premier League was renowned for the high scores in the game. The Sunrisers Hyderabad under Pat Cummins’ captaincy initiated the gung-ho approach in the last edition. Teams like Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and the Delhi Capitals followed a similar path leading to chunks of runs being piled up. Without a doubt, the season was a nightmare for the bowlers in most venues such as M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, and the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, among others.

The triumvirate of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen seemed dangerous throughout the IPL season with half of their league stage matches being played at the batting-friendly Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad. Their openers shattered records for fun with Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn’s powerplay score of 105 against RCB in 2017 being pipped. The left-handed duo smashed 125 runs against Delhi Capitals in Delhi before smoking 107 runs against the Lucknow Super Giants in Hyderabad. Sunrisers side also became the second team to breach the hundred-run mark twice in an IPL season.

The Orange Army also posted the highest innings total of 287 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru away from home. Moreover, they chased down a total of 166-run target in 9.4 overs without any hiccups. Head and Abhishek went berserk, clobbering 28-ball 75* and 30-ball 80* respectively in a historic chase. While the champions Kolkata Knight Riders piled up hefty totals as well, the Hyderabad-based franchise, who were also the runners-up, took the IPL 2024 by a storm.

All in all, there were 25 games where the first-innings total exceeded the 200-run mark out of 74 IPL 2024 encounters. This accounts to almost more than one-third of the games where teams batting first piled up over 200 runs. This is only the first time in an IPL season that runs have come free-flowing with the bowlers taking a toll.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians' journey to becoming a powerhouse in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is marked by numerous milestones and triumphs, solidifying their position as the most dominant franchise in the league.

Their path to greatness began with a decisive victory in the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, where they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 31 runs in a memorable final. Building on this success, Mumbai Indians made history by winning their first IPL title in 2013, triumphing over Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final. The same year also saw them clinch their second Champions League Twenty20 title.

With each passing season, the Mumbai side continued to add to their trophy cabinet. In 2015, they secured their second IPL title by defeating CSK by 41 runs, showcasing their prowess in the league. The year 2017 witnessed yet another thrilling victory as they claimed their third IPL title in a nail-biting encounter, narrowly defeating Rising Pune Supergiant by a run.

In 2019, the Ambani-owned franchise achieved a record-breaking fourth IPL title, emerging victorious in a thrilling final against CSK by just a run. However, their crowning achievement came in 2020 when they became the first team to win the IPL title for the fifth time.

All their titles came under the leadership of Rohit Sharma who passed the torch to Hardik Pandya after the franchise snapped the all-rounder ahead of IPL 2024. However, the decision didn’t pay an instant dividend as the Mumbai side finished as the wooden spoon with the fans divided over the captaincy transition. Although Mumbai Indians made the playoffs once in the last four editions, it doesn’t rule out the fact that they have dominated an entire decade between 2010 and 2020.

Additionally, the experience of seasoned players like Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya had added depth and resilience to the Mumbai Indians' squad in previous years, thus making them a formidable force in the IPL. Their full squad for IPL 2024 reflects a blend of talent, experience, and potential, highlighting Mumbai Indians' commitment to maintaining their winning legacy.

Chennai Super Kings

With a record-setting achievement of clinching five IPL titles, appearing in a staggering 10 finals, and an impressive 12 playoff qualifications out of 15 seasons played, Chennai Super Kings undeniably stand as one of the most successful franchises in the league’s history. Their journey has been marked by resilience, consistency, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Despite a setback that led to their suspension for two years starting in July 2015 due to the involvement of their owners in the 2013 IPL betting case, the Super Kings made a triumphant return in 2018, clinching the title in their comeback season.

Under the astute leadership of MS Dhoni, Chennai has etched its name in IPL folklore, securing titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023, all under his captaincy. Their most recent triumph came in the IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans when they equaled Mumbai Indians’ record of five IPL trophies.

Chennai Super Kings’ success isn’t just confined to their on-field achievements; their organizational structure and management also play a pivotal role. What sets CSK apart is their unwavering faith in their core group of players, including Ravindra Jadeja, forming the backbone of their batting and bowling line-ups. Additionally, the astute recruitment of players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, and Deepak Chahar has bolstered their squad’s depth and versatility.

Dhoni continued to feature for the Super Kings in 2024 after stating that it would be harsh not to gift the fans another season following their title win in 2023. However, the captaincy torch was passed on to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was decent in leading the team for fourteen games before the Royal Challengers Bengaluru pipped them in the playoffs race. Despite equal points with their neighbouring state franchise, the Super Kings’ low net run rate led to their exit for the 17th season.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stand as the third most successful team in the IPL, boasting an impressive collection of trophies over the years. Before 2011, KKR was often viewed as underdogs in the IPL. However, they made a significant breakthrough that year by securing their maiden qualification for the IPL playoffs, signaling a pivotal moment in their transformation into a formidable team.

The pinnacle of their success came in 2012 when KKR clinched their first IPL title, triumphing over Chennai Super Kings in a memorable final. They continued their winning streak in 2014, capturing another title by defeating Kings XI Punjab. Notably, both these triumphs occurred under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir, who served as a mentor for the team in IPL 2024.

The Knight Riders also hold the distinction of achieving the longest winning streak by any Indian team in T20s, an impressive feat with 14 consecutive victories. Their strength lies in the depth of talent in both batting and bowling. With power hitters like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh in their lineup over the years, KKR has consistently posed a threat to any bowling attack.

Additionally, the experience and skill of bowlers like Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have added depth and balance to their squad. What sets the Kolkata side apart is their unpredictability and ability to spring surprises. They back their instincts and tactical acumen, often outsmarting even the most tactically astute opponents.

In IPL 2024, KKR made a significant investment of Rs 24.75 crore to secure the services of left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, making him the highest-paid player in IPL history then. The desperate ploy worked well in favour of the side as they went on to lift their third IPL title by defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai. Led by Starc’s ruthless opening spell, followed by Andre Russell’s three-fer, the Men in Purple folded the opposition for paltry 113 before Venkatesh Iyer’s 26-ball 52 set the chase. 

The Knight Riders looked well rounded in the field, winning nine out of their fourteen matches and topping the charts with twenty points. Two of their matches were rain-washed, earning them a point each. Going on, they toppled the Hyderabad side in the Qualifier 1 and beat them again in the grand finale to seal their third IPL title.