IPL 2025 Playoff: How often do mid-season top 4 teams qualify historically?

Over the years, fans have witnessed some exhilarating action in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The twists and turns in every season ensure a thrill-a-minute ride for the fans. Every season, the league grows bigger and bigger, drawing more eyeballs with its unique combination of heart-stopping cricketing action and Bollywood-style entertainment. The tactical aspect in the league has also grown over the years, as franchise owners have understood the nitty-gritties of the competition. 2025 has been a season where some of the teams that have never won the coveted title are looking good to go the distance. This only adds to the intensity and unpredictability of the league. CricTracker takes a look at a very interesting statistic in IPL history as the ongoing edition heads towards the business end. Also Check - OTD 2023: Virat Kohli-Naveen-ul-Haq engage in heated IPL verbal spat How often do mid-season top 4 teams qualify historically? Before delving into this article, it is important to know the criteria we have taken into account. We are considering mid-season, when half of the league games have been played. To put things in perspective, IPL 2025 will have 70 matches in the league phase. At the end of 35 matches, Gujarat Titans (GT), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were the top four teams on the points table. Currently, after match No. 49, RCB, PBKS, Mumbai Indians (MI), and GT are the top four teams. 17. IPL 2008 Rajasthan-Royals. (Photo source: X) The inaugural edition of the IPL was held in 2008. Eight teams competed in the tournament. The round-robin phase consisted of 56 matches. After the first 28 matches, Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), PBKS, and DC were the top four. All of them qualified for the playoffs (which were held in the semi-final and final format for the first three seasons) in the same order. Shane Warne-led Rajasthan became the first-ever champions of the tournament as they defeated MS Dhoni's CSK by three wickets, chasing down a 164-run target off the last ball. 16. IPL 2009 Deccan-Chargers. (Photo source: X) IPL 2009 was held in South Africa as the dates of the tournament coincided with the general elections in India. Interestingly, the tournament final was played between RCB and Deccan Chargers, the same two teams that finished seventh and eighth in IPL 2008. After 28 matches, the top four teams were Deccan Chargers, PBKS, DC, and RCB in that order. Except for Punjab, all three qualified. CSK was fifth at the halfway stage but eventually finished second. Deccan won the final by six runs, defending a 144-run target in Johannesburg. Also Check: Top 5 IPL team owners famous on social media 15. IPL 2010 Mumbai-Indians 2010. (Photo source: X) The top four teams after 28 matches in IPL 2010 were MI, RCB, RR, and DC, in that order. From this, only MI and RCB qualified. CSK was fifth at the halfway mark but still managed to qualify and went on to win the tournament for the first time. Deccan Chargers were sixth and they also qualified, but finished fourth after losing the semifinal and third third-place playoff. Chennai defeated Sachin Tendulkar-led MI in a thrilling final by 22 runs, defending a target of 169 runs at the DY Patil Stadium on April 25. 14. IPL 2011 RCB-2011. (Photo source: X) 2011 was like the ongoing season with 70 matches in the league stage. This was because two new teams - Pune Warriors and Kochi Tuskers Kerala joined the fray. After the first 35 matches, MI, RCB, RR, and KKR were occupying the first four spots in the points table, respectively. Except for RR, the other three qualified. CSK was again at No. 5 in the middle of the season, but qualified and successfully defended the title. They got the better of RCB in the final in Chennai. After posting a mammoth total of 205/5, CSK restricted RCB to 147/8. Also Check - IPL 2025: Top 10 game-changing moments of the season so far 13. IPL 2012 KKR-2012. (Photo source: X) Gautam Gambhir-led KKR prevented CSK from pulling off a hat-trick of wins in the IPL. The Kolkata-based franchise defeated CSK in a high-scoring final by five wickets, chasing down a 191-run target with two balls to spare. In IPL 2012, there were only nine teams in action. Each team faced the other teams twice. 72 matches were held in the league phase. After the first 36 games, DC, KKR, CSK, and RCB were the top four teams, in that order. Except for RCB, the other three qualified. MI were seventh at this stage but still qualified in third place. RCB missed the playoffs after equalling CSK on points but having a lower NRR. 12. IPL 2013 CSK-2013. (Photo source: X) IPL 2013 saw a relatively inexperienced Rohit Sharma taking up Mumbai Indians' captaincy in the middle of the season and leading them to their maiden title. RCB, CSK, RR, and SRH were the top four teams after the first 36 matches in the nine-team league. However, except for RCB, the other three progressed to the next round. MI were sixth at the halfway mark, and then went on to win the tournament after finishing second on the points table. In the IPL 2013 final, Mumbai defeated CSK by 23 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens. They successfully defended a 149-run target against Dhoni's men. Also Check: Who is Raghu Sharma? - Everything you need to know about MI leg-spinner 11. IPL 2014 PBKS-2014. (Photo source: X) IPL 2014 once again had eight teams competing for the title after Pune Warriors India pulled out. The first few games were held in the UAE before the tournament returned to India. CSK, PBKS, RR, and RCB were the four teams in the top four after the first 28 matches. From this, only CSK and PBKS qualified. RCB eventually finished seventh. RR famously crashed out after losing to MI, where the latter had to chase 190 in 14.3 overs to get their NRR above the former. MI, who were seventh at the halfway stage, progressed to the playoffs after Aditya Tare hit a last-ball six to take Mumbai home against the Royals. However, it was KKR who prevailed in the final, beating PBKS by three wickets, chasing down a 200-run target with three balls to spare. KKR also qualified after being fifth at the halfway stage, famously embarking on a nine-match winning streak, which ended in them winning the tournament after winning just two out of the first seven matches. 10. IPL 2015 KKR-2015. (Photo source: X) IPL 2015 was completely played in India. CSK, RR, KKR, and RCB were the top four teams at the end of 28 matches in the eight-team tournament. Except for KKR, the other three qualified. MI came back after losing each of their first four matches and won the tournament. They were seventh in the middle of the competition. MI defeated CSK by 41 runs after posting 202/5 at the Eden Gardens. Also Check - IPL 2028: How Indian Premier League is adopting a football-style format? 9. IPL 2016 SRH-2016. (Photo source: X) IPL 2016 was one of the more fascinating seasons in the league's history. It was also the first time the legendary Virat Kohli won the Orange Cap. Sunrisers Hyderabad won their maiden title, beating RCB in the final by eight runs. Gujarat Lions, DC, SRH, and KKR were the top four teams, respectively, midway through the season after 28 matches. However, DC couldn't make the cut at the end of the league stage. RCB qualified after winning only two of their first seven matches. RCB, SRH, and KKR were tied on points, but the former had the best net run rate (NRR) after beating Gujarat Lions by a record 144 runs, which helped them finish second on the points table. DC eventually finished sixth. 8. IPL 2017 MI-2017. (Photo source: X) After the first 28 matches, MI, KKR, SRH, and Rising Pune Supergiant were the top four teams on the points table, respectively. All four of them went on to qualify. However, Pune swapped places with KKR. MI defeated Pune in a low-scoring final, which turned out to be a thrilling affair. Four runs were needed off the last ball, and Pune could manage only two runs. MI bagged their third title. Also Check: Top five controversial moments in IPL 2025 7. IPL 2018 CSK-2018. (Photo source: X) IPL 2018 saw CSK and RR returning after serving two-year bans. There were plenty of closely-contested matches in that season. SRH, CSK, PBKS, and RR were the top four teams in the middle of the tournament. However, except for PBKS, the other three qualified. RR, who were fifth at this stage, qualified instead. IPL 2018 final saw CSK winning the title, beating SRH by eight wickets, chasing down a 179-run target on the back of Shane Watson's blistering century (117* off 57 balls). 6. IPL 2019 MI-2019. (Photo source: X) IPL 2019 was a memorable season where veterans as well as budding youngsters impressed with consistent performances. CSK, KKR, MI, and DC were the top four teams after the first 28 matches. Apart from KKR, the other three qualified. SRH were sixth at the halfway stage but qualified after having the same points and a better NRR than KKR at the end of the group stage. CSK made the final yet again. However, they were beaten by arch-rivals Mumbai Indians by one run at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. This is one of the most famous finals in IPL history. 5. IPL 2020 Delhi-Capitals. (Photo source: X) IPL 2020 was held during the COVID-19 pandemic in a bio-secure bubble in the UAE. The season was postponed and held from September 19 to November 20. MI, DC, RCB, and KKR were the top four teams at the halfway point of the season. SRH were fifth at this point. At the end of the league stage, RCB, SRH and KKR had the same points, but KKR ended up with the lowest NRR out of the three. Delhi Capitals made it to the finals for the first time. However, they failed to win the elusive title. MI defeated them by five wickets in Dubai. 4. IPL 2021 CSK-2021. (Photo source: X) IPL 2021 was played in two phases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase was held in India and the second in the UAE. The tournament was halted due to a COVID-19 outbreak within teams during the initial leg. CSK, DC, RCB, and MI were the top four teams at the halfway point. Except for MI, the other three qualified, KKR, who were seventh at this point, qualified after having a better NRR than MI at the end of the league stage. CSK won the final by beating KKR by 27 runs in Dubai. Also Check: IPL 2025: Ranking the best Bowling Duos of the season 3. IPL 2022 GT-2022. (Photo source: X) IPL 2022 saw the inclusion of two new teams - Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The league stage comprised 70 matches. After 35 matches in 2022, GT, RR, RCB, and LSG were the first four teams on the points table, respectively. All four qualified, but RCB and LSG switched positions on the final table. Hardik Pandya-led GT won the final, beating RR by seven wickets in Ahmedabad. 2. IPL 2023 CSK-2023. (Photo source: X) IPL 2023, CSK, GT, RR, and LSG were the top four teams at the halfway stage. Except for RR, all three qualified. MI were seventh at this point, but still managed to qualify after winning five of their last seven matches. Rajasthan, on the other hand, lost six out of their last nine matches to bow out. The final turned out to be a riveting affair, which was played over two days. Ravindra Jadeja hit a boundary off the last ball, taking CSK to victory against GT. 1. IPL 2024 KKR-2024. (Photo source: X) IPL 2024 was a memorable season for fans who love high-scoring affairs. A lot of the venues provided surfaces where bowlers didn't have much of a say. RR, SRH, KKR, and CSK were the top four teams midway through the season. RCB were last at this stage, and then they won six matches in a row to qualify for the playoffs with a little bit of help from other teams. At the end of the league phase, KKR, SRH, RR, and RCB were the top four teams in that order. KKR went on to lift their third IPL title and first after a decade when they defeated SRH in a one-sided final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Also Read: MI lowest points table finishes in IPL History: Worst seasons explained Summary: Out of 68, 52 teams have qualified after being in the top four at the halfway of the league stage in the first 17 seasons. That is a 76.47% success rate.

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IPL 2025 Playoff: How often do mid-season top 4 teams qualify historically?

CricTracker takes a look at a very interesting statistic in the Indian Premier League's (IPL) history as the ongoing edition heads towards the business end.

9. IPL 2016

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