'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
One of the most important changes the gentleman's game has undergone in the 21st century is the introduction of T20 cricket. Although Test Cricket remains the ultimate format of the game (and will probably remain so forever), T20 has taken the game to every corner of the globe.
Packaged with glitz, glamour, thrill and quality cricket, several domestic leagues were started around the world to usher in the T20 euphoria.
Almost all cricket playing nations have their own domestic T20 leagues now. Even countries like Canada and Afghanistan have started their own leagues, and several stars have graced those tournaments with their presence.
Among the several T20 leagues around the world, seven have attained immense popularity among the fans. Let us look at the most successful teams in the history of those seven popular domestic T20 leagues.
Chennai Super Kings (Indian Premier League)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) began in 2008 amidst much fanfare, thanks to Team India's astonishing victory at the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007 at South Africa.
The format attained immense popularity within a short span of time, as Indian fans embraced the brand new league with open arms. The tournament lived up to the expectations by providing quality cricket, and is now regarded as the Great Indian Summer Festival.
Almost every international cricket star descends in India every year (from March to May) to take part in this cricket carnival. The league has taken the game to almost every corner of the globe and is a proper celebration of cricket.
Though eight teams participated during the first editions of the league, it expanded to 10 in the fourth edition in 2011. A total of 13 franchises have played in the tournament over the last decade, with five of those being defunct now.
Among all those franchises, the Chennai Super Kings led by 'Captain Cool' MS Dhoni is the most successful side with three titles, seven final appearances and nine playoffs (knockouts) appearances.
After missing out narrowly in the first edition to the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals and then to Royal Challengers in the next edition, CSK stamped their supremacy in 2010 when the league returned to India (in 2009 the IPL was held at South Africa due to the Indian General elections).
They defeated a strong Mumbai Indians side led by the iconic Sachin Tendulkar by 22 runs in a high-voltage final at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium.
In the next season, Dhoni helped the team successfully defend their title, barely a month after he had led India to an emphatic ICC Cricket World Cup title.
A series of heartbreaks followed in the next four seasons (they lost thrice in the finals and once in the qualifiers), after which they were banned for the alleged involvement of their owners in a spot-fixing scandal. But coming back to the league after a two-year hiatus, they claimed the title in style, as they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final at Wankhede Stadium by eight wickets to claim their third IPL title.
Although Mumbai Indians have the same number of titles as CSK, matching the consistency of the Yellow Army is just a dream for other franchises. The Super Kings are the undisputed Kings of the IPL!
Best finish: Winners - 2010, 2011 and 2018
Perth Scorchers (Big Bash League)
The Big Bash League (BBL) is the Australian domestic T20 league founded in the year 2011, and it comprises of eight teams.
The first edition of this league was held in 2011-12 and the Sydney Sixers were crowned the inaugural champions after they defeated the Perth Scorchers in the final at WACA (the venue has so far hosted four summit clashes).
But the Perth Scorchers are the most successful side in the BBL, having won the title thrice - in the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons.
They won their first ever title under Simon Katich in the third BBL edition, defeating Hobart Hurricanes in the final at home. They then defended their crown in emphatic fashion under skipper Adam Voges, beating the inaugural winners Sydney Sixers by four wickets at Canberra.
The Men in Orange won their third BBL title during the 2016/17 edition, in what was a rematch of the fourth season final, thrashing the Syndey Sixers by nine wickets at WACA.
With three titles in seven editions, the Scorchers are the best side in the Australian Big Bash League by a large margin!
Best finish: Winners - 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2016/17
Trinbago Knight Riders (Caribbean Premier League)
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is the domestic T20 league of the Caribbean (West Indies). Introduced in 2013, it is currently comprised of six teams. The Antigua Hawksbills, one of the six franchises that participated in the first two editions of the CPL (finished fifth and sixth respectively), are now defunct.
The Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural edition in 2013, defeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets in the final at Port of Spain. But the Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly known as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel) are the most successful team with three titles - 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Jointly owned by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta (also the Kolkata Knight Riders owners), the Trinidad side are currently the defending champions too. They won the 2018 edition at home against Guyana by eight wickets under skipper Dwayne Bravo.
Best finish: Winners - 2015, 2017 and 2018
Titans (Ram Slam T20 challenge)
The first edition of South Africa's premier domestic T20 league, the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, was played in the year 2004. Though the league was started as Standard Pro 20 series, over the years it acquired several new names - first MiWay T20 Challenge and eventually Ram Slam T20 Challenge - owing to the sponsorship requirements.
Currently, six teams compete in the league - Cape Cobras, Dolphins, Knights, Highveld Lions, Titans and Warriors. Of these, the Titans are the most successful side with six titles (2005, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017).
With all-rounder Albie Morkel at the helm and several stars like AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi and Chris Morris in their ranks, Titans boast one the strongest squads in the tournament. In the 2017 final, they defeated Dolphins by seven wickets at SuperSport Park, Centurion to claim a record sixth T20 challenge title.
The next edition of the league will be held in April 2019 and will be referred to as CSA T20 Challenge just like the 2016 edition (owing to lack of title sponsors).
Best finish: Winners - 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017
Dhaka Dynamites (Bangladesh Premier League)
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is the domestic T20 league of Bangladesh established in the year 2012.
There are seven competing teams in the league - Chittagong Vikings, Comilla Victorians, Dhaka Dynamites, Khulna Titans, Rajshahi Kings, Rangpur Riders and Sylhet Sixers. Out of these, the Dhaka Dynamites (formerly the Dhaka Gladiators), who won the inaugural edition, are the most successful, having won the title thrice - in 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Veteran Mashrafe Mortaza guided them to their first two titles, while star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan led them to glory in the fourth edition. In the last season though, the Dynamites finished as the runners-up after losing to Rangpur Riders by 57 runs in the final.
T20 stalwarts Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum took the game away from Dhaka as they pummeled the bowling to take Rangpur's total to 206/1 in 20 overs, which Shakib's men failed to chase down.
Best finish: Winners - 2012, 2013 and 2016
Islamabad United (Pakistan Super League)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is the domestic T20 league of Pakistan established in 2016. Though a majority of the tournament is played at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), some of the knockout games over the years have been played in Pakistan.
The first two editions comprised of five teams, but this year the tournament had six franchises aiming for glory. The Multan Sultans joined the existing five franchises - Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators - this season.
Islamabad United are the most successful franchise in the history of the league, having won two titles in three PSL editions so far (2016 and 2018). Former Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq led them to glory in the inaugural edition as the franchise from the national capital defeated Quetta Gladiators in by six wickets in the finale held at Dubai.
Peshawar Zalmi won the second edition in 2017, beating the 2016 runners-up Quetta by 58 runs in the final held at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Misbah once again led Islamabad to glory in 2018, as his team defeated the defending champions Peshawar in this year's final at Karachi's National Stadium by three wickets.
Best finish: Winners - 2016 and 2018
Leicestershire Foxes (Vitality Blast)
The Vitality Blast is the domestic T20 league of England, comprising of 18 first-class counties vying for the crown. Established in 2003, the Twenty20 Cup (formerly called so) was the first professional T20 league in the world. Since then, it has been referred to as Friends Provident T20, Natwest T20 Blast and Vitality Blast (due to the changes in sponsorship) over the years.
Surrey won the first ever edition at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, defeating the Warwickshire Bears (Birmingham Bears) by nine wickets.
Leicestershire Foxes are the most successful side in the Vitality Blast, having claimed the crown on three occasions - 2004, 2006 and 2011. Brad Hodge led them to their first title in just the second edition, while Jeremy Snape and Matthew Hoggard guided them to glory in 2006 and 2011 respectively.
Worcestershire Rapids are the current champions of the oldest T20 domestic league; they won the 2018 edition at Edgbaston, defeating the Sussex Sharks by five wickets in the finals.
Best finish: Winners - 2004, 2006 and 2011
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
