IPL Teams and their Majboot Jod with the playoff spots

Each year, the top four teams on the points table qualify for the playoffs, based on the aggregate points and net run rate (NRR). In the playoffs stage, the top two teams face off each other in the Qualifier 1, while the team on 3rd and 4th positions play each other in the Eliminator. The winner of Qualifier 1 makes a direct entry into the finals of the tournament. The losing side, meanwhile, gets an extended life to qualify for the finals, by playing the winner of the Eliminator game. The winner of the Qualifier 2 plays the winner of Qualifier 1 for the trophy!

There are some teams who are almost guaranteed to qualify for the playoffs whenever they play. Their unbreakable bond with the playoff place continues every season while there are teams that have an unusually high success rate of winning the coveted trophy.

Let’s take a look at teams who share a Majboot Jod with the playoff spots.

#1 Chennai Super Kings – 100% (9/9)

Chennai Super Kings are the only team to have played the playoffs in each season they’ve played in the Indian Premier League. Since they were banned for two years, CSK have played nine seasons of the IPL, qualifying for the knockout stages in all of them. In two of those (2010 and 2011), they won the title, while finishing runner-up in four seasons (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015). An unbreakable bond w

#2 Sunrisers Hyderabad – 66.6% (4/6)

Sunrisers Hyderabad were founded in 2012 after the Deccan Chargers were terminated by the IPL. They have made it to the knockout stages four times, including this season. Since 2016, they have formed a Majboot Jod with the playoff spot, qualifying on each occasion. They won the title in 2016 while finishing fourth in 2013 and 2017.

#3 Mumbai Indians – 64% (7/11)

Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in the IPL; they have won the trophy thrice (2013, 2015, 2017). But when talking about the number of times they have qualified for the playoffs, Mumbai are second to Chennai. The Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise has played all the 11 seasons of IPL so far, out of which they qualified for the playoffs on seven occasions (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017). In 2010, they finished as the runners-up after losing the final to Chennai.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders – 54.5% (6/11)

Kolkata Knight Riders had to wait till the penultimate day of the league stage to qualify for the playoffs this season. They have qualified for the playoffs 6 times in the 11 editions they have played. Their conversion rate is pretty impressive as they’ve won the title twice (2012, 2014) in the 5 times they had previously qualified for the playoffs. In the last 3 editions (including this season), they have qualified for the playoff each time making theirs an unbreakable bond.

#5 Royal Challengers Bangalore – 45.5% (5/11)

Royal Challengers Bangalore have qualified for the playoffs in five seasons, but are yet to put an IPL trophy in their cabinet. Out of those 5 occasions, they have qualified for the final thrice. They lost all 3, losing to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

#6 Rajasthan Royals – 44% (4/9)

Rajasthan Royals, like Chennai Super Kings, did not play in the previous 2 editions. They, however, came back with a bang, qualifying for their third playoffs this year. They were the first team to win the IPL, winning the inaugural edition played in 2008.

#7 Delhi Daredevils – 27% (3/11)

Delhi Daredevils have been one of the weakest sides in the history of the tournament. They have played all the 11 seasons, of which they qualified thrice and won none. This year too, they finished at the bottom of the table.

#8 Kings XI Punjab – 18% (2/11)

The Kings XI Punjab have been a part of the IPL since its inaugural edition in 2008, but have qualified for the playoffs only twice, finishing as the runners-up in 2014 and third in 2008. They started well this year, winning 5 out of the 6 matches but they could only manage to win once in their final 8 matches as they crashed out in unceremonious fashion.

Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are two of the most successful teams in IPL history

Chennai Super Kings seem to have a Fevicol ka Jod with the playoff spot, courtesy a 100% record of qualifying for the playoffs. Other teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have formed a Majboot Jod with the knock-out stage lately by qualifying for it in each of the last 3 seasons.

With the playoffs yet to begin, who do you think will win the IPL trophy?