Tracing the journey of all defunct teams in IPL history

#5 Gujarat Lions (2016-2017)

Gujarat Lions topped the league table in IPL 2016

Gujarat Lions was Rajasthan Royals' replacement for IPL 2016 and 2017. Suresh Raina was appointed the team's captain and they had a strong side containing the likes of Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhawal Kulkarni, Dwayne Smith and Dwayne Bravo.

GL began IPL 2016 brilliantly by winning their first three games against Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians. Aaron Finch was adjudged the Man of the Match on all three occasions. Unfortunately, they were on the receiving end of the then-highest margin of victory in IPL history as they were thumped by RCB by 144 runs.

Gujarat Lions eventually topped the table at the end of the league stage with 9 wins and 5 losses. With a net run rate of - 0.374, Gujarat Lions are the only team in IPL history who has topped the league stage with a negative net run rate. Only bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab had a lower net run rate than Gujarat Lions.

In the first qualifier against RCB, Gujarat Lions were looking set to win the match, having reduced the rival team to 68/6. However, a partnership of 90 between AB de Villiers and Iqbal Abdullah took the match away from GL and RCB reached the final. The Lions had another chance to reach the final by playing the second qualifier against Sunrisers Hyderabad . However, a 58-ball 93 by David Warner eliminated Gujarat Lions from the tournament.

Gujarat Lions began IPL 2017 with two successive losses before registering their first win against Rising Pune Supergiant where Andrew Tye took a hat-trick. Their performance during the remainder of the league stage was underwhelming and they ended the tournament in 7th position with 4 wins and 10 losses. The only positive for the Lions was Suresh Raina who ended the tournament as the 5th highest run-scorer. With Rajasthan Royals set to return for IPL 2018, Gujarat Lions was dissolved.