5 highest net run-rates for a team at the end of the league stage in IPL history ft. KKR in IPL 2024

The IPL 2024 season saw another exciting run of league-stage outings with several records broken and eleventh-hour movements in the points table, culminating with four contrasting teams qualifying for the playoffs. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will battle it out this week to find out who emerges as champions.

Among several numbers that are looked at during an IPL season, including team points, Orange, and Purple Cap figures, the term 'Net Run-Rate' (NRR) often gets left out until the final stages of the round-robin stage. The margin of victory or defeat that defines NRR only gets magnified when the points between several teams are almost equal.

That was the case again this season when the teams from fourth to seventh were level on 14 points and RCB's NRR being the highest clinched them a playoff spot. Likewise, SRH and RR finished on 17 points but the former's higher NRR helped them seal the second spot.

Considering the significance of NRR in the IPL standings, it is only fair we reward the teams over the years that finished the league stage with staggeringly high NRRs, indicative of their inimitable dominance.

On that note, here is a look at the five highest net run rates achieved by teams at the end of the league stage in IPL history.

#5 Punjab Kings, 2014 - +0.968

Renowned more for their failures, Punjab Kings (PBKS) had their rare moment in the sun during the IPL 2014 campaign under skipper Goerge Bailey.

The side enjoyed a sensational run through the league stages, finishing with 11 wins in 14 games and a net run-rate of +0.968. They started the season with five consecutive wins and never looked back, losing only three games (twice to MI and once to KKR).

Most of PBKS' victories were by a massive margin, resulting in their excellent NRR and finish atop the points table. However, the side did not enjoy a fairytale ending, losing to KKR in the grand finale by three wickets in the final over.

The 2014 season remains PBKS' best IPL season by far as the franchise hasn't made the playoffs since.

#4 Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2015 - +1.037

It is not often that a side not finishing at the top of the points table ends up with the best net run-rate in the competition. Yet, RCB pulled off that feat in the 2015 IPL season, winning seven out of their 14 games with two No-Results at a NRR of +1.037.

These numbers indicate that the Virat Kohli-led unit won their games convincingly, while the defeats were relatively close. Ironically, RCB started the season losing three out of their first four games before going on an incredible winning streak to finish third in the standings.

In the playoffs, RCB upstaged RR easily in the Eliminator by 71 runs before falling short in Qualifier 2 against CSK by three wickets in a final-over finish.

#3 Mumbai Indians, 2010 - + 1.084

After missing the playoffs in the first two IPL seasons in 2008 and 2009, Mumbai Indians (MI) were a team on a mission in 2010.

Led by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, MI finished atop the points table with 20 points, winning 10 of their 14 games. Their net run-rate of +1.084 is evidence of their dominance throughout the league stage.

MI continued their domination, defeating RCB by 35 runs to march into the final. However, they came up short against CSK in the summit clash, losing by 22 runs.

It was CSK's first IPL title, kickstarting the legendary IPL rivalry between the two sides. Since the 2010 heartbreak, MI have gone on to win five titles from 2013 to 2020.

#2 Mumbai Indians, 2020 - +1.107

Arguably the most dominant run in an IPL season came from MI in 2020 when they won back-to-back titles for the first time since CSK in 2010 and 2011.

Led by Rohit Sharma, MI finished the league stages with nine wins and five losses at a terrific net run-rate of +1.107. Riding off that confidence, the side crushed the Delhi Capitals (DC) by 57 runs and five wickets in Qualifier 1 and the final to lift the trophy for a fifth time.

Considering the teams from fifth to third on this list ultimately came up short of winning the title, MI in 2020 running through the league and playoff stage makes it undeniably the best run in IPL history.

#1 Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024 - +1.428

KKR's display in the league stages of the ongoing IPL season was among the most dominant in league history. Apart from finishing with the best-ever net run-rate of +1.428, the side also won nine out of its 12 completed outings (2 No-Results).

Two of KKR's three defeats came thanks to miraculous centuries by Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. The other was their lone crushing defeat to CSK by seven wickets in Chennai.

How they fare in the upcoming playoffs will determine whether KKR of 2024 triumphs over MI of 2020 and becomes the best single-season franchise in IPL history.