Which is the Worst Team in IPL History?

Which is the Worst Team in IPL History? The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been around for almost 17 years and keeps gaining more popularity every season. There have been a total of 13 teams in the IPL since it began in 2008. Currently, there are eight teams in this rich league, but in 2022, the BCCI plans to expand it to ten teams.

The Mumbai Indians are the most successful team with five titles, and the Chennai Super Kings are close with three. However, some teams have been part of the IPL since the start but have never won. These teams can be considered the worst in IPL history.

So, who’s the worst team in IPL among the current ones? If we only look at the number of wins, the Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have the lowest win percentage since the IPL started in 2008. Therefore, Punjab Kings are the worst team in IPL history.

Now, let’s take a look at five teams with the lowest win percentages in IPL history, making them some of the worst teams in the league. Also read IPL Teams With Highest Fanbase.

Worst Team in IPL History

This article lists the least successful teams in IPL history, determined by their win percentage in the league. The information provided here is current as of the mid-2024 season.

Punjab Kings

The team co-owned by Preity Zinta has shown promise from the very first IPL season but struggled to maintain consistency. Except for the 2014 season when they finished at the top of the table, the Punjab Kings have only made it to the playoffs once in 14 seasons. This is surprising, considering they’ve had notable players like Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Chris Gayle, and KL Rahul in their ranks.

As of the start of IPL 2021, the Punjab Kings have played 202 matches, winning 91 and losing 107. This gives them a win percentage of only 45.90%. Despite often having a strong team, they’ve faced issues with consistency.

They haven’t always had the best local talent, and their foreign players have often underperformed. Given these statistics, it’s not unexpected that Punjab Kings are considered the weakest team in IPL history.

Delhi Capitals

Another team that has struggled historically in the IPL is the Delhi Capitals. Established in 2008 as the Delhi Daredevils and owned by the GMR and JSW group, Delhi has had a star-studded lineup. However, despite having big names like AB de Villiers, David Warner, Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Glenn McGrath, they have been unable to secure the IPL title.

Up until IPL 2020, Delhi was the only team that had never made it to the tournament’s final. They broke that streak in 2020 but lost to the Mumbai Indians in the final.

It’s worth noting that Delhi has made significant improvements in their squad in recent years, and they may be on the path to winning IPL titles in the near future. However, this doesn’t change the fact that Delhi has historically been one of the underperforming teams in IPL history.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

A team led by the enthusiastic Virat Kohli and featuring star players like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle should ideally not find a place on this list. However, the unfortunate truth is that despite having such cricket superstars, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have never managed to secure an IPL title.

RCB has reached the IPL finals three times, in 2009, 2011, and 2016. In 2009, they were defeated by the Deccan Chargers in the final, in 2011 they lost to the Chennai Super Kings, and in 2016, they were narrowly beaten by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a thrilling final match.

Rajasthan Royals

The Rajasthan Royals, who won the very first IPL, find themselves as the fourth-worst team in IPL history. They started their IPL journey with a bang, led by Shane Warne, and achieved success. However, they haven’t been able to replicate that performance in the following seasons. Instead, they’ve mostly been average.

Rajasthan has experienced numerous changes in its team setup over the years, from captains to team members, which has led to a lack of consistency. The team has often relied heavily on foreign players. In total, Rajasthan has played 168 IPL matches and holds a win percentage of only 50.60, which places them among the weakest teams in IPL history.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders, co-owned by Shahrukh Khan, ideally shouldn’t be considered one of the worst teams in the IPL. Their presence on this list is primarily due to their less-than-ideal performance in the initial seasons. KKR had a forgettable run from 2008 to 2011.

However, things took a turn for the better when Gautam Gambhir took charge of the team. Under his leadership, Kolkata won two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Unfortunately, they have faced a decline in performance since then and haven’t maintained the same level of consistency. This is why, despite their two IPL titles, Kolkata Knight Riders are still listed among the teams that have struggled in the IPL.

Unsuccessful Team in IPL

Below is the Worst Team in IPL History:

Team	Matches	Wins	Losses	Tie/NR	Win%
Punjab Kings	198	91	107	0/0	45.90%
Delhi Capitals	202	92	108	0/2	46%
Royal Challengers Bangalore	203	96	103	0/4	48.20%
Rajasthan Royals	168	84	82	0/2	50.60%
Kolkata Knight Riders	199	101	98	0/0	50.70%

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