Which Has Been the Worst Team in IPL History? – Most Unsuccessful IPL Team

Throughout the course of this tournament, there have been both major successes and disappointments in equal measure. There are several teams that are quite successful in the IPL, such as Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. 

The following table provides a rough idea of the worst team (unsuccessful team in IPL) in terms of number of wins from their participation in the tournament.

Most Unsuccessful IPL Team

When a team’s performance is consistently bad, then it can be classified as a bad team. Similarly, the vice-versa holds true as well. It is easy to say that CSK has been a consistently good team throughout its history. Teams like Mumbai Indians and KKR are also excellent.

In this case, the question arises. What do you think is the worst team in the history of the Indian Premier League amongst the currently active teams? Only in terms of wins, the Punjab Kings (formerly known as Kings XI Punjab) have the lowest win percentage since the first match of the IPL was played in 2008. The Punjab Kings are thus the worst team in the history of the IPL.

What defines a bad IPL team?

Before we look at the specific teams, let’s first understand what makes a team one of the worst in IPL history. The criteria are:

• Low win percentage: The number of matches won versus matches played. The lower this number, the worse the team has performed historically.
• No IPL titles: Has the team ever won the title in any of the 14 seasons so far? Not winning even once certainly makes you a poor performer.
• Playoff qualifications: How many times has the team qualified for the playoffs? Not making it to the final four often is a sign of a struggling franchise.
• Poor results against top teams: Consistently losing to the top teams like MI, CSK, and KKR also indicates poor performance.

Worst Team in IPL History

Team	Matches	Wins	Losses	Tie/NR	Win%
Punjab Kings	246	109	133	4/0	45.12
Delhi Capitals	252	112	134	4/2	45.6
Royal Challengers Bangalore	256	121	128	3/4	47.26
Sunrisers Hyderabad	182	87	91	4/0	47.8
Rajasthan Royals	222	110	106	3/3	49.54
Kolkata Knight Riders	252	130	117	4/1	51.58%

Check out IPL Best Bowling Average

1) Punjab Kings | Win% – 45.12 – The Worst Team in the IPL

The Punjab Kings, also known as Kings XI Punjab, are one of the most disappointing teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite having had some of the best players in the world in their squad over the years, the Kings have only qualified for the playoffs once in 17 seasons.

This is a very low number, especially considering that the Kings have played a total of 246 matches in the IPL, of which they have won only 109. This gives them a win percentage of just 45.12 %, which is the lowest among all IPL teams.

The Kings have always struggled with consistency. They have had some great teams over the years, but they have never been able to put it all together. In recent years, they have also been let down by their foreign players, who have failed to deliver on a regular basis.

As a result of their poor performances, the Kings have become the worst team in the IPL. They are the only team to have never won the tournament, and they have also never reached the final.

Related:Opening Ceremony of IPL

2) Delhi Capitals | Win% – 45.6%

The Delhi Capitals are one of the least successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), despite having some of the biggest names in cricket in their squad over the years.

The Capitals have only won 45.6% of their matches in the IPL, which is the second lowest win percentage among all IPL teams. They have also never won the IPL title, and they have only reached the final once, in 2020.

There are a number of reasons for the Capitals’ poor performance in the IPL. One reason is that they have been very inconsistent. They have had some good seasons, but they have also had some very bad seasons.

Another reason for the Capitals’ poor performance is that they have often struggled to find the right balance in their team. They have had some great batsmen in their squad, but they have not always had the best bowlers.

Despite their poor record in the IPL, the Capitals have made some great progress in recent years. They have built a strong young team, and they have a good mix of Indian and overseas players.

If the Capitals can maintain their consistency and find the right balance in their team, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the IPL in the years to come. However, based on their overall record in the tournament, they are still one of the worst teams in IPL history.

3) Royal Challengers Bangalore | Win % – 47.26%

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but they are also one of the most unlucky. Despite having some of the biggest names in cricket in their squad over the years, RCB have never won an IPL title.

RCB have reached the IPL final on three occasions – in 2009, 2011, and 2016 – but they have lost all three times. They were defeated by the Deccan Chargers in the final of the 2009 IPL, the Chennai Super Kings in the final of the 2011 IPL, and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final of the 2016 IPL.

RCB’s failure to win an IPL title despite having such a star-studded squad has become a source of great frustration for their fans. Some fans have even accused the team of being cursed.

However, there is no doubt that RCB are a very good team. They have a strong batting lineup, led by Virat Kohli, and a decent bowling lineup. They also have a good mix of Indian and overseas players.

If RCB can finally break their IPL title drought, it will be one of the most memorable moments in IPL history. However, even if they don’t, they will always be one of the most popular teams in the tournament.

4) Sunrisers Hyderabad | Win% – 47.8

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is one of the newer teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They won their first and only IPL title in 2016 under the leadership of David Warner. Since then, they have had some famous players but haven’t been able to win another trophy.

SRH has played 182 matches in the IPL, winning 87 and losing 90. This gives them a win percentage of 47.8%. As of IPL 2024, Pat Cummins is their captain. He is also one of the most expensive players ever bought in the tournament’s history.

5) Rajasthan Royals | Win% – 49.54

The Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are the fourth worst team in IPL history. They have won 49.54% of their matches, which is the fourth lowest win percentage among all IPL teams.

The Royals have undergone too many changes since their inception. They have also been too dependent on foreign players. As a result, their performance has been inconsistent.

The Royals’ best performance in the IPL came in the inaugural season, when they won the championship under the leadership of Shane Warne. However, they have not been able to replicate that success since then.

Despite their poor record in the IPL, the Royals are one of the most popular teams in the tournament. They have a large and passionate fan base.

6) Kolkata Knight Riders | Win % – 51.58%

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but they have not always been consistent. They have won three IPL titles—2012, 2014, and the latest one in 2024. However, they have also finished in the bottom half of the table many times.

KKR’s best years came when Gautam Gambhir was the captain from 2011 to 2017. During his leadership, the team made it to the playoffs four times and won two IPL titles.

Since Gambhir left, KKR has struggled with consistency. They have had many big players like Andre Russell, Eoin Morgan, and Pat Cummins, but they haven’t been able to perform well in every season.