From Punjab to Delhi: All IPL Teams That Have Never Won the Trophy
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen 15 different teams take part since 2008, but only eight of them have managed to win the title even once. Even after 18 seasons, several franchises remain without a championship, including two teams that have been part of the league since the very first edition.
IPL trophy winners vs trophy-less teams
Over the years, eight franchises have lifted the IPL trophy: Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans, Deccan Chargers and, most recently, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings lead the list with five titles each, while KKR follow with three, and the other four teams have one title each.
In the 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally won their first IPL title by beating Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad. With that win, RCB became the eighth team to win the Indian Premier League, ending one of the longest title waits in T20 franchise cricket.
However, not every franchise has been able to join this champions list. Across all 18 editions up to 2025, seven of the 15 teams that have appeared in the IPL have never won the trophy. Out of these seven, four teams are now defunct, while three are still active and will again enter IPL 2026 without a title to their name.
Active IPL teams that have never won the trophy
At present, there are three active teams that have never become IPL champions: Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. These teams have had strong seasons at different times, but they have not been able to cross the final hurdle and secure the title.
Punjab Kings: two finals, no title
Punjab Kings, earlier known as Kings XI Punjab, have been part of the IPL since the first season in 2008. They are one of the two original franchises that have played in all 18 seasons but have still not lifted the trophy.
Punjab have reached the playoffs a few times and have made it to the final twice. They first reached the title clash in 2014, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring match. Then, in 2025, they again reached the final but were beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who claimed their maiden title in that game.
Across different seasons, Punjab have often finished in the middle of the table. In the early years, they reached the semifinals in 2008, but then missed the last four in 2009 and 2010 with 5th-place finishes. From 2015 onwards, their league-stage positions have mostly been outside the top four, which has kept them away from regular playoff runs despite some strong individual performances in various seasons.
Even so, those runs to the final in 2014 and 2025 show that Punjab Kings have come very close to winning the IPL on more than one occasion, only to fall just short on the big day.
Delhi Capitals: long wait from the first season
Delhi Capitals, who played as Delhi Daredevils until 2018, are the other team that has featured in every single IPL season since 2008 without a title. Like Punjab, Delhi have been part of the league since its launch, yet they are still searching for their first championship even after 18 editions.
Delhi’s best result so far came in IPL 2020, when they reached the final under the Capitals name for the first time. In that final, they faced Mumbai Indians but were beaten, which meant Mumbai added another trophy while Delhi’s wait continued.
Before and after that season, Delhi have often been around the playoff spots but have not been able to turn those chances into a title run. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, they reached the semifinals and playoffs a few times, including a third-place finish in 2012. In recent seasons, they finished as high as 3rd in 2019 and 2021, yet again they could not go all the way.
So, even though Delhi Capitals have been one of the longest-serving franchises in the IPL, the record books still show zero titles next to their name and only one final appearance in 2020.
Lucknow Super Giants: steady but no final yet
Lucknow Super Giants are much newer compared to Punjab and Delhi. They joined the IPL in 2022 as one of the two new teams alongside Gujarat Titans. While Gujarat quickly won the title in 2022, Lucknow are still searching for their first crown.
In their debut season in 2022, Lucknow finished 3rd on the points table and reached the playoffs, showing promise right away. They again finished 3rd in 2023, which meant two straight playoff appearances for the new franchise. However, they did not progress to the final in either year.
In 2024 and 2025, their results dipped slightly, with finishes outside the top three, and they did not manage to break into the final even once in their first four seasons. As of the start of IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants remain one of the three active teams that have never won the IPL trophy.
Defunct IPL teams without a title
Along with the current sides, there are four teams that no longer exist but also never managed to win an IPL title: Rising Pune Supergiant, Gujarat Lions, Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. These franchises had shorter lives in the league but still left their mark in different seasons.
Rising Pune Supergiant: closest among the defunct teams
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), who played in 2016 and 2017, came the closest to winning the IPL among the now-defunct franchises. In 2016, they finished 7th in the league stage, but in 2017 they had a strong campaign and reached the final.
In that 2017 final, RPS took on Mumbai Indians in a tight match. Mumbai edged the game by just one run, handing RPS a painful defeat and keeping them off the winners list. As a result, Rising Pune Supergiant ended their short IPL journey with one runners-up finish but no title.
Gujarat Lions: two seasons, no final
Gujarat Lions replaced the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two seasons in 2016 and 2017. In their first year, the Lions actually topped the league table but lost in the playoffs and did not reach the final.
In 2017, their performance dropped, and they finished 7th, again missing a chance to push for the title. After CSK and RR returned to the IPL in 2018, Gujarat Lions were dissolved, ending their run without a trophy or final appearance.
Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala
Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala both had short and difficult stays in the IPL. Kochi Tuskers Kerala took part only in the 2011 season, where they finished 8th and never came near the playoffs. Their franchise contract issues led to an early exit from the league.
Pune Warriors India played three seasons from 2011 to 2013. Across these years, they finished 9th, 8th and 9th, which kept them away from playoff spots in every season they competed. Financial and ownership problems meant that PWI were also withdrawn from the tournament, leaving them with no deep runs in the competition and no title.
Finals without a trophy: who has come closest?
When we look at the history of finals, three of the trophy-less franchises have reached the IPL final at least once: Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rising Pune Supergiant.
- Punjab Kings played in the 2014 final against Kolkata Knight Riders and lost, then again in the 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and lost once more.
- Delhi Capitals reached the final in 2020, where they were beaten by Mumbai Indians.
- Rising Pune Supergiant reached the 2017 final but lost to Mumbai Indians by a single run.
So far, no final featuring a trophy-less franchise has ended with that team lifting the cup. Each time, the more established or in-form opponent has finished on top, keeping the list of IPL champions to just eight franchises up to 2025.
Two ever-present franchises still without a title
The most striking fact in this story is that Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals have taken part in every single IPL season from 2008 to 2025 and have still not won the tournament. Both teams have changed captains, coaches and cores several times, yet the title column for each remains at zero.
Punjab have two runners-up finishes and a few playoff runs, while Delhi have one runners-up finish and several seasons where they reached the top four but could not go all the way. On the other hand, some newer or short-lived teams, such as Gujarat Titans and Deccan Chargers, managed to win an IPL trophy within a very short time in the league.
Taken together, the numbers show how tough the IPL has been for many franchises. Even with repeated mega-auctions and frequent squad reshuffles, seven of the 15 teams that have appeared in the league have never become champions, and two original teams are still searching for their first IPL trophy after 18 editions.
