History Against GT & MI - Only One Team Has Ever Won IPL After Playing Eliminator
In the history of the Indian Premier League, only once has a team gone on to win the title after playing the Eliminator.
The league stage of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is complete, and the playoff phase is set to kick off on May 29.
In the first qualifier, Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mullanpur. The following day, Gujarat Titans will lock horns with Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. While both GT and MI have played strong cricket, history suggests the road ahead will be far more challenging for them.
Eliminator Teams rarely lift IPL Trophy
In the history of the Indian Premier League, only once has a team gone on to win the title after playing the Eliminator.
That rare feat was achieved by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. Since then, no team has managed to replicate that success, highlighting the uphill battle Gujarat and Mumbai face in IPL 2025.
MI and GT are fighting for survival from the very beginning. Both teams will need to win three consecutive knockout matches to lift the IPL 2025 trophy - something only one team has managed in the tournament's 17-year history.
SRH's iconic 2016 title run
Back in 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the playoffs alongside RCB, Gujarat Lions, and Kolkata Knight Riders. SRH defeated KKR in the Eliminator and then beat Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 2 to reach the final. There, they edged past RCB by 8 runs in a thrilling finish under the leadership of David Warner, securing their maiden IPL title.
Playoff Format: How It Works
Qualifier 1: Contested by the top two teams. The winner advances directly to the final.
Eliminator: Played between the third and fourth-ranked teams. The loser is eliminated.
Qualifier 2: The loser of Qualifier 1 faces the winner of the Eliminator. The winner of this match proceeds to the final.
This format gives teams finishing in the top two an extra lifeline - a big advantage that Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians won't have.
The question remains: Can either Gujarat Titans or Mumbai Indians defy the odds and create history?
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