IPL Moments & Controversies Timeline

The very first IPL match saw Brendon McCullum smash an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls for KKR vs RCB at Chinnaswamy Stadium, setting the tone for the tournament. It remains one of the greatest IPL innings ever.

Shane Warne led the unfancied Rajasthan Royals to victory in the first-ever IPL, proving that smart cricket could beat big money. It remains one of the greatest underdog stories in cricket.

Due to a clash with India's general elections, the entire IPL 2009 was held in South Africa. It was the first time the tournament was held outside India, and it proved the IPL's global appeal.

The Master Blaster scored the first-ever century in IPL history — 100* off 66 balls for Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals. Nobody had managed it in the first two seasons.

Chennai Super Kings became the first team to win consecutive IPL titles (2010 and 2011), cementing their dynasty under MS Dhoni's captaincy. The Yellow Army was born.

Chris Gayle smashed an unbelievable 175* off just 66 balls for RCB against PWI, including 17 sixes. It remains the highest individual score in IPL history and one of the greatest T20 innings ever played.

The IPL was rocked by a spot-fixing scandal involving Rajasthan Royals players S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan. They were arrested by Delhi Police during the tournament. The scandal shook cricket to its core.

Following the spot-fixing investigations, the Lodha Committee suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years (2016-17). Team owners Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were found guilty of betting.

Kolkata Knight Riders won their second title under Gautam Gambhir. Manish Pandey became the first Indian to score a century in an IPL final, and the team dominated the knockout stages.

Virat Kohli rewrote the record books with 973 runs in a single IPL season, including 4 centuries. Despite RCB losing the final, Kohli's season is considered the greatest individual batting performance in IPL history.

With CSK and RR suspended, Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions served as replacement franchises for 2016-17. Steve Smith led RPSG to the final in 2017 before both teams were dissolved.

After a two-year suspension, MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings back to the IPL and immediately won the title, beating SRH in the final. The "Whistle Podu" homecoming was one of sport's greatest comeback stories.

In one of the greatest IPL finals ever, Lasith Malinga bowled a perfect final-over yorker to defend 8 runs and win MI their 4th title by just 1 run against CSK. The 2019 final is widely considered the best IPL match ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the entire IPL 2020 to be held in the UAE across three venues. DC reached their first-ever final, but MI won their record 5th title in an empty stadium.

IPL 2021 was suspended midway through the tournament after multiple players and staff tested positive for COVID-19 inside the bio-bubble. The remaining matches were completed in UAE later that year.

The IPL expanded to 10 teams with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants joining. GT won the title in their debut season under Hardik Pandya — only the second franchise (after RR) to win in year one.

MS Dhoni led CSK to their 5th IPL title, equalling MI's record. At 41, Dhoni cemented his legacy as the greatest IPL captain ever. The final against GT at Narendra Modi Stadium drew record viewership.

Kolkata Knight Riders won their 3rd title with one of the most dominant playoff campaigns in IPL history. Sunil Narine opened the batting and became the tournament's most impactful player across all departments.

The BCCI sold IPL media rights for a record-breaking deal exceeding $6 billion, making the IPL the second most valuable sports league per match after the NFL. Digital rights saw massive growth.

MS Dhoni returns for what many believe will be his final IPL season at age 44. The tournament opens with RCB vs SRH at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Every CSK match becomes an event as fans rally around Captain Cool.