In a tournament as unpredictable and tightly contested as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the race to the playoffs is often a game of inches. While the spotlight shines brightest on the champions and the big match-winners, there are equally compelling stories that unfold in the shadows—stories of heartbreak, of “almost”, of teams that came so close, only to falter at the final step.
Every year, franchises gear up with strategies, star-studded lineups, and high expectations. But in the IPL, a single defeat, a sluggish over-rate, or even a couple of missed run-scoring opportunities early in the season can come back to haunt a team. The cruel twist? Sometimes, a team doesn’t even need to lose to be knocked out—it could be a win that wasn’t big enough, a victory that came too late, or a Net Run Rate that dipped just marginally lower than a competitor’s.
Let’s rewind and revisit the most agonising moments in IPL history—the top 5 near-miss matches that cruelly denied teams a shot at the playoffs.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians – IPL 2022
Result: SRH won but couldn’t make the cut
Impact: SRH missed out on the playoffs by 2 points and NRR
SRH needed a win and a set of favourable outcomes in other matches to sneak into the top four. While they did beat Mumbai Indians, their earlier string of losses and poor Net Run Rate meant they were always playing catch-up. One more win earlier in the season or even a tighter loss could have flipped the tables.
4. Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings – IPL 2010
Result: KXIP won, but it wasn’t enough
Impact: Net Run Rate heartbreak
In a do-or-die clash, Kings XI Punjab beat CSK but failed to qualify due to an inferior Net Run Rate. What made it worse? CSK, despite losing, still qualified—and went on to win the IPL 2010 title. It was a bitter pill for Punjab fans who knew that every over and every run in earlier games now counted.
3. Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – IPL 2021
Result: MI won but failed to qualify due to NRR
Impact: MI’s huge win wasn’t enough
Mumbai Indians needed a victory by 171 runs in their final game to overtake KKR on NRR. Despite their best efforts, posting a mammoth 235, they could only win by 42 runs. Even though they tied with KKR on 14 points, their negative NRR meant they missed the playoffs. This mathematical impossibility highlighted the importance of consistent performances throughout the league stage, not just a late flourish.
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans – IPL 2023
Result: GT won by 6 wickets
Impact: RCB eliminated despite a late resurgence
Needing a win to guarantee a playoff spot, RCB put up a strong score with Kohli slamming a century. But Shubman Gill’s ton spoiled the party. RCB, once again, stumbled at the last hurdle—just as they had done in previous seasons. This match was a gut punch to fans who had seen a resurgent RCB take off in the second half of the tournament.
1. Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders – IPL 2023
Result: KKR won by 5 wickets
Impact: Knocked RR out on Net Run Rate
Rajasthan Royals went into their final group-stage match knowing they needed a convincing win to stay in the playoff race. However, a below-par total allowed KKR to cruise to victory, severely denting RR’s NRR. Despite having 14 points, RR missed out on a playoff berth as Royal Challengers Bangalore edged past them on Net Run Rate. That game haunted fans who recalled missed chances throughout the season.
Stats Table
| Year | Match | Result | Team Affected | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) | Playoff Cutoff (Team Qualified Instead) | Missed By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | RCB vs GT | GT won by 6 wickets | RCB | 14 | +0.135 | MI (14 pts, NRR +0.044) | Lost final game |
| 2023 | RR vs KKR | KKR won by 5 wickets | RR | 14 | +0.148 | RCB (14 pts, better NRR before loss) | Net Run Rate |
| 2022 | SRH vs MI | SRH won by 3 runs | SRH | 12 | -0.379 | RCB (16 pts) | 2 points short |
| 2021 | MI vs SRH | MI won by 42 runs | MI | 14 | +0.116 | KKR (14 pts, NRR +0.587) | NRR not enough |
| 2010 | KXIP vs CSK | KXIP won by 6 wickets | KXIP | 14 | +0.218 | CSK (14 pts, better NRR) | Lost the final game |
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