In a stage where there’s no second chance, these two teams have stumbled the most
The IPL Eliminator is not for the faint-hearted. One bad night and a team's journey ends—no second chances. And in this do-or-die format, two franchises have found themselves at the receiving end more often than any other. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have both played five Eliminators each. But what's more telling is this—they've both lost three times. These stumbles have become part of their playoff narrative, and the pattern is impossible to ignore. Let's take a closer look at how these losses unfolded.
The first Eliminator loss for SRH came in their debut season. Facing Rajasthan Royals in Delhi, they posted a modest 132/7. Dhawan and White tried, but it wasn't enough. RR looked shaky at 57/5, but then Brad Hodge unleashed five sixes in a fierce, unbeaten 54. He turned the tide and took Rajasthan home with four wickets and four balls to spare. SRH's journey ended in heartbreak, setting the tone for future woes.
After winning their first Eliminator in 2016, SRH returned in 2017, again facing KKR. This time, rain had a role to play. SRH could only manage 128/7, with Coulter-Nile's 3/20 keeping them quiet. The DLS target of 48 in 6 overs tilted things in KKR's favour. Gambhir calmly guided the chase, finishing it off with four balls left. It was another knockout exit for Hyderabad under frustrating circumstances.
Visakhapatnam. Another Eliminator. Another defeat for SRH. This time, Delhi Capitals edged past them by just two wickets. Prithvi Shaw got them off to a flier, and Rishabh Pant's 49 seemed to put DC in control. But wickets kept falling. It all came down to the final over—Keemo Paul held his nerve, and SRH were done again. Three Eliminators, three exits. The pattern was now a trend.
RCB's Eliminator journey began on a high. In 2015, they blew Rajasthan Royals away by 71 runs in Pune. AB de Villiers smashed 66, and Mandeep Singh supported him with a stylish 54*. RR collapsed to 109 all out. RCB's bowling unit worked in unison—each one chipping in. It looked like RCB were playoff-ready. But little did they know what future Eliminators had in store.
In 2021, Kolkata Knight Riders outclassed RCB once again. Despite Kohli's 39, RCB could only muster 138. Enter Sunil Narine—4 wickets and a blistering cameo. RCB bowed out with two balls remaining.
Fast forward to 2024, and it was déjà vu. This time, Rajasthan Royals returned the favour. RCB's 172/8 looked defendable. But Jaiswal and Parag had other plans. Ashwin's spell turned the screws. RCB fell short once more—this time in Ahmedabad.
Ironically, SRH and RCB met each other in the 2020 Eliminator. Someone had to lose—and it was RCB. After managing just 131, they couldn't stop Williamson's calm 50* despite AB de Villiers' resistance. Holder was the hero with both bat and ball. SRH advanced, and RCB went home. For both teams, it was just another chapter in their eliminator saga. This match marked the second Eliminator loss for each side. SRH would fall again next year.
Five attempts. Three heartbreaks each. Whether it's a case of nerves, flawed tactics, or just bad luck—RCB and SRH carry the tag of Eliminator misfortune. Their consistent failure to clear this hurdle is now etched in IPL history. Each loss has its own story, but the ending has always been "Eliminated."
