They’ve ruled the IPL when momentum’s on their side. But without a top-two finish, the Mumbai Indians have never lifted the trophy
Mumbai Indians are cricket royalty in the IPL. Five glittering titles underline their supremacy. But here’s the twist — every single trophy came in seasons where they finished either first or second in the league stage. That’s not just a coincidence; it’s a pattern. Out of 18 seasons, they’ve secured a top-two finish only six times, yet they turned five into triumphant campaigns. The flip side? The trophy has stayed out of reach every time they've ended lower.
The 2011 season saw MI finish third after a strong league showing — nine wins from 14 games. Their playoff journey started well. They edged past KKR in a tight eliminator, thanks to Aiden Blizzard’s fireworks and Munaf Patel’s precision with the ball.
The Wankhede crowd roared with belief. But the dream fizzled in Qualifier 2. Chris Gayle went berserk in Chennai, hammering 89 runs as RCB posted a daunting total. Despite Tendulkar’s efforts, MI fell short by 43 runs. It was a hard-hitting lesson — top-two safety nets matter.
Another third-place finish followed in 2012. Mumbai looked sharp in patches, winning 10 of their 16 games. The eliminator pitted them against a familiar foe — Chennai Super Kings. This time, it was MS Dhoni’s magic that broke them. His 51 not out from just 20 balls turned a modest platform into a mountain. MI never looked in control while chasing 187. Dwayne Smith tried, but the collapse was inevitable. They bowed out with a 38-run loss. It wasn’t just a defeat but a reminder of how brutal the knockout road can be.
If ever there was a dramatic entry into the playoffs, it was MI’s in 2014. A miraculous chase against Rajasthan sealed their fourth-place finish. But the fairytale ended swiftly. Up against CSK once again in the eliminator, Mumbai posted a competitive 173. Lendl Simmons stood tall with a solid half-century. But Chennai’s chase was clinical. Suresh Raina flowed like water, scoring an unbeaten 54 and easily finishing the job. Mumbai’s campaign, built on drama and last-minute heroics, ended familiarly — out before the final.
Nearly a decade later, 2023 brought a sense of déjà vu. Mumbai finished fourth, just like in 2014, but started their playoffs with a bang. They decimated Lucknow in the eliminator, with Akash Madhwal delivering one of the finest spells in IPL history — 5 for 5. Suddenly, there was hope.
But that hope ran into a juggernaut named Shubman Gill. In Qualifier 2, Gill’s blistering 129 off 60 balls took Gujarat Titans to a monstrous total. MI tried to fight, but a 62-run defeat was too much to come back from. The wait for a title from outside the top two stretched further.
Fast forward to IPL 2025. Another campaign, another valiant league run — but again, no top-two finish. A crucial loss to Punjab Kings in Jaipur sealed their fate. Fourth place, 16 points, and no safety net. History is not on their side. If they dream of title number six, they’ll need to break their own tradition. Because until now, Mumbai Indians have never gone all the way without that cushion of finishing among the top two.
