Do you know? Which is the only team to win the IPL title after playing Eliminator

Securing a top-two spot in the points table gives an added advantage to the teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they get two bites at the cherry to enter the final. In IPL history, only once has a side ended up winning the trophy despite not finishing in the top two. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) holds the special record as they ended up third in 2016 and then proceeded to final, where they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to win their maiden title.

David Warner-led side had won eight and lost six matches in the league stage of the tournament and occupied the third spot with 16 points at the end of it. They had to win three games on the bounce to clinch their first IPL title. SRH met Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator and defeated them by 22 runs to book their place in the Qualifier 2.

Standing between SRH and a spot in the summit clash was the new franchise Gujarat Lions, who had finished the league stage on the top of the table with 18 points, looking favorites to knock SRH out of the tournament. But the Orange Army had other ideas as they clinched a four-wicket victory to seal their place in the all-important final.

In the final, SRH were up against the Virat Kohli-led RCB at the latter’s home ground in Bangalore, and a victory looked inevitable for Kohli’s side. But SRH defied all the odds to stun RCB to win the title. Warner’s team made 208/7 with RCB falling eight just short of the target. The Qualifiers and Eliminator games system was introduced in the year 2011 and since then it’s only SRH to achieve this feat of winning the final after playing the Eliminator.