The Indian Premier League is the world's largest cricket league, having commenced in 2008. To date, 18 seasons have been played, and the 19th season (IPL 2026) is set to begin on March 28. The opening match will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Here, we take a look at five teams that once participated in the IPL but are no longer active in the league. Many fans of the league may have even forgotten about some of these teams by now; let us refresh your memories.
A total of 10 teams will participate in IPL 2026. The league's inaugural season took place in 2008, with the Rajasthan Royals winning the title. Eight teams participated in that first season. From 2008 to 2021, there were eight teams in every season; however, in 2022, the number of participating teams increased to 10. Two new franchises—the Gujarat Giants and the Lucknow Super Giants—were added to the IPL. Prior to this expansion, several other teams had also been part of the league, although they are no longer actively involved.
The 10 Teams Participating in IPL 2026
- Chennai Super Kings
- Mumbai Indians
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Rajasthan Royals
- Punjab Kings
- Delhi Capitals
- Gujarat Giants
- Lucknow Super Giants
- Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Kolkata Knight Riders
| Team Name | Active Years | Total Seasons | Primary Reason for Exit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 | 1 | Terminated by the BCCI due to failure to provide a bank guarantee. |
| Gujarat Lions | 2016–2017 | 2 | Temporary contract ended following the return of CSK and RR. |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 2016–2017 | 2 | Completed its 2-year tenure as a temporary team. |
| Pune Warriors India | 2011–2013 | 3 | Withdrew voluntarily due to a fee dispute with the BCCI. |
| Deccan Chargers | 2008–2012 | 5 | Banned due to financial difficulties and violation of regulations. |
1. Deccan Chargers
In the 2009 IPL, under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist, the Deccan Chargers won the title; Rohit Sharma was also a part of this champion team. This was his first IPL title. In 2010, the team reached the semi-finals, and in 2011, they managed to secure a spot in the playoffs. However, due to a financial crisis, the team was unable to continue playing. The team's owners failed to provide the necessary bank guarantees to the BCCI, resulting in the termination of their IPL contract. In 2013, Sunrisers Hyderabad replaced the Deccan Chargers in the IPL.
2. Kochi Tuskers Kerala
Kochi Tuskers Kerala was included in the 2011 IPL season, but the team managed to play for only a single season. Mahela Jayawardene served as the team's captain, and the squad also featured players such as Ravindra Jadeja and Brendon McCullum. In their sole season, the team won 6 out of the 14 matches played. The BCCI terminated the team's contract because the franchise failed to submit its bank guarantee. When the matter reached the courts, the court held the BCCI liable and ruled that it must pay compensation exceeding ₹800 crore.
3. Pune Warriors India
Pune Warriors India made its entry into the IPL during the 2011 season. The team participated for three seasons, yet its performance in all three was rather lackluster. The Sahara Group acquired the team for approximately ₹3,000 crore, making it the most expensive franchise at the time. The Sahara Group had placed its bid on the premise that there would be 94 matches per season; however, the BCCI subsequently reduced the number of matches to 74. The Sahara Group requested a reduction in the franchise fee, but their request was not granted. Pune Warriors India played three IPL seasons but never managed to reach the playoffs. In their final season alone, the team played under three different captains; their first captain was Sourav Ganguly.
4. Gujarat Lions
In 2016 and 2017, when the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended, the Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant were temporarily included in the IPL. Suresh Raina took charge of the Gujarat team, and under his captaincy, the team reached the playoffs in both seasons.
5. Rising Pune Supergiant
In 2016, MS Dhoni took charge of the 'Rising Pune Supergiant'; however, the team's performance was lackluster, and they finished in 7th place. In 2017, Steve Smith assumed the role of captain. That year, the team reached the final but lost to the 'Mumbai Indians' in the title clash. In 2018, with the return of CSK and Rajasthan, the journey of these teams came to an end.
Also Read: Top 5 Captains with the Most Runs in IPL History
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