The IPL Playoff system was introduced in the IPL in 2011. Every year since then, those who finish second in the league table have each reached the final. The second place teams have won the championship 6 times in these 11 years.
2011: The play-off system in IPL started in 2011. Before that it was played in general semifinal format. Chennai Super Kings, who finished second last year, reached the final. And lost to RCB and became the champion.
2012: Gautam Gambhir’s Kolkata Knight Riders finished second that year. The Knights are the champions after losing to Chennai in the final.
2013: Mumbai Indians reach the final. They also lost to Chennai and became champions.
2014: Kolkata is second again. The Knights are the champions again. The finalists were Punjab Kings (PBKS).
2015: This time Mumbai finished in two. This time too, Rohitra became the champion again by reaching the final.
2017: This time Virat Kohli’s RCB finished in second place. However, they could not become champions even after reaching the final.
2016: Sanjeev Goenka Rising Pune Supergiants reached the final in 2016. They also reached the final. However, the Pune team could not become the champion.

2017: Dhoni’s Chennai finished second. They reached the final. The champion also lost to Hyderabad.
2019: Chennai was in second place again. However, Dhoni could not become the champion even though he reached the final this time.
2020: Delhi Capitals finished second in the group stage. But they lost to Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai.
2021: Second-placed Chennai reach the final again. This time they lost to Kolkata.

Rajasthan Royals, who are in the second position of the league table, have reached the final by maintaining the 11-year rule this year as well. Their opponent in the final is Gujarat Titans for the first time. They also have a hand in making history. Their opponent in the final is Rajasthan, the only team to win the title for the first time. Hardik also has a hand in touching that precedent.