IPL teams that finished as league-stage table toppers and went on to win the title: Full list

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the table toppers heading into IPL 2026 playoffs. History favours RCB, but topping the table has never guaranteed the trophy before. RCB sit at the top of IPL 2026, and recent history says that could mean everything In three of the last six IPL seasons, the team that finished the league stage at the summit went on to lift the trophy.

And now, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru head into the IPL 2026 playoffs as table toppers, they remain firm favourites to continue the trend. RCB could have finished on 20 points had they beaten Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday evening. However, they chose to secure the top spot first and get the 166 runs to keep them above SRH and Gujarat Titans on NRR.

MORE: When is Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026? Start date, venue and teams for RCB vs GT playoffs clash "We were in a position to keep pushing to chase down 255 but ultimately we got the job done and topped the league. It's quite a tricky situation when you've got these conflicting things," head coach Andy Flower said after the game, "winning the game and ensuring we top the league".

"We did discuss the various targets. So I think we needed 166 to confirm top two, 179 to confirm top of the league and obviously 255 to win the game. I thought Venky (Iyer) batted brilliantly up front to give us that impetus.