Complete IPL Fair Play Award Winners List (2008–2026)

Chennai Super Kings hold the record for the most IPL Fair Play Award wins with seven titles. The award, introduced in the very first IPL season in 2008, recognises the team that plays with the best sportsmanship, discipline, and respect throughout the tournament.

In IPL 2025, CSK reclaimed this honour with an average of 10.21 points per match, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their maiden IPL trophy. 

Here is everything you need to know about every winner, how the points work, and which teams have never won it.

IPL Fair Play Award Winners List From 2008 To 2025

Below is the complete season-wise list of IPL Fair Play Award winners from the inaugural edition to the latest 2025 season.

A quick scan of this table reveals something interesting.

Winning the IPL title and winning the Fair Play Award in the same season is rare.

Only CSK (2010, 2011), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016), and Mumbai Indians (2020) have managed this double.

What Is the IPL Fair Play Award?

The IPL Fair Play Award is a team-based honour given at the end of every Indian Premier League season.

It rewards the franchise that shows the best on-field conduct, respect for opponents, and adherence to the rules throughout the tournament.

Unlike the Orange Cap or Purple Cap, this one is not about individual brilliance.

It is about collective discipline, something far harder to maintain across 14+ high-pressure matches.

The BCCI introduced this award in 2008 to encourage teams to play in the true spirit of cricket.

There is no cash prize attached to it, but it carries significant reputational value. Think of it as the sportsmanship equivalent of a gold star, except here, grown men in coloured jerseys are trying to earn it.

How Are IPL Fair Play Award Points Calculated?

The Fair Play points are awarded by the on-field umpires and the third umpire after every single match.

Each team can earn up to 10 points per game, split across four categories.

Fair Play Award Points Breakdown

At the end of the season, the winner is not the team with the highest total points.

It is the team with the highest average points per match.

This is a crucial distinction because teams that play more matches (such as playoff qualifiers) do not gain an unfair advantage over teams eliminated earlier.

For example, in IPL 2025, CSK played 14 matches and scored 143 points, averaging 10.21 per match.

That is remarkably close to a perfect score of 10, which tells you just how disciplined CSK were that season.

IPL 2025 Fair Play Award Points Table

Here is the complete IPL 2025 Fair Play standings as it stood at the end of the tournament.

CSK topped the table with an average of 10.21, narrowly beating Punjab Kings, who averaged 10.18.

Kolkata Knight Riders finished last in the Fair Play standings, continuing their streak of never winning this award.

How Many Times Has Each Team Won the Fair Play Award?

Not every IPL franchise has had the honour of winning the Fair Play Award.

Across 18 seasons, only eight teams have managed to top the standings.

Team-Wise Fair Play Award Wins

CSK’s dominance here is staggering.

Seven wins out of 18 seasons means they have won the award in nearly 39% of all IPL editions.

And keep in mind, CSK were banned in 2016 and 2017 due to their owner’s involvement in a betting scandal.

So effectively, they won 7 out of 16 seasons they actually participated in. That percentage jumps to almost 44%.

Which IPL Teams Have Never Won the Fair Play Award?

This is where things get a bit awkward for some big-name franchises.

Three current IPL teams have never won the IPL Fair Play Award as of 2025:

• Kolkata Knight Riders – Despite winning 3 IPL titles (2012, 2014, 2024), KKR has never topped the Fair Play standings. They finished last in the 2025 Fair Play table with an average of just 9.00.
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru – The 2025 IPL champions have never won the Fair Play Award. Even in their title-winning season, RCB finished 7th in the Fair Play standings with an average of 9.38.
• Lucknow Super Giants – As a relatively newer franchise (joined in 2022), LSG have not yet won the award either.

It is worth noting that RCB winning the IPL 2025 but finishing 7th in Fair Play is a good reminder that you do not need to be the most polished team to lift the trophy.

Sometimes, a little fire helps.

Why Chennai Super Kings Dominate the Fair Play Award

Seven wins in 16 played seasons is not a coincidence. There are clear reasons why CSK keeps topping this chart.

MS Dhoni’s Captaincy

MS Dhoni led CSK during all of their first six Fair Play Award wins (2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015).

His calm approach under pressure and respect for umpires set the tone for the entire squad.

Dhoni was famously known for rarely arguing with umpires, even on controversial decisions.

That composure filtered down to every player in yellow.

Team Culture and Discipline

CSK’s management, led by N. Srinivasan and CEO Kasi Viswanathan, has always prioritised experience and temperament over raw aggression.

Their auction strategy consistently favours players known for their maturity.

This approach builds a squad that stays composed even when the game is slipping away.

Consistency Across Eras

Even in IPL 2025, with a younger squad and Dhoni in a different role, CSK topped the Fair Play table.

That tells you this is not just about one player.

It is a franchise-wide culture that has been built over 18 years.

Season-by-Season Breakdown of Every Fair Play Award Winner

Here’s the complete season-wise list of IPL Fair Play Award winners from 2008 to 2025.

IPL 2008 – Chennai Super Kings

The inaugural IPL season saw CSK set the tone right from the start.+

Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, they won the first-ever Fair Play Award, establishing themselves as a disciplined outfit.

Rajasthan Royals won the title that year under Shane Warne’s leadership.

IPL 2009 – Punjab Kings

The 2009 edition moved to South Africa due to the general elections in India.

Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) won the Fair Play Award in what remains their only win in this category.

The Deccan Chargers took home the championship that season.

IPL 2010 – Chennai Super Kings

CSK’s second Fair Play win coincided with their first IPL title win.

A rare double that showed you can be disciplined and still dominate the competition.

IPL 2011 – Chennai Super Kings

CSK made it a hat-trick of Fair Play wins (2010, 2011) and also defended their IPL title successfully.

Back-to-back titles combined with consecutive Fair Play Awards is a feat no other team has matched.

IPL 2012 – Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals broke CSK’s grip on the award in 2012.

The inaugural IPL champions showed that their sportsmanship extended well beyond the Warne era.

IPL 2013 – Chennai Super Kings

CSK bounced right back, winning the Fair Play Award for the fourth time.

However, this would be a bittersweet season for the franchise, as the spot-fixing scandal rocked the IPL that year.

IPL 2014 – Chennai Super Kings

Fifth Fair Play win for CSK, maintaining their consistent run of good conduct.

KKR won the championship, but CSK kept collecting Fair Play trophies like loyalty points.

IPL 2015 – Chennai Super Kings

The sixth and final Fair Play win before CSK’s two-year ban (2016-2017).

This marked the end of an incredible run of dominance in the sportsmanship department.

IPL 2016 – Sunrisers Hyderabad

With CSK absent due to the ban, SRH stepped up and won the Fair Play Award alongside the IPL title.

David Warner’s captaincy brought a disciplined approach to the Hyderabad franchise that season.

IPL 2017 – Gujarat Lions

The now-defunct Gujarat Lions won their only Fair Play Award in what turned out to be their final IPL season.

The franchise was dissolved after 2017, making this a piece of IPL history that will never be repeated.

IPL 2018 – Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians won their first Fair Play Award under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.

Interestingly, CSK returned from their ban that year and won the title, but not the Fair Play.

IPL 2019 – Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH claimed their second Fair Play win, proving their 2016 success was no fluke.

Kane Williamson’s gentlemanly captaincy played a role in setting the right tone for the squad.

IPL 2020 – Mumbai Indians

The COVID-affected season moved entirely to the UAE.

Despite the bubble life and unusual conditions, the Mumbai Indians maintained discipline on the field and won both the IPL title and the Fair Play Award.

IPL 2021 – Rajasthan Royals

Split across India and the UAE due to the pandemic, the 2021 season saw the Rajasthan Royals win their second Fair Play Award.

Sanju Samson’s first full season as captain brought a calmer energy to the Royals’ camp.

IPL 2022 – Rajasthan Royals & Gujarat Titans (Shared)

For the first and only time in IPL history, the Fair Play Award was shared between two teams.

Both RR and the debutant Gujarat Titans finished with identical points, leading to a joint award.

GT also went on to win the IPL title in their very first season.

IPL 2023 – Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals won their first and so far only Fair Play Award in 2023.

It was a rare bright spot in a season where DC failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Sometimes, you can lose the battle but win something equally meaningful.

IPL 2024 – Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH picked up their third Fair Play win in the 2024 season under Pat Cummins’ captaincy.

They also finished as runners-up that year, losing the final to KKR.

Cummins, an Australian captain known for his composure, clearly brought the right energy.

IPL 2025 – Chennai Super Kings

CSK returned to the top of the Fair Play standings with a record-extending seventh win.

Their average of 10.21 points per match was the highest in the tournament.

Meanwhile, RCB won their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Fun Facts About the IPL Fair Play Award

Cricket fans love their stats, and the Fair Play Award has some genuinely surprising ones.

• CSK won the Fair Play Award in the very first IPL match ever played in 2008. Talk about setting the standard early.
• KKR have won 3 IPL titles but have never once topped the Fair Play standings. Not even close in most seasons.
• 2022 was the only year the award was shared between two teams, the Rajasthan Royals and the Gujarat Titans.
• The now-defunct Gujarat Lions won the award in 2017, their final season before being dissolved. One and done.
• Only 4 teams have managed to win the IPL title and Fair Play Award in the same season: CSK (2010, 2011), SRH (2016), and MI (2020).
• Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the Fair Play Award three times, and each time under a different captain: David Warner (2016), Kane Williamson (2019), and Pat Cummins (2024). Something about that orange jersey breeds discipline, apparently.

Does the Fair Play Award Come With Prize Money?

This is a common question among fans.

The IPL Fair Play Award does not come with any official prize money from the BCCI.

The winning team receives a trophy and recognition for their conduct.

However, some reports suggest a token amount of around ₹10 lakh may be given, though this has never been officially confirmed by the BCCI.

The real value is in brand reputation and credibility.

For a franchise like CSK, seven Fair Play Awards add to their image as the most respected team in the league.

Sponsors and fans both value a team that plays the game the right way.

Suggested Reads:

• IPL Winning Teams With Captains
• IPL 2026 Venues

Conclusion: Chennai Super Kings Wins With Prestigious 7 Awards

The IPL Fair Play Award may not grab the same headlines as the Orange Cap or Purple Cap, but it represents something equally important: playing the game the right way.

Chennai Super Kings have turned this award into their own personal trophy cabinet item with 7 wins, while teams like KKR and RCB are still searching for their first. As the IPL heads into its 19th season in 2026, it will be interesting to see if CSK extend their record or if a new franchise finally breaks through.

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