The Indian Premier League 2012 (IPL 2012) was the fifth edition of IPL and one of the most dramatic seasons in league history. With nine teams competing, the tournament saw intense battles, thrilling finishes, and unforgettable performances.
The season ended with a historic moment, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led by Gautam Gambhir, lifted their first-ever IPL trophy, defeating the mighty Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a nail-biting final.
Let’s explore the IPL 2012 points table, winner, Orange Cap, Purple Cap, highlights, and FAQs in detail.
IPL 2012 Summary Table
| Tournament Name | Indian Premier League |
| Season | 2012 |
| Host Country | India |
| Winner | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| Runner-Up | Chennai Super Kings |
| Orange Cap Winner | Chris Gayle (RCB) |
| Purple Cap Winner | Morne Morkel (DD) |
| Total Matches | 76 |
| Top 4 Teams (Playoffs) | Delhi Daredevils, KKR, CSK, MI |
IPL 2012 Points Table
| Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi Daredevils (DD) | 16 | 11 | 5 | 22 | +0.617 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 16 | 10 | 5 | 21 | +0.561 |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | 16 | 10 | 6 | 20 | +0.432 |
| 4 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 16 | 8 | 7 | 17 | +0.100 |
| 5 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | 16 | 8 | 7 | 17 | -0.022 |
| 6 | Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) | 16 | 8 | 8 | 16 | -0.216 |
| 7 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16 | 7 | 9 | 14 | -0.313 |
| 8 | Deccan Chargers (DC) | 16 | 6 | 10 | 12 | -0.471 |
| 9 | Pune Warriors India (PWI) | 16 | 4 | 12 | 8 | -0.679 |
Key Takeaways:
- Delhi Daredevils topped the league stage with an excellent performance but faltered in playoffs.
- KKR and CSK peaked at the right time to reach the finals.
- Chris Gayle’s batting and Morne Morkel’s bowling dominated the individual charts.
Also Read: IPL 2008 Points Table
IPL 2012 Winner – Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won their first IPL title in 2012, defeating Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling final.
Playoffs Journey:
- Qualifier 1: KKR defeated Delhi Daredevils to reach the final.
- Eliminator: CSK beat MI to stay alive.
- Qualifier 2: CSK stunned DD to secure the final spot.
- Final (at Chepauk, Chennai):
- CSK batted first, scoring 190/3 with Murali Vijay 42 and *Raina 73.
- KKR chased brilliantly, with Manvinder Bisla scoring 89 (48).
- KKR won by 5 wickets, sparking huge celebrations.
Key Players in Final:
- Manvinder Bisla: Hero of the final with 89 runs.
- Jacques Kallis: Steady innings of 69.
- Sunil Narine: Breakthrough bowling across the season.
Also Read: IPL 2009 Points Table
Orange Cap Winner – Chris Gayle (RCB)
- Runs: 733
- Matches: 15
- Average: 61.08
- Strike Rate: 160.74
- 50s/100s: 7 fifties, 1 century
Chris Gayle had a dream season, smashing bowlers all around the park. His sheer dominance made him the highest run-getter of IPL 2012, winning his second consecutive Orange Cap.
Purple Cap Winner – Morne Morkel (Delhi Daredevils)
- Wickets: 25
- Matches: 16
- Best Bowling Figures: 4/20
- Economy Rate: 7.19
Morkel led Delhi Daredevils’ bowling attack with pace and accuracy. His breakthroughs at the start of the innings gave Delhi a strong edge in the league stage.
Key Highlights of IPL 2012
- KKR’s maiden trophy win under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy.
- Manvinder Bisla’s final heroics — an unexpected match-winning innings.
- Chris Gayle’s dominance with 733 runs.
- Sunil Narine’s mystery spin troubled almost every team.
- Delhi Daredevils’ strong league stage but playoff struggles.
- High-scoring final at Chepauk made IPL 2012 one of the most thrilling seasons.
What’s Unique About IPL 2012
- First time Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL title.
- Emergence of Sunil Narine as a mystery spinner.
- Chris Gayle’s back-to-back Orange Cap dominance.
- Final at CSK’s home ground but won by KKR.
- The role of uncapped players like Manvinder Bisla making history.
Also Read: IPL 2010 Points Table
Final Words
IPL 2012 will always be remembered as the season when Kolkata Knight Riders finally broke through to lift their maiden trophy. From Chris Gayle’s batting fireworks to Morne Morkel’s fiery spells, the tournament had everything.
KKR’s triumph, highlighted by Bisla’s innings in the final, remains one of the most iconic moments in IPL history. The season also proved that underdogs could rise on the biggest stage and leave a lasting impact.
Also Read: IPL 2011 Points Table
Frequently Asked Questions
Kolkata Knight Riders won IPL 2012, defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final by 5 wickets. This was KKR’s first-ever IPL title under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy.
Chris Gayle of RCB won the Orange Cap with 733 runs. His explosive batting made him the most feared batsman of the season.
Morne Morkel of Delhi Daredevils won the Purple Cap with 25 wickets. His consistent pace bowling was crucial for DD’s league stage success.
Manvinder Bisla played a stunning knock of 89 runs off 48 balls, guiding KKR to a historic win over CSK in the final.
Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings qualified for the playoffs.
The final was held at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, which was CSK’s home ground, making KKR’s victory even more special.
A total of 76 matches were played across multiple Indian cities, making it one of the longest IPL seasons.