There is one award that goes beyond runs and wickets and recognizes how a team behaves on the field. With the IPL 2026 Schedule already around the corner it will be exciting to see which team wins this honor next season.
This award is called the IPL Fair Play Award and it has been part of the league since the very first season in 2008. Over 18 seasons only eight teams have managed to win it and each of them showed that playing with respect matters.
In this article we will look at the complete list of IPL Fair Play Award winners from 2008 to 2025. We will also explain what this award means and how the points are calculated so you have a clear picture of everything.
What is the IPL Fair Play Award?
The IPL Fair Play Award is given to the team that shows the best sportsmanship on the field every season. The fair play award meaning is simple: it recognizes the most respectful and disciplined team in the tournament.
Most IPL awards are based on performance like runs scored or wickets taken. But the IPL partnership records and batting stats have nothing to do with this award as it is purely about how a team behaves on the field.
The points for this award are given by the umpires after every match which makes it one of the most honest and unbiased awards in the IPL. Previously it was also known as the Paytm Fair Play Award during its sponsored seasons.
The winning team does not get any prize money but they receive a trophy and a lot of respect. It shows that the fair play team of the season played with discipline and upheld the true spirit of fair play in cricket throughout the tournament.
List Of Fair Play Award Winners List In IPL (2008-2025)
Here is the complete season-wise list of all IPL Fair Play Award winners since the tournament began:
| Year | Fair Play Award Winner |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2009 | Punjab Kings (Kings XI Punjab) |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2012 | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2013 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2014 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2015 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2017 | Gujarat Lions |
| 2018 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2019 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2021 | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2022 | Rajasthan Royals & Gujarat Titans (Shared) |
| 2023 | Delhi Capitals |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2025 | Chennai Super Kings |
Chennai Super Kings – 7 Times Winner
Chennai Super Kings have won the IPL Fair Play Award a record seven times and are also one of the most successful IPL Trophy Winners. MS Dhoni’s calm leadership on the field is the biggest reason behind CSK’s dominance in this category.
Rajasthan Royals – 3 Times Winner
Rajasthan Royals have won the IPL Fair Play Award three times in 2012, 2021 and in 2022 they shared the award with Gujarat Titans which is the only joint win in IPL history. RR has always been playing the game with respect and discipline.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – 3 Times Winner
Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the IPL Fair Play Award three times in 2016, 2019 and 2024 with each win coming under a different captain David Warner, Kane Williamson and Pat Cummins.
Mumbai Indians – 2 Times Winner
Mumbai Indians have won the IPL Fair Play Award twice in 2018 and 2020 and their 2020 win was extra special as they also won the IPL title in the same season. MI’s fair play record reflects the professionalism and discipline of the franchise.
Punjab Kings – 1 Time Winner
Punjab Kings formerly known as Kings XI Punjab won the IPL Fair Play Award once in 2009 when the season was held in South Africa. It remains their only fair play win and a proud moment in the franchise’s history.
Gujarat Lions – 1 Time Winner
Gujarat Lions existed for only two seasons from 2016 to 2017 and won the IPL Fair Play Award in their very last season in 2017. Even though the franchise no longer exists, their fair play win remains a memorable part of IPL history.
Gujarat Titans – 1 Time Winner
Gujarat Titans won the IPL Fair Play Award in 2022 their debut season and also lifted the IPL trophy the same year under Hardik Pandya. They shared this honor with Rajasthan Royals making it the only joint win ever in the IPL.
Delhi Capitals – 1 Time Winner
Delhi Capitals won the IPL Fair Play Award in 2023 despite not qualifying for the playoffs that season. It was a proud moment that showed DC played the game with full respect and discipline throughout the tournament.
How Are IPL Fair Play Award Points Calculated?
After every match the umpires give points to each team based on their behavior on the field. The IPL purple Cap and other awards are about performance but this one is purely about conduct and it has a clear points system divided into four categories:
- Spirit of the Game 4 points: Shows the team’s overall attitude and behavior during the match.
- Respect for the Opposition 2 points: How players treat the opposing team on and off the field.
- Respect for the Umpires 2 points: Teams lose points for arguing or showing dissent toward officials.
- Respect for the Rules 2 points: Teams must follow the laws of cricket and avoid any unfair play.
Conclusion
The IPL Fair Play Award is one of the most special recognitions in IPL cricket. Whether you call it the Paytm Fair Play Award or simply the fair play honor, it celebrates the teams that play the game with respect, discipline and the right spirit.
Chennai Super Kings lead the all time list with seven wins and knowing the IPL team owners and the culture they build at each franchise helps understand why some teams consistently top the fair play standings.
KKR have won three IPL titles but never the Fair Play Award while RCB won the IPL trophy in 2025 without ever winning this honor. This proves that winning matches and playing with the right spirit are two very different things.
The IPL Fair Play Award is a reminder that cricket is more than just results. True fair play in cricket is about how you carry yourself on the field and the teams on this list have shown exactly what that means.
