The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry is pure IPL magic born in fireworks, fueled by personal fire, high-stakes collapses, and epic chases. From McCullum’s historic 158* in the opener to Kohli-Gambhir clashes, Narine’s mysteries, and rain-soaked drama, every clash delivers aggression, heartbreak, and unforgettable moments that keep fans hooked across seasons.
Latest Matches: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline
IPL
Bengaluru
May 17, 2025
No toss (rain)
–
–
No result
IPL 2025
–
IPL
Kolkata
Mar 22, 2025
RCB won toss, elected to field
177/3 (16.2)
174/8 (20)
RCB won by 7 wickets
IPL 2025
Krunal Pandya (RCB)
IPL
Kolkata
Apr 21, 2024
RCB won toss, elected to field
221 (20)
222/6 (20)
KKR won by 1 run
IPL 2024
Andre Russell (KKR)
IPL
Bengaluru
Mar 29, 2024
KKR won toss, elected to field
182/6 (20)
186/3 (16.5)
KKR won by 7 wickets
IPL 2024
Sunil Narine (KKR)
IPL
Bengaluru
Apr 26, 2023
–
179/8 (20)
200/5 (20)
KKR won by 21 runs
IPL 2023
–
IPL
Kolkata
Apr 6, 2023
–
123 (17.4)
204/7 (20)
KKR won by 81 runs
IPL 2023
–
IPL
Navi Mumbai
Mar 30, 2022
–
132/7 (19.2)
128 (18.5)
RCB won by 3 wickets
IPL 2022
–
IPL
Sharjah
Oct 11, 2021
–
138/7 (20)
139/6 (19.4)
KKR won by 4 wickets
IPL 2021
–
IPL
Abu Dhabi
Sep 20, 2021
–
92 (19)
94/1 (10)
KKR won by 9 wickets
IPL 2021
–
IPL
Chennai
Apr 18, 2021
–
204/4 (20)
166/8 (20)
RCB won by 38 runs
IPL 2021
–
IPL
Abu Dhabi
Oct 21, 2020
–
85/2 (13.3)
84/8 (20)
RCB won by 8 wickets
IPL 2020
–
IPL
Sharjah
Oct 12, 2020
–
194/2 (20)
112/9 (20)
RCB won by 82 runs
IPL 2020
–
IPL
Kolkata
Apr 19, 2019
–
213/4 (20)
203/5 (20)
RCB won by 10 runs
IPL 2019
–
IPL
Bengaluru
Apr 5, 2019
–
205/3 (20)
206/5 (19.1)
KKR won by 5 wickets
IPL 2019
–
IPL
Bengaluru
Apr 29, 2018
–
175/4 (20)
176/4 (19.1)
KKR won by 6 wickets
IPL 2018
–
Most Memorable Matches in RCB vs KKR History
Year
Date
Venue
Toss Winner & Decision
RCB Score
KKR Score
Result
Key Highlights
Player of the Match
2008
Apr 18
Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy)
KKR won, elected to bat
82 (15.1)
222/3 (20)
KKR won by 140 runs
IPL’s inaugural match exploded with Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 158 off 73 (10 fours, 13 sixes), the highest individual score at the time. RCB collapsed miserably, with only Praveen Kumar (18*) in double digits— a brutal introduction to T20 dominance.
Brendon McCullum (KKR)
2009
May 12
Centurion (South Africa)
KKR won, elected to bat
175/3 (19.2) chased
173/4 (20)
RCB won by 6 wickets
KKR posted 173 with McCullum’s 84*. RCB’s chase looked doomed at 79/4, but Ross Taylor’s blistering 81* off 33 (7 fours, 5 sixes) sealed a last-over thriller, turning the game in a SuperSport Park frenzy.
Ross Taylor (RCB)
2011
Apr 22
Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
RCB won, elected to field
175/1 (18.1) chased
171/5 (20)
RCB won by 9 wickets
Chris Gayle’s RCB debut was fireworks: an unbeaten 102 off 55 (10 fours, 7 sixes) in a dominant chase. Tillakaratne Dilshan added 40*, making it a one-sided rout that announced Gayle’s IPL reign.
Chris Gayle (RCB)
2013
Apr 11
Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy)
KKR won, elected to field
154/5 (20)
136 (19.2)
RCB won by 8 wickets (chase of 155)
Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 85 powered the chase, but the real drama was the heated mid-pitch confrontation between captains Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir after Kohli’s dismissal—IPL’s most infamous spat, needing intervention.
Chris Gayle (RCB)
2016
May 2
Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy)
KKR won, elected to field
185/7 (20)
189/5 (19.1) chased
KKR won by 5 wickets
RCB’s 185 (KL Rahul 52, Virat 52) seemed defendable, but Yusuf Pathan’s unbeaten 60 off 29 (including 24 off Shane Watson’s over) and Andre Russell’s 39 off 24 engineered a stunning comeback from 69/4.
Andre Russell (KKR)
2017
Apr 23
Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
RCB won, elected to field
49 (9.4)
131 (19.3)
KKR won by 82 runs
KKR’s modest 131 was defended ruthlessly as RCB imploded to the lowest IPL total ever (49 all out). Pacers Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/21), Colin de Grandhomme (3/4), and Umesh Yadav (3/7) wrecked the star-studded lineup in under 10 overs.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (KKR)
2017
May 7
Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy)
RCB won, elected to bat
158/6 (20)
159/4 (15.1) chased
KKR won by 6 wickets
RCB’s 158 looked competitive, but Sunil Narine’s record fastest IPL fifty (54 off 17, with 6 fours and 4 sixes) and Chris Lynn’s 50 off 22 powered a 105-run powerplay opening stand—pure carnage.
Sunil Narine (KKR)
2019
Apr 5
Bengaluru (M Chinnaswamy)
RCB won, elected to bat
205/3 (20)
206/5 (19.1) chased
KKR won by 5 wickets
Virat Kohli’s 84 and AB de Villiers’ 63 set a daunting 205. KKR needed 53 off 18 balls, but Andre Russell’s unreal 48* off 13 (1 four, 7 sixes) flipped the script in a jaw-dropping heist.
Andre Russell (KKR)
2019
Apr 19
Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
KKR won, elected to field
213/4 (20)
203/5 (20)
RCB won by 10 runs
Virat Kohli’s majestic 100 off 58 and Moeen Ali’s 66 off 28 (with 26 off Kuldeep Yadav) propelled RCB to 213. KKR’s chase fell short despite Nitish Rana’s 85* and Russell’s 65 off 25—a rare RCB defense win.
Virat Kohli (RCB)
2024
Apr 21
Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
RCB won, elected to field
221 (20)
222/6 (20)
KKR won by 1 run
A run-fest with 443 total runs: KKR’s 222 (Shreyas Iyer 50, Phil Salt 48). RCB’s chase boiled to 21 off the last over; Karn Sharma smashed three sixes off Mitchell Starc, but a wicket and run-out sealed the narrowest thriller.
Andre Russell (KKR)
Head-to-Head Summary: RCB vs KKR in IPL
Metric
KKR
RCB
Overall Notes
Total Matches Played
–
–
36 (since 2008)
Wins
20
15
KKR leads; 1 no-result (May 2025, Bengaluru)
Win Percentage (excluding NR)
57.1%
42.9%
KKR excels in chases (11 wins batting second)
Home Wins (Eden Gardens for KKR, Chinnaswamy for RCB)
10/15 (66.7%)
4/13 (30.8%)
RCB’s home struggles highlight KKR’s away prowess
Away Wins
6/13
5/15
Evenly matched on the road
Neutral Venue Wins
4/8
6/8
RCB edges out in non-home games (e.g., UAE, SA venues)
Highest Team Total
222/3 (2008)
213/4 (2019)
McCullum’s 158* set the IPL benchmark
Lowest Team Total
84/8 (2020)
49/10 (2017)
RCB’s infamous collapse at Eden Gardens
Most Sixes in a Match (Combined)
29 (2019, Bengaluru)
–
Russell’s 7 sixes in 13 balls stole the show
Closest Finishes
1-run win (2024)
3-wkt win (2022)
10 games under 10 runs/wkts—thrillers galore
Top Batsmen Analysis
Player
Team(s)
Innings
Runs
Average
Strike Rate
HS
Key Impact
Virat Kohli
RCB
33
1021
39.26
132.94
100
RCB’s anchor; 3 fifties in losses turned to wins, unmatched consistency
Leg-spin threat; middle-overs control, 3/16 in 2018 choked KKR chase
Andre Russell
KKR
17
18
22.50
8.90
3/25
All-round beast; death-over yorkers, often pairs wickets with explosive batting
Varun Chakravarthy
KKR
9
15
18.40
7.20
4/15
Mystery spinner; 4/15 in 2020 skittled RCB for 84, rising star in rivalry
Vinay Kumar
KKR/RCB
10
12
25.33
8.50
3/17
Swing specialist; early breakthroughs, switched teams but consistent performer
The Birth of a Rivalry: 2008 – High Scores and Early Dominance
The IPL sparked to life on April 18, 2008, at Chinnaswamy, where Brendon McCullum’s blistering 158* propelled KKR to 222/3, crushing RCB at 82 all out—a 140-run thrashing that set rivalry tones. Fans gasped at the dominance. On May 8 at Eden Gardens, rain cut play to 16 overs; KKR posted 129/7, edging RCB by 5 runs as they managed 124/4. Early aggression shone through seamers like Ishant Sharma. These clashes highlighted KKR’s edge, fueling fan frenzy and tactical battles.
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Highest Scorer
Best Bowler
Key Moment
Interesting Fact
1
Apr 18, 2008
Bengaluru
KKR won by 140 runs
McCullum (KKR) 158*
Sharma (KKR) 3/13
McCullum’s 13 sixes
IPL’s inaugural match; lowest RCB total ever
2
May 8, 2008
Kolkata
KKR won by 5 runs
Boucher (RCB) 50*
Ganguly (KKR) 2/7
Rain-reduced thriller; Boucher’s late fight
Ganguly’s surprise wickets; KKR’s home fortress begins
2011-2012: Gayle Storm and KKR’s Title Glory
The 2011-2012 era ignited the Gayle storm, as Chris Gayle unleashed devastation against KKR. In April 2011 at Eden Gardens, Gayle smashed an unbeaten 102 off 55 balls (including 10 fours and 7 sixes), powering RCB to chase 172 with 9 wickets in hand. Later that season in Bengaluru (rain-affected), Gayle starred again with quick runs and wickets for a D/L win. KKR struggled initially but turned it around in 2012, winning both clashes convincingly Gautam Gambhir’s leadership and Sunil Narine’s emergence fueled their maiden IPL title glory, adding pressure on RCB’s star-laden side.
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Highest Scorer
Best Bowler
Key Moment
Interesting Fact
1
Apr 22, 2011
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
RCB won by 9 wickets
Chris Gayle (RCB) 102* (55)
Sreenath Aravind (RCB) 2/37
Gayle’s maiden IPL century; explosive 175/1 chase in 18.1 overs
Fastest century chase in IPL 2011; Gayle announced arrival vs former team KKR
Gayle MoM again; quick cameo + wicket in KKR collapse to 89/4
3
Apr 10, 2012
Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru
KKR won by 42 runs
Jacques Kallis (KKR) or others
Lakshmipathy Balaji (KKR)
KKR restricted RCB to 123/9 after posting decent total
Balaji’s Player of the Match; KKR’s fightback begins
4
Apr 28, 2012
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
KKR won by 47 runs
Gautam Gambhir (KKR) 93 (51)
Multiple seamers
Gambhir’s aggressive 93 set 190/4; RCB folded to 143/6
Gambhir’s masterclass; boosted KKR’s title-winning momentum in 2012
2014-2016: KKR’s Second Title, RCB’s Heartbreak
The 2014-2016 period marked KKR’s resurgence with their second IPL title in 2014, while RCB endured heartbreak, reaching the 2016 final but falling short. In 2014, KKR dominated head-to-head, winning both: a thrilling 2-run victory in Sharjah (Chris Lynn’s 45 key) and a 30-run win in Kolkata (Robin Uthappa’s 83). 2015 saw mixed results RCB chased in rain-hit games with Gayle and de Villiers shining. 2016 brought fireworks: KKR chased 186 via Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell’s blitz, but RCB crushed 184 in return with Kohli (75*) and AB de Villiers (59*) unbeaten. Gambhir’s leadership clashed with RCB’s star power, building intense pressure.
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Highest Scorer
Best Bowler
Key Moment
Interesting Fact
1
Apr 24, 2014
Sharjah
KKR won by 2 runs
Chris Lynn (KKR) 45 (31)
Multiple (tight death)
KKR defended 150/7; RCB fell agonizingly short at 148/5
Nail-biter in UAE; KKR’s composure under pressure sealed playoff spot push
2
May 22, 2014
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
KKR won by 30 runs
Robin Uthappa (KKR) 83 (51)
Umesh Yadav (KKR) strong spell
Uthappa’s aggressive 83 set 195/4; RCB managed 165/5
MoM Uthappa; boosted KKR to second IPL title later that season
3
Apr 11, 2015
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
No result (rain)
N/A
N/A
Match abandoned; points shared
Early season washout; denied Gayle early fireworks
4
May 2, 2015
Bengaluru
RCB won by 7 wickets (rain-curtailed, 10 overs)
Mandeep Singh (RCB) 45* (18)
RCB bowlers restricted
RCB chased 112 in reduced game; young Mandeep starred
Rain drama; AB de Villiers influence felt in shortened chase
5
May 2, 2016
Bengaluru
KKR won by 5 wickets
Yusuf Pathan (KKR) 60* (29)
Andre Russell (all-round)
Pathan-Russell 100+ stand turned chase of 186; Pathan smashed 24 off one over
Epic comeback; Russell MoM for finishing heroics
6
May 16, 2016
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
RCB won by 9 wickets
Virat Kohli (RCB) 75* (54)
RCB openers dominated
Kohli-AB de Villiers (59*) unbroken 150+ stand chased 184 in 18.4 overs
Kohli MoM; one of RCB’s most clinical chases at hostile Eden
2017: The 49 All Out Humiliation
2017 brought RCB’s darkest hour in the rivalry: the infamous 49 all out collapse at Eden Gardens on April 23. Chasing KKR’s modest 131, RCB imploded in 9.4 overs—Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/21) and Colin de Grandhomme (3/4) demolished the star batting line-up. Gayle fell for a duck, Kohli struggled, and the middle order crumbled under swing and seam. Fans were stunned; memes flooded social media calling it RCB’s lowest point. KKR’s second clash in Bengaluru on May 7 saw them chase 159 comfortably (Narine starred), reinforcing dominance amid RCB’s heartbreak and tactical failures.
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Highest Scorer
Best Bowler
Key Moment
Interesting Fact
1
Apr 23, 2017
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
KKR won by 82 runs
Sunil Narine (KKR) 34 (17)
Nathan Coulter-Nile (KKR) 3/21
RCB bundled for 49 in 9.4 overs; de Grandhomme 3/4
RCB’s lowest IPL total ever (joint second-lowest); second-fastest collapse in IPL history
2
May 7, 2017
Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru
KKR won by 6 wickets (29 balls remaining)
Virat Kohli (RCB) or others in 158/6
Sunil Narine (KKR) key spell
KKR chased 159/4 easily; Narine MoM
Narine’s all-round show; RCB’s batting failed again to defend despite home advantage
2025: RCB Strikes Back in Opener, Then Drama
2025 saw RCB strike back dramatically in the IPL opener at Eden Gardens on March 22, where they chased KKR’s 174/8 with ease, winning by 7 wickets in 16.2 overs Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 and Phil Salt’s explosive 56 off 31 powered the reply, while Krunal Pandya’s 3/29 dismantled KKR early. The return fixture on May 17 at Chinnaswamy turned into pure drama: abandoned without a ball due to relentless rain, granting both teams one point. This knocked defending champions KKR out of playoffs while boosting RCB’s top-table push, leaving fans frustrated yet hopeful in a season of what-ifs.
Match
Date
Venue
Result
Highest Scorer
Best Bowler
Key Moment
Interesting Fact
1
Mar 22, 2025
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
RCB won by 7 wickets (22 balls remaining)
Virat Kohli (RCB) 59* (36)
Krunal Pandya (RCB) 3/29
Phil Salt (56 off 31) & Kohli’s unbroken stand chased 175 comfortably
Opener thriller; Kohli’s 59* marked strong RCB start vs defending champs; Krunal MoM for early breakthroughs
2
May 17, 2025
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Match abandoned (no ball bowled)
N/A
N/A
Persistent rain forced full washout after IPL pause
Drama finale—KKR eliminated from playoffs; RCB gained crucial point to top table & stay alive for qualifiers
Conclusion
This timeless IPL battle continues to evolve RCB chasing glory, KKR defending crowns. With star power, tactical brilliance, and raw emotion, the next encounter promises more twists, records, and pure drama. One thing is certain: when RCB faces KKR, cricket wins.
