The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is one of the most eventful rivalries in IPL history. It began with the first-ever IPL match in 2008, when Brendon McCullum’s unforgettable 158* helped Kolkata Knight Riders defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 140 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Since then, the fixture has produced huge totals, dramatic collapses, one-run thrillers and memorable knockout battles.
As of the end of IPL 2026, RCB and KKR have completed 36 IPL matches, with Kolkata Knight Riders leading the head-to-head record 20-16. RCB have, however, won the last two completed meetings: by seven wickets in the 2025 opener and by six wickets in 2026. A scheduled 2025 meeting in Bengaluru was abandoned without a ball being bowled, so it is not counted among the 36 completed matches.
This complete RCB vs KKR timeline covers the rivalry from 2008 through 2026, including season-by-season results, major records, memorable matches, venue statistics and the most important individual performances.
RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Kolkata Knight Riders |
|---|---|---|
| Completed matches | 36 | 36 |
| Wins | 16 | 20 |
| Losses | 20 | 16 |
| No-result scheduled match | 1 | 1 |
| Win percentage in completed matches | 44.44% | 55.56% |
| Highest score | 221 | 222/6 |
| Lowest score | 49 all out | 84 |
| Biggest win by runs | 82 runs | 140 runs |
KKR have the overall advantage, winning 20 of the 36 completed matches. RCB have won 16. The most recent completed meeting came on May 13, 2026, when RCB chased down KKR’s 192/4 and won by six wickets in Raipur.
The rivalry also includes one abandoned 2025 fixture in Bengaluru. That match was scheduled for May 17 but produced no result because of rain.
Also read this: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings Timeline | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Scorecard | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline
RCB vs KKR in 2008
The rivalry began with the first match in IPL history on April 18, 2008, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KKR made an extraordinary start to the new league. Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls, including 13 fours and 10 sixes, as KKR posted 222/3. RCB were bowled out for just 82, giving KKR a massive 140-run victory.
The teams met again in Kolkata on May 8. KKR won that contest by five runs, making it a clean 2-0 season for the Knight Riders.
RCB vs KKR in 2009
The 2009 IPL was moved to South Africa, giving the rivalry two meetings at neutral venues.
RCB responded strongly to their poor opening season. They defeated KKR by five wickets at Kingsmead on April 29 and followed it with a six-wicket win at SuperSport Park on May 12.
The result was RCB’s first season sweep over KKR, with Bengaluru winning both encounters.
RCB vs KKR in 2010
The sides split their two meetings in 2010.
KKR won the first match at Eden Gardens by seven wickets on March 14. RCB then answered at home on April 10, winning by seven wickets.
The season ended 1-1, continuing a pattern in which the rivalry rarely stayed one-sided for long.
RCB vs KKR in 2011
RCB dominated the 2011 meetings, winning both matches.
They first defeated KKR by nine wickets at Eden Gardens on April 22 before returning home and beating them by four wickets on May 14.
This gave RCB another season sweep and temporarily shifted the rivalry in Bengaluru’s favour.
RCB vs KKR in 2012
KKR regained control in 2012, winning both encounters.
They beat RCB by 42 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10 and then won by 47 runs at Eden Gardens on April 28.
The two victories were particularly important because KKR were building towards their first IPL championship that season.
RCB vs KKR in 2013
The rivalry became evenly split again in 2013.
RCB won the first encounter by eight wickets at Chinnaswamy on April 11. KKR responded with a five-wicket victory in Ranchi on May 12.
The 1-1 season maintained the competitive nature of the fixture.
RCB vs KKR in 2014
KKR won both meetings in 2014.
The first was a dramatic two-run victory at Sharjah on April 24. KKR then defeated RCB by 30 runs at Eden Gardens on May 22.
The season was part of KKR’s strong run toward their second IPL title.
RCB vs KKR in 2015
RCB completely reversed the previous year’s result.
They defeated KKR by three wickets at Eden Gardens on April 11 and then won by seven wickets at Chinnaswamy on May 2.
It was RCB’s second season sweep against KKR and their first since 2011.
RCB vs KKR in 2016
The teams once again split the season.
KKR won by five wickets in Bengaluru on May 2. RCB responded emphatically at Eden Gardens on May 16, winning by nine wickets.
The result made 2016 another 1-1 season in the rivalry.
RCB vs KKR in 2017
The 2017 rivalry is remembered primarily for one of the most extraordinary batting collapses in IPL history.
KKR defeated RCB by 82 runs at Eden Gardens on April 23 after RCB were bowled out for only 49, still the lowest team total in IPL history. KKR then completed a season sweep by winning the return match in Bengaluru by six wickets on May 7.
The 49-all-out performance became one of the defining moments of the RCB-KKR rivalry.
RCB vs KKR in 2018
KKR maintained their advantage in 2018.
They won by four wickets at Eden Gardens on April 8 and followed it with a six-wicket victory at Chinnaswamy on April 29.
For the second consecutive season, KKR won both matches.
RCB vs KKR in 2019
The 2019 season was much closer.
KKR won the first match in Bengaluru by five wickets on April 5. RCB produced their response in Kolkata on April 19, winning by 10 runs.
The split meant neither side could establish complete control over the season.
RCB vs KKR in 2020
The IPL was played in the UAE during the COVID-19-affected season, and RCB won both meetings.
They defeated KKR by 82 runs at Sharjah on October 12 before winning by eight wickets in Abu Dhabi on October 21.
The two victories gave RCB their first season sweep since 2015.
RCB vs KKR in 2021
The teams met three times in 2021, including a playoff encounter.
RCB won the first league match by 38 runs in Chennai. KKR then defeated RCB by nine wickets in Abu Dhabi before winning the Eliminator in Sharjah by four wickets.
That Eliminator victory ended RCB’s campaign and became one of KKR’s most significant wins in the rivalry.
RCB vs KKR in 2022
The 2022 encounter was a low-scoring thriller.
KKR were bowled out for 128, but RCB’s chase was far from straightforward. Bengaluru eventually reached 132/7 to win by three wickets.
The victory gave RCB a 1-0 advantage in the season.
RCB vs KKR in 2023
KKR dominated both meetings.
They won by 81 runs at Eden Gardens on April 6 and by 21 runs at Chinnaswamy on April 26.
The two victories started a four-match KKR winning streak against RCB that continued through the 2024 season.
RCB vs KKR in 2024
KKR continued their dominance in 2024, winning both matches.
At Chinnaswamy on March 29, KKR chased down RCB’s 182/6 and won by seven wickets.
The second meeting at Eden Gardens became one of the closest games in the history of the rivalry. KKR scored 222/6, their highest total against RCB, but RCB finished on 221/10 and lost by just one run.
RCB vs KKR in 2025
The 2025 season produced two very different chapters.
The season opener at Eden Gardens marked the 17th anniversary of the first IPL match between these sides. KKR scored 174/8, but RCB chased the target comfortably, reaching 177/3 to win by seven wickets.
The teams were scheduled to meet again in Bengaluru on May 17, but the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. Therefore, it is recorded as a no-result rather than a win for either team.
RCB vs KKR in 2026
The latest completed chapter came on May 13, 2026, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
KKR scored 192/4 in 20 overs. RCB chased the target successfully, reaching 194/4 in 19.1 overs to win by six wickets.
The result gave RCB consecutive completed victories over KKR following their seven-wicket win in the 2025 opener.
RCB vs KKR All Match Results
The following table covers all 36 completed IPL meetings, plus the abandoned 2025 fixture separately.
| Date | Venue | Winner | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Apr 2008 | Bengaluru | KKR | 140 runs |
| 8 May 2008 | Kolkata | KKR | 5 runs |
| 29 Apr 2009 | Durban | RCB | 5 wickets |
| 12 May 2009 | Centurion | RCB | 6 wickets |
| 14 Mar 2010 | Kolkata | KKR | 7 wickets |
| 10 Apr 2010 | Bengaluru | RCB | 7 wickets |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Kolkata | RCB | 9 wickets |
| 14 May 2011 | Bengaluru | RCB | 4 wickets |
| 10 Apr 2012 | Bengaluru | KKR | 42 runs |
| 28 Apr 2012 | Kolkata | KKR | 47 runs |
| 11 Apr 2013 | Bengaluru | RCB | 8 wickets |
| 12 May 2013 | Ranchi | KKR | 5 wickets |
| 24 Apr 2014 | Sharjah | KKR | 2 runs |
| 22 May 2014 | Kolkata | KKR | 30 runs |
| 11 Apr 2015 | Kolkata | RCB | 3 wickets |
| 2 May 2015 | Bengaluru | RCB | 7 wickets |
| 2 May 2016 | Bengaluru | KKR | 5 wickets |
| 16 May 2016 | Kolkata | RCB | 9 wickets |
| 23 Apr 2017 | Kolkata | KKR | 82 runs |
| 7 May 2017 | Bengaluru | KKR | 6 wickets |
| 8 Apr 2018 | Kolkata | KKR | 4 wickets |
| 29 Apr 2018 | Bengaluru | KKR | 6 wickets |
| 5 Apr 2019 | Bengaluru | KKR | 5 wickets |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Kolkata | RCB | 10 runs |
| 12 Oct 2020 | Sharjah | RCB | 82 runs |
| 21 Oct 2020 | Abu Dhabi | RCB | 8 wickets |
| 18 Apr 2021 | Chennai | RCB | 38 runs |
| 20 Sep 2021 | Abu Dhabi | KKR | 9 wickets |
| 11 Oct 2021 | Sharjah | KKR | 4 wickets |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Navi Mumbai | RCB | 3 wickets |
| 6 Apr 2023 | Kolkata | KKR | 81 runs |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Bengaluru | KKR | 21 runs |
| 29 Mar 2024 | Bengaluru | KKR | 7 wickets |
| 21 Apr 2024 | Kolkata | KKR | 1 run |
| 22 Mar 2025 | Kolkata | RCB | 7 wickets |
| 13 May 2026 | Raipur | RCB | 6 wickets |
Abandoned fixture: May 17, 2025, Bengaluru — RCB vs KKR, no result.
RCB vs KKR Most Memorable Matches
The inaugural IPL match — 2008
Nothing can quite match the historical significance of the first meeting. McCullum’s 158* gave KKR a 140-run victory and introduced the IPL to the cricket world with an explosive statement.
The 49-all-out disaster — 2017
RCB’s 49 against KKR remains one of the most famous low scores in T20 cricket. KKR’s bowling attack dismantled the Bengaluru batting order, and no RCB batter reached double figures.
The one-run thriller — 2024
KKR’s 222/6 appeared to put them in a commanding position, but RCB pushed the chase to the final ball. Bengaluru ended on 221 and lost by a single run, making it one of the closest finishes between the teams.
The 2025 season opener
RCB’s seven-wicket victory at Eden Gardens was significant because KKR entered the match as defending champions while RCB had not yet won the IPL. RCB’s comfortable chase proved to be an early sign of their outstanding 2025 campaign.
Biggest Wins in RCB vs KKR History
KKR’s Biggest Win Against RCB
KKR’s biggest victory came in the very first IPL match.
On April 18, 2008, KKR defeated RCB by 140 runs after posting 222/3. Brendon McCullum’s 158* remains the defining performance of that encounter.
RCB’s Biggest Win Against KKR
RCB’s biggest victory by runs came in 2020, when they defeated KKR by 82 runs in Sharjah.
RCB also won by 82 runs against KKR in the 2017 season, but the official rivalry record lists RCB’s biggest winning margin as 82 runs.
Highest Team Scores in RCB vs KKR Matches
KKR’s highest score in the rivalry is 222/6, made at Eden Gardens in 2024.
RCB’s highest completed score against KKR is 221, also from the 2024 Eden Gardens thriller. RCB’s 221 was nevertheless not enough because KKR won by one run.
This match is particularly notable because both sides crossed 220, yet the contest went down to the final delivery.
Lowest Team Scores in RCB vs KKR Matches
RCB’s lowest score is an extraordinary 49 all out, recorded against KKR in 2017.
It remains the lowest team total in IPL history and is one of the most recognisable statistics associated with the RCB-KKR rivalry.
KKR’s lowest listed total in the rivalry is 84, which came against RCB during the 2020 season. RCB won that match by eight wickets.
RCB vs KKR Top Individual Performances
Highest Run Scorers
Virat Kohli is the standout batter in this fixture. He has scored more than 1,000 IPL runs against KKR, putting him among the small group of players to reach that mark against a single opponent. Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers are also among RCB’s notable run-scorers in the rivalry.
For KKR, Brendon McCullum’s 158* is the most iconic individual batting performance in the fixture because it came in the first-ever IPL match.
Leading Wicket-Takers
Sunil Narine has been one of KKR’s most effective bowlers against RCB, with the rivalry statistics listing him as the leading wicket-taker in this matchup. Yuzvendra Chahal and R. Vinay Kumar have also been among RCB’s leading wicket-takers against KKR.
Best Bowling Figures
The rivalry has produced several outstanding bowling spells, but the 2017 match stands out collectively rather than through a single five-wicket haul. KKR’s bowling attack reduced RCB to 49 all out, with Nathan Coulter-Nile, Colin de Grandhomme and Chris Woakes all contributing three wickets.
RCB vs KKR at M Chinnaswamy Stadium
Chinnaswamy has surprisingly been a favourable venue for KKR despite being RCB’s home ground.
Across the completed meetings listed by InsideSport, KKR have won more matches than RCB at Bengaluru. The venue has witnessed some of the rivalry’s most memorable extremes, including the inaugural 2008 match and RCB’s 49-all-out collapse in 2017.
The 2024 meeting at the venue was another KKR success, with Kolkata chasing 183 to win by seven wickets.
RCB vs KKR at Eden Gardens
KKR have also held the advantage at their home venue.
Eden Gardens has hosted numerous important meetings, including KKR’s five-run win in 2008, RCB’s nine-wicket victory in 2016, and the dramatic one-run KKR victory in 2024.
RCB finally produced a memorable away victory in the 2025 IPL opener, chasing KKR’s 174/8 to win by seven wickets.
RCB vs KKR Playoff and Knockout History
The two franchises have faced each other in the IPL playoffs, most notably in the 2021 Eliminator.
On October 11, 2021, KKR defeated RCB by four wickets at Sharjah. RCB scored 138/7, but KKR chased the target successfully to end Bengaluru’s campaign.
Despite their long rivalry, RCB and KKR have never met in an IPL final.
RCB vs KKR Last 10 Completed Matches
| Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | RCB | 6 wickets | Raipur |
| 22 Mar 2025 | RCB | 7 wickets | Eden Gardens |
| 21 Apr 2024 | KKR | 1 run | Eden Gardens |
| 29 Mar 2024 | KKR | 7 wickets | Bengaluru |
| 26 Apr 2023 | KKR | 21 runs | Bengaluru |
| 6 Apr 2023 | KKR | 81 runs | Eden Gardens |
| 30 Mar 2022 | RCB | 3 wickets | Navi Mumbai |
| 11 Oct 2021 | KKR | 4 wickets | Sharjah |
| 20 Sep 2021 | KKR | 9 wickets | Abu Dhabi |
| 18 Apr 2021 | RCB | 38 runs | Chennai |
Across these 10 completed meetings, KKR won six and RCB won four, according to IPL.com’s head-to-head listing. However, RCB have won the two completed meetings since then, in 2025 and 2026.
RCB vs KKR Rivalry: Key Trends
KKR have the overall advantage
KKR lead the completed head-to-head 20-16. Their dominance was particularly strong during several periods, including 2017-18 and 2023-24.
RCB have improved recently
RCB ended KKR’s four-match winning streak by winning the 2025 season opener. They then followed it with another victory in 2026.
The rivalry has produced extreme results
The fixture has featured a 140-run KKR victory, an 82-run RCB victory, a 49-all-out RCB collapse and a one-run KKR win.
High-scoring games can still be extremely close
The 2024 match at Eden Gardens is the perfect example. KKR scored 222/6 and RCB replied with 221, creating a one-run finish despite the huge combined scoring.
KKR have been strong at both major home venues
Kolkata have historically performed strongly at both Eden Gardens and Chinnaswamy, making this unusual among IPL rivalries.
Conclusion
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline stretches from the very first IPL match in 2008 to the latest meeting in 2026, making it one of the league’s longest-running rivalries.
KKR have the stronger historical record, leading 20-16 across 36 completed matches. Their 140-run victory in 2008, the 2017 demolition of RCB for 49 and the one-run thriller in 2024 are among the rivalry’s defining moments.
RCB, however, have finished the latest phase strongly. They defeated KKR by seven wickets in the 2025 opener and followed that with a six-wicket win in 2026.
From McCullum’s 158* in the inaugural IPL match to Kohli’s long-standing run-scoring dominance, Narine’s bowling influence, RCB’s 49 all out and the unforgettable 222/6 versus 221 thriller, this fixture has repeatedly delivered moments that stand out in IPL history.
The rivalry will continue to evolve with every future meeting, but the historical record remains clear: KKR lead overall, while RCB currently have the momentum after winning the last two completed encounters.
FAQs
When was the first RCB vs KKR match?When was the first RCB vs KKR match?
The first RCB vs KKR match took place on April 18, 2008, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. KKR won by 140 runs after Brendon McCullum scored 158*.
Which team has won more RCB vs KKR matches?
KKR have won more completed IPL matches. They lead RCB 20-16 after 36 completed meetings.
What is RCB’s biggest win against KKR?
RCB’s biggest win by runs is 82 runs, achieved in the 2020 season.
What is KKR’s biggest win against RCB?
KKR’s biggest victory is their 140-run win in 2008, the result of the inaugural IPL match.
What is the highest score in RCB vs KKR history?
KKR’s 222/6 in 2024 is the highest team total in the completed RCB-KKR rivalry. RCB’s highest is 221 in the same match.
What is the lowest score in RCB vs KKR history?
RCB’s 49 all out against KKR in 2017 is the lowest team score in the rivalry and also remains the lowest total in IPL history.
How many times have RCB and KKR played each other?
RCB and KKR have completed 36 IPL matches against each other through IPL 2026. There was also one scheduled match in 2025 that was abandoned without a result.
Who has scored the most runs in RCB vs KKR matches?
Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the rivalry, with more than 1,000 IPL runs against KKR according to current rivalry statistics.
Who has taken the most wickets in RCB vs KKR matches?
Sunil Narine is listed as the leading wicket-taker in the rivalry, with 27 wickets against RCB.
When was the latest RCB vs KKR match?
The latest completed RCB vs KKR match was played on May 13, 2026, in Raipur. RCB scored 194/4 to defeat KKR’s 192/4 by six wickets.
