Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline

The rivalry between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been one of the most thrilling and unpredictable rivalries in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). After 17 seasons of matches played between these two franchises, we have witnessed some incredible moments, devastating heartbreaks, breath-taking individual performances, as well as fierce contests, that exemplify T20 cricket. This article seeks to chart the timelines of matches played between RCB and KKR, from 2008 through 2025, detailing the highs and lows for both franchises, and then showing how this match-up has elevated into a marquee match-up.

The Early Phase: 2008 to 2010 

The first match of many matches was historical, given in 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by an eye-popping 140 runs, setting the tone for their historic rivalry. This match is highly regarded for Brendon McCullum’s monstrous 158*, which to date is still considered the best innings in IPL history. In their return match that season, KKR narrowly edged out RCB by 5 runs, effectively completing the double on the Bengaluru-based franchise.

During the 2009 season, hosted in South Africa, the tables were turned, with RCB winning both matches, displaying their first signs of fighting spirit, by defeating KKR by 5 wickets in Durban and later winning by 6 wickets in Centurion. The 2010 season saw the rivalry go back into a state of equilibrium, with both teams winning 1 match: KKR winning at their home ground, with RCB responding in strong fashion at the Chinnaswamy.

Momentum Changes: 2011 to 2014

Between 2011-2014, both teams kept trading similar blows. In 2011, RCB had the upper hand with two wins, including one using the Duckworth-Lewis scoring method. For RCB, this was a crucial period when they developed a three-pronged batting assault with Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Virat Kohli, and they showed their capacity to dominate in certain matchups.

Nonetheless, 2012 saw a monumental change. KKR had the new energy of Gautam Gambhir at the helm, and that led KKR to sweep the RCB in the two league matches, and KKR kept dominating RCB through 2013-2014, winning 3 of the 4 matches. So much so that while RCB would get big players, KKR would stay consistent and win touring matches throughout the world, whereas RCB often came up short in tight matches, despite the existence of big players.

Mid Decade Intensity: 2015-17

From 2015 through 2017, many of this rivalry’s best matches were played. In 2015, RCB came back to double KKR, winning in Eden Gardens and at RCB. This is when the trio of Gayle, Kohli and de Villiers were at their peak operating and when RCB was the scariest batting unit. 

The 2016 season saw these two teams again split the honors, with KKR edging RCB in Bengaluru and RCB getting their vengeance in Kolkata. RCB had also made it to the finals that year and they certainly demonstrated that confidence in their game; a clear example of it was their aggressive game.

In 2017, however, it was KKR’s turn again. They produced an 82-run win against RCB in the match that is best known for RCB’s collapse – a record-low total of 49 from which they were bowled out. KKR won the return fixture too and made a double, showcasing RCB’s inconsistencies.

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KKR dominance: 2018 to 2019

Then the 2018/2019 season continued with strong fortunes for KKR. In both seasons, they were able to win 3 out of 4 matches, while exposing the ineffectively weak bowling attack and fragile middle-order of RCB. Even noted in the 2019 match at M Chinnaswamy, Andre Russell played one of his most vicious innings to help KKR chase down a massive total with ease.

Even though RCB achieved a thrilling 10-run victory at Eden Gardens in 2019, the overall tendency demonstrated that KKR had a psychological advantage. The express ability to chase and handle pressure situations during that spell of the rivalry.

Bubble Era Battles: 2020 to 2021

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline

The 2020 and 2021 seasons were affected by COVID-19 and bio-bubbles, and once again, momentum shifted towards RCB – in 2020, RCB won both matches comfortably – 82 runs in Sharjah and 8 wickets in Abu Dhabi. The bowling unit, which is widely viewed as RCB’s weakness, came to the fore in both contests and strangled KKR’s batting. 

In 2021, RCB had a strong start with a victory by 38 runs in Chennai; however, in the UAE, the second phase of the tournament, KKR came back with a vengeance. KKR won the reverse league match convincingly by 9 wickets and then drove the final nail in the coffin by eliminating RCB from the tournament, winning a close contest by 4 wickets. This loss was tragic for RCB supporters; once they were given the prospects of winning their first IPL title only to be deluded by their arch rivals once again. 

A New Era In 2022-2024

When we look back at RCB’s journey at 2022; we had relived it at the DY Patil Stadium; RCB again would bid its wit against KKR to clinch a 3 wickets victory, while securing another 3 nail biters prior over the last two seasons. One of the highlights for RCB’s furtherance as an organization was how RCB was effected by the RCB, before the megauctions, and started to tip the balance to start moving towards a more balanced roster. KKR found its own rhythm on its part, beating RCB 4 more times consecutively in 2023 & 2024. And so, the enticement of near misses and collapses continued to build on the narrative of history. The 2024 match which would be played at Eden Gardens would go the way of KKR by a solitary run vs. RCB. 

It was clear that riding the cognitions and emotions of their fans was more important than another better situational positional emotion for a better ‘winning’ club. Regardless the superstars they hired as players were good quality players, many would say that RCB had a better quality of fan based club membership than KKR had and did better here since KKR as the club appeared with their internal and personal disposition and attitude entirely unified and undefeated confidence of getting the job done necessarily in tense situations. RCB could have done or equally on-the-field, accomplished the counterparts of what the KKR attitudes and behaviours did but they didn’t.

Renewed Rivalry: 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline

The 2025 season thrashed RCB with some great sporting energy. It was their first match of the season, against KKR, and on March 22, at Eden Gardens, RCB ended their lifetime of bad luck RCB suffered KKR since the start of 2025, with a very convincing match that saw RCB win by 7 wickets. RCB emerged with convincing skill, playing the match with level of intent and maturity that has been lacking their last few seasons.

Unfortunately, while it was set to play on May 17th, the reverse fixture was at their stunning home ground in Bengaluru, the match was rained out.

This didn’t just take away a definitive conclusion from RCB followers; it took away a chance to see if RCB could even complete a rare double in a season against KKR.

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Overall Record and Rivalry Insights

In terms of overall record, although KKR has proved its superiority across 36 meetings between the franchises, it has nonetheless been a fierce rivalry. KKR also has a bizarre penchant for success in these pressure moments from time to time, and they have capitalized on RCB’s temperament and inconsistency on a number of occasions, particularly with their bowlers failing to defend low totals.

Despite KKR’s head-to-head dominance, RCB have dazzled us with individual pieces of brilliance from their superstars, particularly in more recent times. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell have been too much for KKR to handle on more than one occasion, and there have been plenty of run-fests at Bengaluru, where boundaries are short and pitches are flat.

A Rivalry That Defines the IPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline has become much more than just a sporting affair; it has been, in many ways, a theatre of redemption, of superiority, of heartbreak, and of mental toughness. While RCB has tended to refer to themselves simply as the ‘fabulous’ team, and accept the limelight that comes with individual superstars, KKR has branded themselves as the thinking franchise, who prize team-ness and situational context more highly than individual skill sets.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline Both franchises continue to grow and invest in youth and the rivalry will continue to be one of the most exciting matches on the IPL calendar. Explosive starts? Check. Tense finishes? Check. Players who can explode at any moment? Check. They provide everything you want as a cricket fan in terms of entertainment within one match with the red and purple colours. 

The IPL will only increase in price, as will the rivalry – with a colourful past of wins and losses, to find success in the future.

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