Since the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008, there have been no two teams that have offered so many interesting moments, drama and performances in their matches than the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Timeline shows that the matches between these two that started as a simple league contest have morphed into a mega combat, two extraordinary fan bases, two superstar teams, and a rivalry in uncertainty and excitement.
So far, these teams have met in 37 official matches. RCB have won 19 matches, but PBKS have certainly made a statement by winning 18 times. The rivalry has offered a number of momentum changes, record performances and culminated in a title match in IPL 2025, making it one of the best rivalries in IPL history. Let us take a stroll down the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru rivalry memory lane from 2008 to 2025, and highlight some of the memorable performances, records and late changes in momentum.
2008–2009 Early Punjab Kings Primacy
The first three matches of the rivalry were all won by the then Kings XI Punjab to gain primacy early:
May 5, 2008 – In their first-ever match, Punjab outplayed RCB by 6 wickets in Bengaluru.
May 12, 2008 – Punjab beat RCB by 9 wickets in Mohali.
April 24, 2009 – The streak was extended to three with a victory of 7 wickets at Kingsmead, Durban.
RCB broke the jinx on May 1, 2009, with an 8-run victory, which was their first-ever win against Punjab.
2010–2011 Inconsistent Form and High-Scoring Matches
In this era, the two teams exchanged form and wins:
RCB was dominant in early 2010, winning both matches by solid margins.
May 6, 2011 – RCB won, at home, by 85 runs; this was one of the largest margins of victory in this rivalry.
But PBKS responded, in style, on May 17, 2011, scoring 232/2 with Adam Gilchrist scoring 106 runs, while Shaun Marsh scored 79*. Punjab then bowled RCB out for a total of 121 runs, and thus winning by 111 runs; at that time, it was their biggest win by runs.
This match in Dharamsala stands as a landmark in the rivalry for PBKS supporters.
2012–2014: Punjab’s Golden Phase
During 2012 to 2014, the Punjab Kings (then Kings XI) had a remarkable 5-match win streak over the Royal Challengers Bangalore. This was their longest winning streak in this matchup:
May 2, 2012 – A thrilling 4-wicket win in Bengaluru.
In 2013, the PBKS won both matchups, including a 7-wicket win in Bengaluru.
In IPL 2014, the won both matches, including a 32-run win at Chinnaswamy.
In these seasons, Punjab won against RCB regardless of venue and environment, and it was not close.
2015: The Chris Gayle Show and RCB’s Dominance
In 2015, RCB retaliated with ferocity:
May 6, 2015 – RCB defeated PBKS by 138 runs in Bengalore. This is RCB largest win margin against PBKS. Chris Gayle scored a stunning 117 runs of 57 balls in this match while PBKS was bowled for just 88 runs, PBKS worst score against RCB.
PBKS won the last contest in Mohali, however the damage caused by RCB in the win by margin was crippling.
2016–17: Tug of War
It was a period of fluctuation:
RCB defeated Punjab twice in 2016, which included a nail-biting 1 -run victory and a massive 82-run win under DLS conditions.
PBKS quickly countered with two wins over RCB in 2017, including a 19-run victory at Chinnaswamy that helped re-insert PBKS as a contender.
2018–19: RCB Establishes Dominance
Between 2018 and 2019 RCB put together their longest head to head match winning streak with a four-match streak:
That included the most sizeable, (for RCB, most sizeable, by wickets counting 10-wicket win in 2018 when they chased down 89 with no wickets down. In 2019 RCB swept for a second year running with both seasons being headed almost exclusively with Kohli and de Villiers leading the charge.
This solidified RCB as serious competitors against a PBKS side that has had various guises.
2020-2021: Rahul’s Stellar Performance and PBKS’s Resurgence
2020 belonged to KL Rahul. Think back to the Dubai leg where smashed a glorious 132 not out off 69 balls which saw PBKS win, to achieve a comfortable 97 runs which was the second largest win in PBKS history and importantly, Rahul’s career best.
While you and I both know that both games in 2020 were relatively easy victories for PBKS.
In 2021 both teams got memorable wins, there was the RCB fixture in Sharjah, which was narrowly lost by 6 runs in the return leg.
2022-2023: Rivalry at Equal Ledger
In IPL 2022, PBKS again triumphed in the rivalry, winning both of their fixtures, including a handy 54 run victory at Brabourne Stadium.
Not to be outdone, RCB equalized the ledger in 2023 as they won their fixture by 24 runs in Mohali.
2024: RCB Welcome Back to IPL
May 9, 2024 also provided a different sizzle for RCB as RCB scored and gaudy 241/7 at Dharamsala, their highest (241) against PBKS including a masterful 92 by St. Virat Kohli. That with the meet the home team easily won the match by 60 runs – a firm statement of dominance by a significant VEGAN section of IPL.
2025: The Climax of the Rivalry
IPL 2025 had the most ferocious finale of the PBKS-RCB rivalry. It included four total clashes, two league and two in qualifying stages.
April 18, 2025 – PBKS wins by 5 wickets at Bengaluru
April 20, 2025 – RCB replied back in Mullanpur, winning by 7 wickets.
May 29, 2025 (Qualifier Final) – RCB steam rolled PBKS by 8 wickets march into final.
June 3, 2025 (IPL Final) – In one of the most anticipated finals, RCB F and lifted the first IPL title, in a close affair, by winning by 6 runs against PBKS. Virat Kohli scored 43 and brilliant Krunal Pandya, 2/17.
This final not only added more elements of emotion to the rivalry but established historical significance; the 17 years of quality and high-cost cricket between PBKS and RCB.
RCB vs PBKS: Key Stats and Records
| Category | RCB | PBKS |
| Most Wins | 19 | 18 |
| Highest Team Total | 241/7 (Dharamsala, 2024) | 232/2 (Dharamsala, 2011) |
| Lowest Team Total | 109 all out (Dubai, 2020) | 88 all out (Bengaluru, 2015) |
| Biggest Win (by Runs) | 138 runs (Bengaluru, 2015) | 111 runs (Dharamsala, 2011) |
| Biggest Win (by Wickets) | 10 wickets (Indore, 2018) | 9 wickets (Durban, 2009) |
| Highest Individual Score | 117 – Chris Gayle (2015) | 132* – KL Rahul (2020) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 4/14 – Sreenath Aravind (2011) | 4/17 – Piyush Chawla (2011) |
| Best Partnership | 147 – Gayle/Kohli (2016) | 206 – Gilchrist/Marsh (2011) |
Patterns & Highlights
Rivalry Momentum Shifts: The rivalry has been competitive, always changing the hand from one side to another, with anything during short bursts of momentum—PBKS controlled the early years, RCB picked up the mantle from somewhere in 2015 to 2019, and then in recent years, it has been closer in the results.
Final Showdown: The IPL final of 2025 cemented this rivalry in the classic category, with the RCB finally lifting the trophy, and PBKS missing out once again.
Star Performers: Kohli, Gayle, Rahul, Gilchrist, and Marsh have been superstars of the outstanding IPL rivalry at different times and have impacted the possible results of other players and teams, often winning games almost on their own.
What are the venues where this rivalry has taken control?
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru—has hosted 11 encounters and has all the record totals and record partnerships.
IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali—Punjab’s fort; where we have witnessed some great thrillers.
Dharamsala—where we saw PBKS’ biggest wins and RCB’ biggest total.
Dubai & Sharjah—were where we got the key matches in pandemic seasons; where Rahul went 132* in Dubai.
Final Thoughts
The RCB v PBKS rivalry has grown over years where matches have become a showcase of rich history, the angst of a classic battle, and high quality world-class cricketing performers. From Punjab’s dominance in the early period to RCB’s new and final resurgence to glory in what sounds like forever, ending with 2025’s IPL final where RCB finally derived glory and PBKS once again missing the opportunity of many celebrations and memories in their history, we can unanimously agree that this rivalry has offered once-in-a-lifetime and spectacular cricketing memories!
As both teams continue to evolve and rebuild, future seasons promise even more thrilling chapters in this head-to-head saga. Whether it’s Virat Kohli’s majestic knocks, KL Rahul’s heroics, or final-over thrillers, this fixture never fails to entertain.
In a league built on rivalries, RCB vs PBKS remains one of the most compelling—and it’s far from over.
