Over the years, KKR and RCB have contested a number of thrilling encounters. Let's take a closer look at their overall head-to-head record in the IPL.
As the record clearly states Kolkata Knight Riders have traditionally has the advantage over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the marquee fixture winning 20 out of the 34 games between them in IPL. Additionally, KKR have also won against RCB in the Champions League T20 back when the tournament was still relevant on the Indian calendar. It was the two side's only meeting in the tournament.
Here's a detailed breakdown of KKR vs RCB match-winning percentage based on their head-to-head record in the IPL.
Eden Gardens has always been a fortress for KKR, and they have generally outperformed RCB at this iconic venue. The roaring Kolkata crowd adds an extra layer of intimidation for visiting teams, and RCB has often found it difficult to break their hoodoo at this ground.
In the 12 encounters that have taken place at the Eden Gardens among the two sides in 18 seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders have won double the number of games than the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. KKR have won 8 matches while RCB have only won 4.
RCB’s home ground, M Chinnaswamy, has seen some high-scoring thrillers, however, KKR have also had the better of RCB at Bengaluru.
While, RCB is expected to be a dominant force at their home, the record is identical to the one at the Eden Gardens. KKR have been a dominant force at their arch rivals home as well and have won 8 out of the 12 encounters at the high scoring venue.
When it comes to neutral venues, the records have been more evenly matched, with both teams finding success depending on the conditions. Matches played in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi and has seen RCB perform better.
RCB have been able to exploit the neutral conditions far better than KKR as they have the edge in the 10 matches played in these settings. RCB has won 6 of the matches played at the neutral venue compared to the 4 KKR have won. This suggests RCB have found it way more trickier to navigate their home conditions rather than abroad.
Let’s take a quick look at the most recent encounters between KKR and RCB:
In their last five encounters, KKR has managed to edge out RCB with a 3-2 record, showcasing the closely fought nature of their rivalry.
The record states that there’s barely much to seperate the two sides in the previous 2-3 years in IPL. While KKR might have won 3 matches in their past 5 meetings, they've had to work hard for those wins as the matches have gone right down to the wire.
The top run scorer in the KKR vs RCB rivalry is none other than the explosive Chris Gayle. Known for his towering sixes, Gayle has terrorized KKR bowlers in the past. His top score against KKR came when he scored a blistering 96 runs, taking RCB to a commanding total.
On the bowling front, Sunil Narine has been KKR’s weapon of choice. Narine's deceptive spin and accuracy have troubled RCB’s big hitters. His best bowling figures in a match against RCB are 5/19, a performance that left RCB reeling in one of their most memorable defeats.
Throughout IPL history, there have been several memorable encounters between KKR and RCB. Here are a few standout clashes:
April 23, 2017, Eden Gardens: When we talk about great matches between KKR and RCB there is only one match that stands out amongst the rest. The infamous 49 all out. In an extremely interesting affair at the Eden Gardens, KKR completely embarrassed the RCB batting lineup when they bundled them to the lowest total in IPL history - 49. RCB needed just 132 runs in 20 overs to chase but they simply collapsed with none of the batters entering double digits. Till date it is one of the most embarrassing batting displays in IPL history.
May 2016, M Chinnaswamy Stadium: RCB never felt like losing the encounter after setting a mammoth target of 209 runs to chase for KKR. That night RCB were on song and their bowling was picking apart the KKR batting lineup. However in one of the wildest finishes ever seen in an IPL game, Andre Russel wreaked havoc upon the RCB bowling lineup as KKR were able to chase 90 runs in just 7 overs.
April 2021, Chennai: In an exciting encounter, Glenn Maxwell in his first season playing for Bengaluru proved what a vital acquistion he was when he dominated with both bat and ball. RCB held their nerves and won by 38 runs, with Glenn Maxwell playing a pivotal role with both bat and ball.
Kolkata Knight Riders will enter IPL 2025 with a target on their back as the defending champions. While KKR were able to maintain most of their core a big question mark surrounding them is captaincy.
They will be without their IPL winning captain Shreyas Iyer who parted ways in the mega auction. Ajinkya Rahane is replacing Iyer as the captain however given his form in T20s, doubts loom large over Rahane. Additionally, there's a lack of opening depth after losing out on opener Phil Salt.
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.
There were talks that Virat Kohli could potentially return as captain after departure of Faf du Plessis but the RCB management who is adamant on doing things differently have put their faith in Rajat Patidar. Only time will tell whether the decision is the right one or not.
As IPL 2025 approaches, fans can expect more thrilling encounters and captivating cricket between two of the league's most popular franchises.
Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.
As the opening encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru inching ever closer, the excitement is at an all time high over the upcoming fixture. There are questions surrounding the makeup of both teams and doubts over whether any of these teams are legitimate playoff contenders or not given the changes. Both teams will want to start on a winning note.
Will RCB’s powerful batting line-up finally overcome KKR’s spin maestros, or will KKR continue their dominance over RCB? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – when these two teams meet, excitement is guaranteed.
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