One of the most intriguing rivalries in IPL history is that of the Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Since the first IPL season in 2008, there have been many high-scoring matches and nail-biting last-over finishes as well as great individual performances between these two franchises. If Royal Challengers (RCB) have boasted greats like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Faf du Plessis in their lineup, then Punjab Kings (earlier called Kings XI Punjab) have welcomed superstars like KL Rahul, Glenn Maxwell, Shreyas Iyer. Arshdeep Singh and Liam Livingstone into the fray respectively.
Come the end of 2026 IPL season, RCB and whoever they faced had already played each other 39 times, with RCB winning those matches by a head-to-head margin of 21-18. The iconic clash between these two sides also reached another historic milestone when both teams met in the IPL 2025 Final, which was RCB’s first IP trophy.
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Head-to-Head Record (2008-2026)
| Stat | Record |
| Matches Played | 39 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Wins | 21 |
| Punjab Kings Wins | 18 |
| No Result | 0 |
| First Match | 5 May 2008 |
| Latest Match | 17 May 2026 |
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Timeline
2008 – Punjab Dominates the New Rivalry
The first match of the rivalry was held on 5 May 2008 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB lost to then-Kings XI Punjab by a big margin of six wickets. The second match saw Punjab do the double over Bengaluru for that season too.
Season Result: Punjab both matches won.
2009 – RCB Registers Their First Victory
This was the first time during IPL’s South Africa edition that Punjab lost to Royal Challengers. RCB is now 50-50 against the Titans in league meetings after splitting the last four with GT having won two of the first three fixtures.
Season Result: 1-1.
2010 – Bengaluru Takes Control
Both of these matches turned out to be one-sided T20 outings.
As Jacques Kallis and Robin Uthappa did their bit, Virat Kohli began taking charge to become the fulcrum of the Bengaluru batting unit.
Season Result: RCB won 2-0.
2011 – One Win Each
Punjab crowned one of the finest wins in the rivalry.
- Adam Gilchrist broke a stunning hundred.
- Punjab had their highest ever successful chase against RCB when they chased down 232/2.
- Their 111-run win over Bengaluru remains their biggest win against RCB to date.
This, after RCB had bagged a comprehensive win in the reverse fixture.
Season Result: 1-1.
2012 – Even Contest
Once again, victory was shared by both franchises.
In the first match, Chris Gayle single-handedly carried RCB with the bat and Punjab bounced back strongly in the second.
Season Result: 1-1
2013 – Punjab Completes Another Double
Most importantly, used literally as one of two I think – Punjab took down Bengaluru with double classics led by David Miller and David Hussey and Manan Vohra
RCB’s bowlers fared poorly for the bulk of this season despite runs from Virat Kohli.
Season Result: Punjab won 2-0.
2014 – Punjab’s Best IPL Season
Punjab had their best IPL season so far having reached the final stage of the tournament.
They remained unbeaten against RCB, again powering to a pair of league wins with explosions from Glenn Maxwell and David Miller.
Season Result: Punjab won 2-0.
2015 – Record-Breaking RCB Performance
And this season saw one of the biggest wins in IPL history.
Highlights included:
- Chris Gayle smashed 117
- AB DE VILLIERS SLAMMED ANOTHER 54-RUN KNOCK
- RCB posted a huge total
- Bengaluru’s largest victory against PBKS is by 138 runs (Bengaluru won by 100 runs in Mohali, May 2010)
Others lost one of their two fixtures against Punjab.
Season Result: 1-1.
2016 – Kohli’s Historic Season
Virat Kohli had one of the most successful individual seasons in IPL history.
RCB defeated Punjab twice.
Of those wins, one occurred by a scant single score, so it’s among the closest outcomes between teams.
Season Result: RCB won 2-0.
2017 – Punjab Bounces Back
Punjab trounced Bengaluru with assistance from Hashim Amla, Glenn Maxwell and Sandeep Sharma
Punjab won both matches comfortably.
Season Result: Punjab won 2-0.
2018 – Complete RCB Domination
RCB comfortably won both matches.
It was eventually sought in September 2023, when Bengaluru chased down Punjab’s target without the loss of a wicket and in doing so recorded their largest ever victory by wickets in the face to face.
The star even with the ball throughout the season was Umesh Yadav.
Season Result: RCB won 2-0.
2019 – Kohli and AB Shine Again
Punjab’s bowling attack was thoroughly dominated by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (Pti Photo)
Despite an overall season of suffering, RCB won both matches in the league clash.
Season Result: RCB won 2-0.
2020 – Rahul’s Masterclass
Punjab thrashed Bengaluru in the UAE.
Highlights included:
- KL Rahul’s unbeaten 132*
- Punjab scored 206/3
- RCB were bowled out for a mere 109
- Punjab won both league games.
Season Result: Punjab won 2-0.
2021 – One Victory Each
The rivalry was once again a dead heat.
Punjab won that first contest by 34 runs while RCB claimed the reverse fixture by six runs.
Bengaluru’s other key achievements came from Virat Kohli and Harshal Patel.
Season Result: 1-1.
2022 – Punjab Dominates
Punjab defeated RCB twice.
It was such a massive chase that the heaviest scoring from Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli made it interesting, only to fall short quite easily in the first game.
Punjab later whacked another 54-run victory.
Season Result: Punjab won 2-0.
2023 – Bengaluru Returns Strong
By far the biggest gap was game-less league fixtures played.
Bengaluru beat this poor Chennai team to win by 24 runs successfully thanks to a half-century from Virat Kohli and a Fifer from Mohammed Siraj.
Season Result: RCB won.
2024 – RCB Completes Another Double
In IPL 2024, RCB appeared a far more formidable outfit.
Highlights included:
- Virat Kohli scoring consistently
- Dinesh Karthik’s finishing
- Rajat Patidar’s aggressive batting
- RCB winning both encounters
In one such match, it was Bengaluru who registered their best-ever total vs Punjab with 241/7.
Season Result: RCB won 2-0.
2025 – Historic IPL Final
And thus this rivalry reached its biggest moment in the history of IPL.
League Stage
- Punjab Kings won one match.
- RCB won the reverse fixture.
IPL 2025 Final
The two sides faced off for the first time in an IPL Final.
Virat Kohli along with the middle-order batters helped RCB score 190/9.
Punjab put up a spirited fight and ended the match on 184/7.
Final: RCB won by 6 runs, ending 18 years of looking for their first IPL title.
This was the defining match-up of the rivalry.
2026 – Defending Champions Stay Ahead
Both teams faced each other once in the league stage.
At Dharamsala, Reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru doused Punjab Kings by 23 runs.
While RCB posted 222/4, Punjab was restricted to 199/8 in reply.
This victory took RCB’s head-to-head lead to 21-18 over Punjab, by the end of IPL 2026.
Memorable Records
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Most Matches | 39 |
| RCB Wins | 21 |
| PBKS Wins | 18 |
| Highest Team Score (RCB) | 241/7 (2024) |
| Highest Team Score (PBKS) | 232/2 (2011) |
| Biggest RCB Victory | 138 runs (2015) |
| Biggest PBKS Victory | 111 runs (2011) |
| Highest Individual Score (RCB) | Chris Gayle – 117 |
| Highest Individual Score (PBKS) | KL Rahul – 132* |
| Most Historic Match | IPL 2025 Final – RCB won by 6 runs |
Top Players in the Rivalry
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Virat Kohli
- Chris Gayle
- AB de Villiers
- Faf du Plessis
- Rajat Patidar
- Mohammed Siraj
Punjab Kings
- KL Rahul
- Glenn Maxwell
- Adam Gilchrist
- Liam Livingstone
- Shreyas Iyer
- Arshdeep Singh
These players have delivered several memorable performances that have shaped the rivalry over the years.
Conclusion
One of the more intense rivalries in the IPL, the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru timeline highlights one of the longest lasting feuds. Be it the initial dominance by Punjab or turnaround under Virat Kohli, each phase has its own iconic moments. The top rivalry was a close 24 to the IPL 2025 Final, across which Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally grabbed their first IPL title. As of the conclusion of the 2026 season, RCB has a head-to-head lead of 21-18 over SRH; however, both teams have continued to field competitive sides and this rivalry features as one of the most exciting fixtures on the IPL schedule every year.
Also Read: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals Standings
Dalvi is a passionate cricket writer and analyst at CricketDeck, dedicated to delivering accurate, engaging, and up-to-date cricket content. With a strong interest in IPL, player stats, match analysis, and trending cricket news, Dalvi simplifies complex insights into easy-to-read articles for fans worldwide. His writing focuses on providing real value, deep analysis, and the latest updates from the cricket world. Through CricketDeck, Dalvi aims to connect cricket lovers with reliable information and exciting match coverage.
