RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head Record and Stats in the IPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders is not just any clash; it’s a match steeped in history. This fixture literally started the IPL story in 2008 and continues to deliver memorable moments nearly two decades on. But, when considering RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head, what transpired yesterday was nothing less than magic. Yes, we are talking about Virat Kohli and his fabulous 105* knock that led to a swift win and further solidified RCB’s position at the top of the IPL 2026 table.

Head-to-Head Overview

Total matches: 37  ·  RCB wins: 16  ·  KKR wins: 20  ·  No result: 1  ·  Updated after Match 57, 13 May 2026

RCB have now won 43% of all meetings after their dominant performance in Raipur.

Match at a Glance

Eden Gardens hosted the IPL 2025 curtain-raiser, and RCB made a statement from ball one – restricting KKR to 194 before chasing it down in style with 22 balls to spare.

KKR’s Batting Performance: 192/4

Further in RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head, RCB captain Rajat Patidar opted to bowl on a pitch expected to assist seamers, and the top order was rocked early, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood removing Allen and Rahane inside the powerplay. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (71 off 46) steadied the innings with a 68-run stand alongside Cameron Green (32), before a 76-run partnership with Rinku Singh took KKR close to 200.

Rinku’s unbeaten 49 off 29 balls gave KKR a late flourish, but excellent death bowling from Bhuvneshwar, Rasikh, and Hazlewood restricted them to 192, roughly 10 runs below their potential.

RCB’s Chase: Kohli Masterclass

Chasing 193, RCB lost Jacob Bethell in the 4th over to Kartik Tyagi. That proved to be KKR’s last real moment of control. Kohli, coming off back-to-back ducks, looked in supreme touch from ball one, timing crisply, finding gaps, and keeping the required rate firmly under check.

Star Performer: Virat Kohli  105* off 60 balls

A decisive 92-run second-wicket stand with Devdutt Padikkal (39 off 27) settled the chase. Kohli reached his fifty off 32 balls, then surged to a 58-ball century, his record-extending 9th IPL hundred, his first since 2024, and his third while chasing (a tournament record). At 37 years and 189 days, he became the oldest RCB player to score an IPL century and the first Indian to reach 14,000 T20 runs.

KKR Bowling

Tyagi’s 3/32 was the lone bright spot for KKR. Narine was economical, but the rest of the seam attack lacked discipline and were punished by Kohli throughout.

Key Turning Points

It wasn’t one moment that decided this game, it was three, and each one quietly buried KKR’s chances a little deeper. 

1.     Early powerplay double blow (overs 1–3): Removing Allen and Rahane cheaply restricted KKR’s platform. If the openers had fired then KKR could have gone beyond 210 making RCB’s chase much difficult.
2.     Kohli survives the Bethell-over threat (over 4): At 37/1, a second quick wicket might have tilted the match. Instead, Kohli took control immediately, and the required rate never felt threatening.
3.     Manish Pandey’s stunning catch: Pandey flew to his left at backward point to dismiss Tim David (2) off Tyagi, a one-handed worldie that was the individual highlight of an otherwise one-sided evening.

RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head Context: What This Match Means in the Rivalry

KKR still lead 20–16, but RCB have now won the last two encounters (the IPL 2025 opener and this match), signalling a clear shift in momentum. Kohli now owns 1,126 runs against KKR, the highest tally any batter has recorded against a single opponent in IPL history, and holds nine 50+ scores in this fixture, surpassing the record of eight shared by Raina, Warner, and Rohit Sharma. Narine remains the leading bowler with 27 wickets. RCB’s 6-wicket win with 5 balls remaining is a comfortable margin on a tricky Raipur surface.

Points Table Impact

A seven-wicket win with 22 balls to spare does more than move the needle on the points table  RCB’s NRR jumped above 2.0 after just one game, a buffer that can prove decisive come the final weekend of the league stage. 

• RCB: Moved to No. 1 with 16 points from 12 games; two matches remain, needing one win for a comfortable top-two finish.
• KKR: Remain 8th; their four-match winning streak is over, and playoff qualification now looks very unlikely.
• Streak note: RCB are unbeaten in both Raipur matches this season, with a 100% home record at the venue.

Player of the Match + MVP

Two players stood above the rest on the night – one won the official award, the other quietly accumulated the kind of numbers that fantasy cricket managers dream about. 

Official Player of the Match:

Virat Kohli (RCB)  105* off 60 balls (SR 175); 11 fours, 3 sixes; record 9th IPL hundred; first Indian to 14,000 T20 runs.

Cricinfo MVP:

Virat Kohli (RCB)  111.45 pts. No contest. Kohli’s precision eliminated all risk from a 193-run chase on a testing surface, with no other player across either innings coming close in match impact.

What’s Next + Venue Note

No time to celebrate or sulk in the IPL  the next game comes around fast, and the venues ahead will demand a completely different set of plans from both sides. 

• RCB next match: Away at Dharamsala (HPCA Stadium), a win here virtually confirms a top-two finish.
• KKR next match: A must-win situation; KKR needs victories in all remaining games and external help to reach the playoffs.
• Dharamsala pitch note: High-altitude flat track, batting-friendly. Fantasy picks should favour top-order batters and swing bowlers; spinners are unlikely to dominate.

Conclusion

The RCB vs KKR head-to-head stands at 20–16 in KKR’s favour after 37 IPL meetings, but recent seasons tell a different story. Kohli’s record-breaking performances in the competition have drawn the line between the two but it did not take long before RCB won back-to-back in 2025 and 2026. RCB had been established as a genuine title threat while KKR’s bowlers looked vulnerable when they lost control. Allcric offers the most comprehensive coverage of this iconic fixture for real-time stats, ball by ball updates and fantasy cricket tools.