IPL 2023: RCB vs KKR – Head to Head, Memorable Matches and Interesting Stats

RCB vs KKR: Both these franchises carry a legacy of over a decade, while on the one hand, RCB has been one of the most celebrated teams in the history of the IPL but could not manage to get their hands on the title despite many worthy performances, while on the other hand, Knight Riders have been the third most successful franchise of the league as they have managed to win two league titles back in 2012 and 2014.  

The Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been part of the endeavoring T20 platform, as both of these teams have featured in three IPL finals. KKR managed to clinch two victories, but RCB’s ill-fate prevented them from winning the title anytime soon. 

RCB vs KKR: Head to Head

Both teams have encountered each other 31 times in the IPL, with RCB managing 14 wins and KKR emerging victorious 17 times. 

2008	Kolkata Knight Riders won by 140 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders won by five runs.
2009	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by five wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by six wickets.
2010	The Kolkata Knight Riders won by seven wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by seven wickets.
2011	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by nine wickets.(D/L). Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 4 wickets (D/L).
2012	Kolkata Knight Riders won by 42 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders won by 47 runs.
2013	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by eight wickets. Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets.
2014	Kolkata Knight Riders won by two runs. Kolkata Knight Riders won by 30 runs.
2015	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by three wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by seven wickets.
2016	The Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by nine wickets.
2017	Kolkata Knight Riders won by 82 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders won by six wickets.
2018	Kolkata Knight Riders won by four wickets. Kolkata Knight Riders won by six wickets.
2019	Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 10 runs.
2020	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 82 runs. Royal Challengers Bangalore won by eight wickets.
2021	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 38 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders won by nine. Kolkata Knight Riders won by four wickets.
2022	Royal Challengers Bangalore won by three wickets.
2023	Kolkata Knight Riders won by 81 runs.

RCB vs KKR: Top 3 Most Memorable Matches

1. Going back to 2008, it was against RCB that KKR probably played the most memorable game in the history of the league. They set many records that remained unbreakable for a long period of time. Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum tormented the RCB bowlers. 

He lone-handedly broke their backs as he launched a sheer assault on the opposition bowlers with an almost spooky hitting and scored a breathtaking 158* off 73 balls with 13 humongous sixes and 10 fours. This remained an iconic inning and also the highest individual score by a batsman in the IPL till Chris Gayle got past him with an even more astonishing 175* off 66 balls in 2013. 

After a sensational show with the bat, RCB were bowled out for a mere 82 runs, with Dinda, Ganguly, and Agarkar acing with the ball. They won the match by an alarming 140 runs, which remained the biggest win before MI defeated the Daredevils by 146 runs in 2017. 

2. The next most thrilling encounter takes us back to 2014. It was the second year of dominance for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Kallis and Lynn led the KKR innings with the bat, as they scored 40+ runs each, which gave them a steady start. Uthappa and Sky ended the KKR innings with their cameos. 

Despite having veteran players like Kohli, Yuvi, ABD, and Albie Morkel, the Challengers could not manage to chase a mere 15 as Narine, Jack Kallis, and Vinay Kumar resisted them from doing so as KKR won the match by 2 runs. 

3. The Royal Challengers Bangalore faced KKR on the 23rd of April 2017, and KKR put on a score of 131, with only Narine scoring a quickfire 34 at the top of the order and the rest of the squad falling prey to the RCB bowlers Chahal, Negi, and Mills. 

The Royal Challengers faced the most humiliating defeat of their history as they collapsed for just 49 runs, with Woakes, de Grandhomme, and Coulter-Nile each taking three wickets. 

RCB vs KKR: Interesting Facts 

KKR

• In the 2014 IPL, KKR produced the biggest chase of an IPL final. 
• KKR is the team with the most consecutive wins in the IPL. 
• Bowled out RCB for the lowest IPL total of 49

RCB

• The only team to score the maximum number of 200+ partnerships  
• Kohli, playing for RCB, scored 900+ runs and centuries in a single season. 
• The biggest-ever partnership was between Kohli and ABD, as they put on the biggest-ever IPL total of 263.

Also Read:- IPL 2023: RCB vs KKR Strongest Possible Playing 11