Table of Contents
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings rivalry is one of the most passionate and entertaining contests in IPL history. Since 2008, it has featured explosive batting from Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle against the calm brilliance of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, and Ravindra Jadeja. From early league battles to high-stakes playoff encounters and record-breaking chases in recent seasons, this fixture always delivers drama, emotion, and unforgettable cricket moments that fans eagerly await every year.
RCB vs CSK Complete History (2008 – Present)
| # | Season | Date | Venue | Winner | Winning Margin | Key Highlight |
| 1 | 2008 | Apr 28, 2008 | Bengaluru | CSK | 13 runs | First-ever Southern Derby encounter |
| 2 | 2008 | May 21, 2008 | Chennai | RCB | 14 runs | RCB’s legendary sole win at Chepauk |
| 3 | 2009 | Apr 20, 2009 | Port Elizabeth | CSK | 92 runs | Muttiah Muralitharan took 3/11 |
| 4 | 2009 | May 14, 2009 | Durban | RCB | 2 wickets | Ross Taylor 46 off 30 in tight chase |
| 5 | 2009 | May 23, 2009 | Johannesburg | RCB | 6 wickets | IPL Semi-Final: Manish Pandey’s 48 |
| 6 | 2010 | Mar 23, 2010 | Bengaluru | RCB | 36 runs | Robin Uthappa smashed 68 off 38 |
| 7 | 2010 | Mar 31, 2010 | Chennai | CSK | 5 wickets | Murali Vijay scored 78 off 39 |
| 8 | 2011 | Apr 16, 2011 | Chennai | CSK | 21 runs | Michael Hussey scored 83* |
| 9 | 2011 | May 22, 2011 | Bengaluru | RCB | 8 wickets | Chris Gayle starred with 75* off 50 |
| 10 | 2011 | May 24, 2011 | Mumbai | CSK | 6 wickets | Qualifier 1: Suresh Raina 73* off 50 |
| 11 | 2011 | May 28, 2011 | Chennai | CSK | 58 runs | IPL Final: Murali Vijay 95; CSK won title |
| 12 | 2012 | Apr 12, 2012 | Chennai | CSK | 5 wickets | Albie Morkel hit 28 runs off Virat Kohli’s 19th over |
| 13 | 2012 | Apr 25, 2012 | Bengaluru | No Result | — | Abandoned due to persistent rain |
| 14 | 2013 | Apr 13, 2013 | Chennai | CSK | 4 wickets | Jadeja won off last ball (No-ball drama) |
| 15 | 2013 | May 18, 2013 | Bengaluru | RCB | 24 runs | Reduced to 8 overs; Zaheer Khan took 4/17 |
| 16 | 2014 | May 18, 2014 | Ranchi | RCB | 5 wickets | AB de Villiers 28 off 14; Virat Kohli 27* |
| 17 | 2014 | May 24, 2014 | Bengaluru | CSK | 8 wickets | MS Dhoni 49* off 28 sealed the win |
| 18 | 2015 | Apr 22, 2015 | Bengaluru | CSK | 27 runs | Suresh Raina 62; Ashish Nehra took 4/10 |
| 19 | 2015 | May 04, 2015 | Chennai | CSK | 24 runs | Suresh Raina 52; Jadeja took 3/23 |
| 20 | 2015 | May 22, 2015 | Ranchi | CSK | 3 wickets | Qualifier 2: Michael Hussey scored 56 |
| 21 | 2018 | Apr 25, 2018 | Bengaluru | CSK | 5 wickets | MS Dhoni 70* (34) & Rayudu 82 chased 206 |
| 22 | 2018 | May 05, 2018 | Pune | CSK | 6 wickets | Ravindra Jadeja took 3/18 |
| 23 | 2019 | Mar 23, 2019 | Chennai | CSK | 7 wickets | RCB bowled out for 70 on rank turner |
| 24 | 2019 | Apr 21, 2019 | Bengaluru | RCB | 1 run | MS Dhoni 84* (48); Parthiv Patel’s last-ball run out |
| 25 | 2020 | Oct 10, 2020 | Dubai | RCB | 37 runs | Virat Kohli scored masterclass 90* (52) |
| 26 | 2020 | Oct 25, 2020 | Dubai | CSK | 8 wickets | Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 65* off 51 |
| 27 | 2021 | Apr 25, 2021 | Mumbai | CSK | 69 runs | Jadeja hit 37 runs in 1 over off Harshal Patel |
| 28 | 2021 | Sep 24, 2021 | Sharjah | CSK | 6 wickets | Dwayne Bravo 3/24; comfortable chase |
| 29 | 2022 | Apr 12, 2022 | Navi Mumbai | CSK | 23 runs | Shivam Dube 95* & Robin Uthappa 88 |
| 30 | 2022 | May 04, 2022 | Pune | RCB | 13 runs | Harshal Patel 3/35; defend 173 |
| 31 | 2023 | Apr 17, 2023 | Bengaluru | CSK | 8 runs | High-scoring classic: CSK 226/6 vs RCB 218/8 |
| 32 | 2024 | Mar 22, 2024 | Chennai | CSK | 6 wickets | Mustafizur Rahman took 4/29 |
| 33 | 2024 | May 18, 2024 | Bengaluru | RCB | 27 runs | Playoff Shootout: Yash Dayal defended 17 in last over |
| 34 | 2025 | Mar 28, 2025 | Chennai | RCB | 50 runs | RCB broke 17-year Chepauk drought |
| 35 | 2025 | May 03, 2025 | Bengaluru | RCB | 2 runs | Thriller defend at Chinnaswamy |
| 36 | 2026 | Apr 05, 2026 | Bengaluru | RCB | 43 runs | Tim David 70 (25) set up RCB’s highest rival score of 250/3 |
Overall Head-to-Head Statistics
| Metric | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Notes / Details |
| Total Matches Played | 36 | 36 | In IPL history |
| Matches Won | 21 | 14 | CSK leads overall |
| No Result | 1 | 1 | Rain washout |
| Highest Team Score | 226/6 (2023) | 250/3 (2026) | RCB’s peak score set at M. Chinnaswamy |
| Lowest Team Score | 82 (2008) | 70 (2014, 2019) | Low-scoring thrillers |
| Record at Chepauk (CSK Home) | 8 Wins | 1 Win | CSK dominance in Chennai (RCB win in 2008) |
| Record at Chinnaswamy (RCB Home) | 5 Wins | 5 Wins | Evenly split in Bengaluru |
All-Time Individual Player Statistics
Top Batting Leaders
- Most Runs (Overall): Virat Kohli (RCB) – 1,000+ runs against CSK (the leading run-scorer in this fixture).
- Most Runs for CSK vs RCB: MS Dhoni – 765+ runs.
- Highest Individual Scores:
- Shivam Dube (CSK) & Murali Vijay (CSK): 95 runs.
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 90* off 52 balls.
- Most Sixes in Fixture: MS Dhoni (44 sixes) & Virat Kohli (42 sixes).
Top Bowling Leaders
- Most Wickets: Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) – 18 wickets.
- Most Wickets for RCB: R. Vinay Kumar – 15 wickets.
- Best Bowling Figures:
- Ashish Nehra (CSK): 4/10 (IPL 2015)
- Zaheer Khan (RCB): 4/17 (IPL 2013)
Timeline of Epic Clashes & Iconic Moments
IPL 2011 Final: CSK Defends Title in Style
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Result: CSK won by 58 runs
- The Story: Murali Vijay scored a blistering 95 off 52 balls to propel CSK to a colossal total of 205/5. Ravichandran Ashwin then opened the bowling and took 3/16, dismissing Chris Gayle for a duck, ensuring CSK bagged their second consecutive IPL title.
The Albie Morkel 28-Run Over Heist (IPL 2012)
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Result: CSK won by 5 wickets
- The Story: RCB appeared to have the game locked up, leaving CSK needing 43 runs off 12 balls. RCB captain Daniel Vettori handed the 19th over to Virat Kohli. Albie Morkel launched an unprecedented assault, smashing 28 runs (4, 6, 4, 6, 2, 6) in 6 balls. CSK snatched victory off the final ball of the match.
The 1-Run Heartstopper (IPL 2019)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Result: RCB won by 1 run
- The Story: Chasing 162, CSK was reduced to 28/4 before MS Dhoni played an astonishing knock of 84 off 48 balls*. With 26 needed off the last over bowled by Umesh Yadav, Dhoni hit 4, 6, 6, 2, 4. Requiring 2 off the last ball, Dhoni missed a slower ball, and Parthiv Patel executed a direct hit to run out Shardul Thakur, sealing a 1-run win for RCB.
The May 18 Shootout for Playoff Qualification (IPL 2024)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Result: RCB won by 27 runs (and qualified for Playoffs)
- The Story: In a virtual knockout, RCB needed to beat CSK by at least 18 runs to overhaul CSK’s Net Run Rate. RCB set a target of 219. CSK needed 201 to qualify. Going into the final over bowled by Yash Dayal, CSK needed 17 runs. MS Dhoni smashed a massive 110m six off the first ball, but Dayal responded with a slower ball to dismiss Dhoni and defended the remaining runs in a dramatic finish.
The High-Scoring Fireworks (IPL 2026)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Result: RCB won by 43 runs
- The Story: RCB blazed past all previous rivalry totals by scoring 250/3, driven by Tim David’s explosive 70 off 25 balls and Rajat Patidar’s 48 off 19. Despite Sarfaraz Khan’s 50 for CSK, RCB’s bowling attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled out CSK for 207.
Rivalry Timeline & Epic Clashes
The Battle of Bengaluru (April 5, 2026)
RCB posted an absolute mammoth total of 250/3, marked as their highest-ever score against the Yellow Army. Tim David brutally hammered 70 runs off just 25 balls alongside Rajat Patidar’s explosive 48 to comfortably dismantle CSK by 43 runs.
Breaking the Chepauk Curse (March 2025)
RCB spectacularly ended an agonising 17-year winless drought against CSK at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Defending a total of 197, RCB’s bowling unit restricted CSK to 146/8 to seal a comprehensive 50-run triumph.
The Ultimate Playoff Decider (May 2024)
In a winner-takes-all league finale at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB needed to win by at least 18 runs to pip CSK to playoff qualification. Yash Dayal famously defended 17 runs in the final over against MS Dhoni to seal a 27-run victory, knocking CSK out.
The 1-Run Heartstopper (April 2019)
Chasing 162, CSK collapsed completely before MS Dhoni counter-attacked with an unreal 84 off 42 balls*. Needing 26 off the final over, Dhoni struck 4, 6, 6, 2, 6. Needing 2 off the last ball, he missed a slower delivery, and Parthiv Patel executed a brilliant run-out to give RCB a historic 1-run win.
Albie Morkel’s 28-Run Carnage (April 2012)
RCB seemed completely out of reach after setting a massive target of 206. With CSK requiring an improbable 43 runs off the final 12 balls, Albie Morkel famously launched into a young Virat Kohli’s 19th over, smashing 28 runs in a single over to pull off an impossible victory.
Ball-by-Ball Timeline: The 2019 1-Run Heartstopper (Final Over)
Bowler: Umesh Yadav (RCB) | Batsman: MS Dhoni (CSK) | Equation: CSK needed 26 runs from 6 balls
| Ball | Outcome | Runs | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | FOUR | 4 | Umesh bowls a missed yorker; Dhoni sits deep and smashes it past extra cover. |
| 19.2 | SIX | 6 | A massive 111-metre hit that clears the stadium roof over deep mid-wicket. |
| 19.3 | SIX | 6 | Dhoni slices a low full-toss safely over the backward point boundary. |
| 19.4 | TWO | 2 | A heavy hit down to deep mid-wicket; Dhoni pushes hard for a quick second run. |
| 19.5 | SIX | 6 | Umesh misses his length again, and Dhoni pumps it over deep square leg. |
| 19.6 | WICKET (Run Out) | 0 | A slower ball beats the bat; Shardul Thakur runs but Parthiv Patel hits the stumps. |
Key Player Statistics (From that 2019 Thriller)
| Player | Team | Role | Match Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | CSK | Batsman | 84 runs off 42 balls* (5 fours, 7 sixes) |
| Parthiv Patel | RCB | Batsman/WK | 53 runs off 37 balls & the match-winning run-out |
| Dale Steyn | RCB | Bowler | 2 wickets for 29 runs (4 overs) |
| Deepak Chahar | CSK | Bowler | 2 wickets for 25 runs (4 overs) |
FAQs: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline
1. When did the RCB vs CSK rivalry begin? It started in the inaugural 2008 IPL season and quickly became one of the league’s most followed matchups due to contrasting team styles and star power.
2. Which team has the better head-to-head record? Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge overall, especially in crucial playoff encounters, though RCB has produced several memorable wins.
3. What is the highest score in RCB vs CSK matches? Both teams have posted 200+ totals in recent seasons, with several high-scoring thrillers defining the modern era of this rivalry.
4. Who are the standout players in this rivalry? Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis for RCB; MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, and Ravindra Jadeja for CSK have delivered iconic performances.
5. Why is RCB vs CSK so special for fans? It combines star power, emotional investment, dramatic finishes, and consistent competitiveness, making it a marquee IPL fixture every season.