We have seen some thrilling contests between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. Last-over finishes to records being smashed, the RCB vs RR rivalry has disappointed no one over the course of seasons.
Both teams are the original IPL teams who started their journey in 2008. RCB vs RR matches in IPL history have rightly seen star players like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jos Buttler over the years.
The two sides have been up against each other 35-plus times in IPL history, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru leading the overall wins.
RCB vs RR Head-to-Head Record
Before looking at the timeline, here is the overall head-to-head summary:
| Stats | RCB | RR |
| Matches Played | 35+ | 35+ |
| Wins | 17 | 15 |
| No Result | 3 | 3 |
| Highest Score | 205 | 217 |
| Lowest Score | 70 | 58 |
The rivalry has remained closely balanced for many years.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline
2008 – The Start Of A Rivalry
The RCB vs RR rivalry was born in the first-ever IPL season. The team which was under Shane Warne won the tournament and subsequently the IPL trophy, making Rajasthan Royals the dominating team of this edition.
Rajasthan Royals beat RCB by 70 runs to bowl the team out for just 70 runs – one of the most unforgettable moments RR came on and chased down easily to proclaim themselves as one of the best franchises in IPL history.
But then in the same season, RCB hit back winning another match by a whopping margin of 75 runs.
2009 – Competitive Matches Continue
The rivalry levelled out in IPL 2009. Neither side gave an inch and in all the matches they contested against each other, produced exciting, high-scoring, edge-of-the-seat affairs.
Fast forward to 2018, where RCB was much improved with Anil Kumble at the helm and reached that season’s IPL final. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, continued their reliance on proven international stars and emerging local prospects.
2010 till 2013 – Emergence Of The Big Stars
Explosive batting made the rivalry huge between 2010-2013.
RCB brought in the aggressive approach to batting, led by Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli. Rajasthan Royals relied on stars like Rahul Dravid, Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane.
During this period many of the matches went down to the final overs, making this rivalry arguably become one of the better rivalries in IPL
2014 – Rajasthan Royals Dominate
Rajasthan Royals had an upper hand over RCB in IPL year 2014.
In the run-fest, RR chased down the high total with ease to make it four defeats in a row for Bengaluru. The Royals’ sound bowling and disciplined performances began to lift them in the rivalry.
The season also showed that finishing and death-over specialists have become more important than ever in T20 cricket
2015 – AB de Villiers Magic
One of the top RCB vs RR games came during IPL 2015.
AB de Villiers’ masterclass secured a win for RCB, beating Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biter.
RCB’s batting order of the season was among the most sought-after patch in world cricket with Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers all playing together that season.
The phase saw a number of sixes and match-winning partnerships, something that often is still fresh in the memories of fans.
2018 – Rajasthan Royals Return
Rajasthan Royals, whose two-year suspension from the IPL ended in 2018, resumed their long-running spat with RCB as soon as they returned.
In one of the matches, RR also scored over 200 runs and posted a narrow victory of just 19 runs against Bengaluru. It was a classic fast batting of the Royals, led by Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler.
Despite the emergence of a few notable batting performances from both Kohli and AB de Villiers, RCB continued to find themselves outplayed in matches by bowling inconsistencies during this time frame.
2020 – IPL in UAE
The global situation forced IPL to move to UAE in 2020 but the intense rivalry remained.
This wicket for RCB comes after some great performances from Virat Kohli and Muttiah Muralitharan, who helped their side to a very important victory against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2013. Rajasthan Royals too had posted numerous wins that term courtesy Jos Buttler and Steve Smith run fests.
Neutral venues brought unpredictability in the conditions which made every game a lot of fun.
2022 – RCB Demolition of Eliminator
The rivalry experienced one of its biggest moments during the IPL 2022 Eliminator match.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru blasted Rajasthan Royals out of contention 71 runs Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 180 runs while Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for just 109.
Accompanying him were wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik and the RCB bowling attack, who collectively produced a stunning display. It also took Bengaluru a step further in the playoffs, becoming perhaps their greatest ever knockout display.
2023 – Rajasthan Royals Return
Rajasthan Royals bounced back in IPL 2023 against RCB.
A two-wicket win over Bengaluru in one of the league stage matches saw RR through to a final-four berth. Their top-order batting appeared strong and the bowler’s execution when chasing was controlled.
Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal made significant contributions during this time.
Otherwise you had to put your money on Virat Kohli, RCB’s one-woman army till a certain point of the match.
2024 – High-Scoring Battles
It has been RCB vs RR in some mind-blowing high scoring matches with so many boundaries in the 2024 IPL season.
Both teams emphasized brute-force batting and powerplay runs. Star batters battled it out against experienced bowlers, leading to entertaining contests.
This rivalry was likewise blown up on social media, when fans of each team railed for their franchises.
2025 – RCB continue their sizzling form
Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in Jaipur – IPL 2025
RR posted 173/4, a total RCB breezed past with explosive batting. Phil Salt scored a match-winning innings and was awarded Player of the Match.
Meanwhile, RCB continued its good recent form against the Rajasthan Royals with a seven-wicket victory over RR in another 2025 clash.
IPL 2026 – Latest Updates
IPL 2026: The bitter rivalry continues as both teams are under the radar for playoffs
A few latest reports suggest that RCB have continued their brilliant form this season and rightfully became one of the best placed teams jointly at the top of the tournament table.
Rajasthan Royals maintain their formidable form as they boast promising young talents alongside seasoned international stars.
Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore The clash between RR and RCB in IPL 2026 was one of the most awaited fixtures but this was because both the teams have attacking batsmen and a team aiming to play off.
Best players in the history of RCB vs RR matches
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been the ambassador of RCB for years and played many match-winning innings against Rajasthan Royals.
His net batting, aggressive batting and leadership has made him one of the most successful players in this rivalry.
AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers played some iconic innings against RR.
His capability to hit sixes all over the ground made him a nightmare for the Rajasthan bowlers.
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler has proved to be one of the most impactful match-winners for Rajasthan Royals in over seasons.
RCB bowlers have often found him a tricky position to deal with due to his aggressive batting style.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal served both sides during his IPL career and interestingly also played for both franchises.
Wankhede also starred in many RCB vs RR encounters with his ability to take wickets.
Why The RCB Vs RR Rivalry Is Such A Special One
Reasons why this rivalry is loved by cricket fans – March 22,2023
- Close head-to-head record
- High-scoring matches
- Presence of superstar players
- Last-over thrillers
- Passionate fan bases
- Memorable IPL moments
Not all rivalries have been as competitive for a good number of years such as RCB vs RR.
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Conclusion
A look back at the timeline of Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals tells you how riveting IPL cricket has evolved over the years.
From the early domination of Rajasthan Royals to RCB’s modern batting strength, this rivalry has provided unmatched entertainment for cricket fans globally.
As more and more young players join both the teams every season, this IPL rivalry it seems is only going to get better with age. Whenever RCB and RR meet in the IPL, expect more thrilling finishes, record breaking performances or unforgettable moments.
