Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings One of the fiercest rivalries in IPL history These teams have provided numerous high-scoring games, thrilling moments and nailbiter finishes over time. Neither side has been able to establish a sustained period of dominance over the other and yet their head-to-head record is remarkably close. From frisky IPL seasons of yore to the dramatic finale in 2025, this rivalry has gained steam season after season. For the complete stats, timeline (Matches played between RCB and PBKS), Standings, Players, Best Performances RCB vs PBKS.
PBKS vs RCB Head to Head Records
- Total Matches Played: 37
- RCB Wins: 19
- PBKS Wins: 18
- No Result/Tie: 0
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Timeline
The timeline of this rivalry shows a fascinating shift in dominance:
- 2008–2012: PBKS (then Kings XI Punjab) dominated early encounters.
- 2013–2016: RCB started improving with star players leading the charge.
- 2017–2020: Both teams traded wins evenly with no clear leader.
- 2021–2024: PBKS briefly took the lead in head-to-head record.
- 2025 Season: RCB made a strong comeback and even defeated PBKS in crucial matches, including the IPL final.
- 2026 Season: Both teams remain strong contenders, continuing their competitive rivalry.
This timeline highlights how momentum has shifted multiple times, keeping fans engaged.
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Standings
As of IPL 2026, both teams are performing strongly:
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
| Punjab Kings | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 1.333 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 1.919 |
Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Players 2026
RCB Players 2026
| Player Name | Role |
| Virat Kohli | Batter |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| Rajat Patidar (C) | Batter |
| Jitesh Sharma (WK) | WK-Batter |
| Tim David | Batter |
| Romario Shepherd | Bowling Allrounder |
| Krunal Pandya | Batting Allrounder |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| Josh Hazlewood | Bowler |
| Suyash Sharma | Bowler |
| Rasikh Salam Dar | Bowler |
| Jacob Bethell | Batting Allrounder |
| Jordan Cox | WK-Batter |
| Mangesh Yadav | Bowling Allrounder |
| Vicky Ostwal | Bowler |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Batting Allrounder |
| Philip Salt | WK-Batter |
| Jacob Duffy | Bowler |
| Nuwan Thushara | Bowler |
| Abhinandan Singh | Bowler |
DC Players 2026
| Player Name | Role |
| Prabhsimran Singh (WK) | WK-Batter |
| Cooper Connolly | Batting Allrounder |
| Shreyas Iyer (C) | Batter |
| Nehal Wadhera | Batter |
| Shashank Singh | Batting Allrounder |
| Marcus Stoinis | Batting Allrounder |
| Marco Jansen | Bowling Allrounder |
| Xavier Bartlett | Bowler |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | Bowler |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Bowler |
| Priyansh Arya | Batter |
| Harpreet Brar | Bowling Allrounder |
| Praveen Dubey | Bowler |
| Vishnu Vinod | WK-Batter |
| Suryansh Shedge | Batting Allrounder |
| Yash Thakur | Bowler |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Bowling Allrounder |
| Ben Dwarshuis | Bowling Allrounder |
| Lockie Ferguson | Bowler |
| Mitchell Owen | Batting Allrounder |
| Harnoor Singh | Batter |
| Musheer Khan | Batting Allrounder |
| Pyla Avinash | Batter |
| Vishal Nishad | Bowler |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings: Last 10 Matches Summary
Here is a match-by-match list of the last 10 encounters between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings:
- IPL 2025 Final – RCB beat PBKS by 6 runs
- IPL 2025 (League Match) – RCB beat PBKS by 4 wickets
- IPL 2024 – PBKS beat RCB by 5 wickets
- IPL 2024 – RCB beat PBKS by 60 runs
- IPL 2023 – PBKS beat RCB by 5 wickets
- IPL 2023 – RCB beat PBKS by 24 runs
- IPL 2022 – PBKS beat RCB by 5 wickets
- IPL 2022 – RCB beat PBKS by 54 runs
- IPL 2021 – PBKS beat RCB by 34 runs
- IPL 2021 – RCB beat PBKS by 6 runs
Summary:
- RCB Wins: 5
- PBKS Wins: 5
Who Has the Better Record: Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Punjab Kings?
In terms of numbers, RCB have a slight edge with 19 wins over PBKS’s 18.
But, the difference is negligible and both sides have had their time in the sun over the years. RCB has taken the lead in this rivalry only now after PBKS was ahead of this contest for a number of years.
In general, this rivalry has become very tit-for-tat which translates to one of the most balanced IPL contests.
Memorable Matches Between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings
Some iconic clashes include:
- IPL 2025 Final: RCB defeated PBKS to win their maiden IPL title.
- 2022 Match: PBKS scored 209 and defeated RCB convincingly.
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Top Performers in Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Clashes
Batting Stars
- Virat Kohli
- Chris Gayle
- KL Rahul
Bowling Stars
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Mohammed Siraj
- Arshdeep Singh
Conclusion
RCB vs PBKS rivalry is a highly nick-and-neck battle in IPL history. These are two sides who boast an excellent record against one another with the head-to-head record easily distinguishing both of them with literally just 1 match separating the two teams over a mammoth period of time. While Punjab started early on in the tournament with an upper hand, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) caught up to them recently leaving us with some fierce competition. The IPL 2026 too has strong squads, with both teams perched at the top of table points and fans now have more thrilling encounters to look forward to.
FAQs
1. What is the head-to-head record between RCB and PBKS?
RCB lead with 19 wins, while PBKS have 18 wins in 37 matches.
2. Who won the IPL 2025 final between RCB and PBKS?
RCB won the IPL 2025 final, securing their first title.
3. Which team is better, RCB or PBKS?
Both teams are almost equal statistically, making it a very balanced rivalry.
4. Who are the top players in RCB vs PBKS matches?
Players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Chris Gayle have been standout performers.
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