RCB vs PBKS: Head-to-Head, Scorecards & IPL Results

Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold a one-win edge over Punjab Kings heading into IPL 2026—flipping a 18-15 deficit to 19-18 in a single season. The rivalry traces back to 2008 and has never produced a tie or no-result across 37 encounters, making every outcome decisive.

Recent Result: RCB won by 6 runs (03-Jun-2025) ·
Head-to-Head: RCB 19 – 18 PBKS (37 matches) ·
IPL 2025 Final: RCB 190/9 beat PBKS 184/7

The table below captures the headline numbers that define this rivalry across its entire IPL history.

Who is better, PBKS or RCB?

The honest answer changes depending on when you check. Across all 37 IPL encounters, RCB holds a one-win lead (19-18), but the margin has swung back and forth like few other rivalries in the tournament. According to IPLOnly cricket statistics platform, RCB vs PBKS is the closest head-to-head matchup among all original IPL franchises—something that makes this fixture stand out even among dozens of established rivalries.

All-time IPL stats

The rivalry traces back to 2008, and for most of its first decade, PBKS held the upper hand. Before IPL 2024, PBKS led 18-15. RCB’s three playoff victories in 2025—Qualifier 1, a league win, and the final—flipped that deficit for the first time in the franchise’s history. Virat Kohli has amassed 1,159 runs against PBKS, making him the most prolific scorer in this matchup. Yuzvendra Chahal leads all bowlers with 29 wickets in RCB-PBKS clashes.

What makes the rivalry unusual is consistency—both teams have had up-and-down seasons overall, yet they keep producing close results. The aggregate margin across 37 matches sits at just one win. No ties, no no-results—every encounter has produced a decisive outcome.

Head-to-head record

Looking at venue splits clarifies the picture. At M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB leads 7-6 across 13 matches. PBKS won the rain-shortened clash there in April 2025, one of their few bright spots that season. On neutral venues, PBKS historically holds the edge—but RCB changed that narrative by winning the 2025 Final in Ahmedabad, the first time either side won a decisive neutral fixture with a title on the line.

RCB vs PBKS scorecard

The most detailed scorecards available from the 2025 season center on the playoff matches. The final on June 3, 2025 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad gave RCB its first championship in franchise history—a 6-run win. According to the IPLT20 official match report, RCB posted 190/9, a total later assessed as 20-30 runs below par for the surface and chase conditions.

IPL 2025 final details

• RCB innings: 190/9 in 20 overs (Kohli 43, Patidar 26, Rajat Patidar 24)
• PBKS chase: 184/7 in 20 overs (Shashank Singh 61* off 30 balls)
• Margin: RCB won by 6 runs
• Key bowler: Krunal Pandya 2/17 for RCB
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 61 nearly pulled off a chase that looked out of reach at the halfway stage. RCB’s total of 190/9 drew questions immediately—IPLT20 official report reported the score sat 20-30 runs below what analysts considered competitive on that pitch.

IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

• Date: May 29, 2025
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
• PBKS innings: 101 all out
• RCB chase: 106/2 in 10 overs (8 wickets win)
• Player of the Match: Suyash Sharma 3/17

Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur turned into a RCB showcase. PBKS collapsed to 101 all out against spin and pace alike, then watched RCB cruise to 106 in just 10 overs. NDTV Sports documented scorecard Suyash Sharma’s Player of the Match performance, which broke the game open early.

Why are RCB vs PBKS delayed?

One of the more memorable moments from the 2025 season involved a rain delay during an RCB vs PBKS league fixture at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The match was shortened, and PBKS emerged with a 5-wicket win in a contest that tested both teams’ ability to reset quickly. While the match result went PBKS’ way, the delay generated significant fan discussion on social platforms.

Rain impact

The April 2025 rain-shortened match at Chinnaswamy Stadium became one of the more unusual encounters in the rivalry’s recent history. Reduced-overs matches typically favor aggressive batting lineups, and PBKS capitalised to chase down a revised target. The result marked one of PBKS’ few bright spots against RCB that season and kept their playoff hopes alive during the league phase.

Virat Kohli reaction

The delay generated substantial engagement online, with fans sharing photos of the wet outfield and speculating about revised targets. Players from both sides posted updates during the rain interval, a common occurrence in rain-hit IPL matches that keeps audience attention across time zones.

RCB vs PBKS highlights

The RCB-PBKS rivalry has produced several highlight-reel moments over the years, from record chases to individual gem performances. The 2025 season added several new entries, with the final and Qualifier 1 providing the most dramatic scenes. IPLT20 official highlights and IPLT20 Qualifier 1 highlights host official highlight packages for both encounters.

Key moments 2025

• IPL 2025 Final (June 3): Shashank Singh 61* nearly pulls off PBKS chase; RCB clinches maiden title by 6 runs
• Qualifier 1 (May 29): Suyash Sharma 3/17 triggers PBKS collapse to 101; RCB wins by 8 wickets in 10 overs
• League match 37 (April 20): RCB vs PBKS fixture highlights available via IPLT20 Match 37 highlights
• Rain-shortened June 2025: PBKS wins by 5 wickets in weather-affected Chinnaswamy fixture

2026 previews

Match 61 of IPL 2026 marks the next scheduled RCB vs PBKS clash. Both franchises enter the season with different stakes—RCB carrying title-winner confidence, PBKS looking to close a 19-18 head-to-head deficit that flipped in 2025. The official schedule and venue details for that fixture will be published on IPLT20 official site closer to the season dates.

What are RCB vs PBKS 2025 and 2026 results?

The 2025 chapter of this rivalry reads like a RCB dominance story after years of near-misses. Four encounters took place: PBKS won one in the league phase (rain-shortened), RCB won three including Qualifier 1 and the final. According to IPLOnly cricket data aggregator, RCB’s three playoff victories in a single season marked the first time one franchise swept all playoff encounters against this particular opponent in IPL history.

Match dates and winners

• June 2025: PBKS won by 5 wickets (rain-shortened, Chinnaswamy)
• April 20, 2025: Match 37 fixture highlights published
• May 29, 2025: RCB won by 8 wickets (Qualifier 1, Mullanpur)
• June 3, 2025: RCB won by 6 runs (Final, Ahmedabad)

Score summaries

The match-by-match breakdown below shows how RCB accumulated three of their four 2025 wins against PBKS.

Records for the two other league matches—one RCB win by 7 wickets and one by 8 wickets—remain less detailed in public scorecard archives. myKhel cricket portal confirms both results but without full ball-by-ball breakdowns available at time of writing.

Confirmed facts vs rumors

What people are saying

“In a game that was most fitting for a final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to keep their nerves to beat Punjab Kings by six runs.”

— IPLT20 Official (Official IPL Site)

“RCB’s three wins in the 2025 playoffs and Final flipped the script on a rivalry PBKS once controlled.”

— IPLOnly cricket stats platform

The official match report from IPLT20 official match report described the final as a nervy affair decided in the death overs. Shashank Singh’s 61* off 30 balls gave PBKS hope late, but Krunal Pandya’s 2/17 in the 17th and 19th overs halted the momentum when it mattered most. For IPLOnly cricket statistics platform, the statistical picture was equally stark—three playoff losses in one season undid a decade of careful rebuilding for PBKS.

Related reading: Pak vs WI Test Series Results

RCB’s razor-thin 19-18 lead over PBKS after the gripping 2025 IPL final underscores patterns detailed in the comprehensive RCB-PBKS rivalry breakdown, highlighting pivotal scorecards and highlights throughout their history.

Frequently asked questions

The RCB-PBKS rivalry enters IPL 2026 as one of the closest in tournament history. RCB carries the momentum of a maiden title and a one-win head-to-head lead. PBKS, with playoff experience from 2025, will look to close the gap at Match 61. For fans, the next encounter promises the same tight contests this fixture has delivered since 2008.