When Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Chennai Super Kings, the IPL produces its most passionate contest. Two southern giants, two of the biggest fanbases in world cricket, and a rivalry that has delivered 35 matches of pure drama since 2008.
CSK currently lead the head to head with 21 wins against RCB’s 13, but the defending champions have shifted the momentum recently. RCB won three of the last five meetings, including a historic 50 run victory at Chepauk in 2025 that broke a 17 year losing streak at CSK’s fortress.
Virat Kohli leads all run scorers in this rivalry with 1,067 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja tops the wickets chart with 18. With RCB’s maiden IPL title in 2025 and CSK’s five trophies, this fixture now carries even more weight every time these teams meet.
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Overall Record
CSK have dominated this rivalry across 35 IPL matches. However, RCB’s recent form suggests the gap is closing fast.
| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 21 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Total Matches | 35 |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Format-wise Breakdown
Both teams have met twice in IPL playoffs alongside 33 league stage encounters. The rivalry splits evenly in knockout cricket with one win each.
| Category | Matches | CSK Wins | RCB Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL League Stage | 33 | 20 | 12 | 1 |
| IPL Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Overall Total | 35 | 21 | 13 | 1 |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Venue-wise Records
Here are the venue-wise records of both teams.
At MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chepauk has been CSK’s fortress in this rivalry. They have won 8 out of 10 matches here. However, RCB finally broke a 17 year losing streak at this venue in March 2025, beating CSK by 50 runs in a historic result.
| Date | Season | Winner | Margin | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2025 | IPL 2025 | RCB | 50 runs | Broke 17 year Chepauk jinx |
| April 17, 2024 | IPL 2024 | CSK | 6 wickets | Comfortable home win |
| April 12, 2023 | IPL 2023 | CSK | 8 runs | Last over thriller |
| April 25, 2018 | IPL 2018 | CSK | 5 wickets | Dhoni 70* match winner |
At M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Chinnaswamy tells a completely different story. RCB lead 6 to 5 at their home ground, making it the only venue where they hold an edge over CSK. Short boundaries and heavy dew produce high scoring classics every time these teams meet here.
| Date | Season | Winner | Margin | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2025 | IPL 2025 | RCB | 2 runs | Dayal’s last over heroics |
| May 18, 2024 | IPL 2024 | RCB | 27 runs | Playoff qualification decider |
| April 17, 2022 | IPL 2022 | CSK | 23 runs | Rare CSK away win |
| September 24, 2021 | IPL 2021 | CSK | 6 wickets | Jadeja masterclass |
At Neutral Venues
CSK dominate on neutral ground with 9 wins from 14 matches. Consequently, RCB have managed just 5 victories away from both home venues. The 2011 IPL final at Chepauk saw CSK beat RCB by 58 runs to defend their title in the most high profile meeting between these two sides.
| Venue Type | Matches | CSK Wins | RCB Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai (Chepauk) | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Bengaluru (Chinnaswamy) | 12 | 5 | 6 |
| Neutral Venues | 14 | 9 | 5 |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Season by Season Results (2020 to 2025)
Recent seasons show a shift in momentum. RCB have won 5 out of the last 10 meetings, including a clean sweep of both fixtures in 2025.
| Year | Match 1 Result | Match 2 Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | RCB won by 50 runs (Chennai) | RCB won by 2 runs (Bengaluru) |
| 2024 | CSK won by 6 wickets (Chennai) | RCB won by 27 runs (Bengaluru) |
| 2023 | CSK won by 8 runs (Chennai) | — |
| 2022 | CSK won by 23 runs (Pune) | RCB won by 13 runs (Bengaluru) |
| 2021 | CSK won by 69 runs (Sharjah) | CSK won by 6 wickets (Dubai) |
| 2020 | RCB won by 37 runs (Dubai) | CSK won by 8 wickets (Dubai) |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Biggest Wins in the Rivalry
These are the most dominant victories in the 35 match history between these two southern giants.
| Team | Margin | Year | Venue | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 92 runs | 2009 | Johannesburg | CSK’s biggest ever win in this rivalry |
| CSK | 69 runs | 2021 | Sharjah | Complete domination in UAE leg |
| CSK | 58 runs | 2011 | Chennai (Final) | Title defence against RCB |
| RCB | 50 runs | 2025 | Chennai | Broke 17 year Chepauk losing streak |
| RCB | 37 runs | 2020 | Dubai | Kohli masterclass in UAE bubble |
| RCB | 36 runs | 2010 | Bengaluru | Early era home domination |
RCB vs CSK Head-to-Head: Highest and Lowest Scores
Extreme scores define this rivalry. Both teams have posted 200-plus totals and collapsed below 100 against each other.
| Record | Team | Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Score (CSK) | CSK | 226 | Against RCB |
| Highest Score (RCB) | RCB | 218 | Against CSK |
| Lowest Score (RCB) | RCB | 70 | Against CSK (Chepauk, 2019) |
| Lowest Score (CSK) | CSK | 82 | Against RCB |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Top Run Scorers
Virat Kohli has scored over 1,000 runs in this rivalry alone, more than any other player. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni’s 807 runs include several match winning finishes that have defined CSK’s dominance.
| # | Player | Team | Runs | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 1,067 | Most runs in this rivalry |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | CSK | 807 | Multiple match winning finishes |
| 3 | Suresh Raina | CSK | 710 | CSK’s Mr Consistent |
| 4 | Faf du Plessis | RCB/CSK | 519 | Played for both sides |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Top Wicket Takers
Ravindra Jadeja’s 18 wickets lead the bowling charts in this rivalry. Interestingly, CSK bowlers dominate the top three positions, reflecting their overall superiority across 35 matches.
| # | Player | Team | Wickets | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravindra Jadeja | CSK (now RR) | 18 | Most wickets in this rivalry |
| 2 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 17 | Death overs specialist |
| 3 | Albie Morkel | CSK | 15 | Early era dominance |
| 4 | Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB (now PBKS) | 14 | RCB’s top wicket taker |
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Key Takeaways
Here is a quick summary of where each team stands across all formats and venues in this rivalry.
| Category | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 35 Matches | CSK leads 21 to 13 |
| Last 5 Matches | Since 2023 | RCB leads 3 to 2 |
| At Chennai | 10 Matches | CSK leads 8 to 2 |
| At Bengaluru | 12 Matches | RCB leads 6 to 5 |
| Neutral Venues | 14 Matches | CSK leads 9 to 5 |
| IPL Titles | Trophy Count | CSK 5, RCB 1 |
| Top Scorer | Virat Kohli (RCB) | 1,067 runs |
| Top Wicket Taker | Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) | 18 wickets |
RCB vs CSK in IPL 2026
RCB and CSK will meet on April 5 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This will be their first clash of IPL 2026. Notably, Jadeja now plays for Rajasthan Royals after the trade, meaning CSK lose their top wicket taker in this rivalry. Additionally, RCB are the defending champions and will carry confidence from their 2025 clean sweep against CSK.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | RCB vs CSK, IPL 2026 |
| Date | April 5, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Venue | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| RCB Captain | Rajat Patidar |
| CSK Captain | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
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Conclusion: CSK Lead but RCB Are Closing the Gap Fast
CSK hold the upper hand in this rivalry with 21 wins from 35 matches. Their dominance at Chepauk with 8 wins from 10 games shows why they are so tough to beat at home.
However, RCB’s recent form tells a different story. The defending champions won three of the last five meetings, including that historic 50 run victory at Chepauk that broke a 17 year losing streak.
RCB’s maiden IPL title in 2025 has changed the dynamics completely. Moreover, with Jadeja now at Rajasthan Royals and Sanju Samson joining CSK, the squads look very different heading into IPL 2026. This southern rivalry keeps getting better every single season.
