Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke their 18-year title drought by defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the IPL 2025 Final on June 3, 2025, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
RCB defended 190/9 successfully, restricting PBKS to 184/7 in a nerve-wracking finish where Josh Hazlewood conceded 22 runs in the final over but held his nerve to seal RCB’s maiden IPL trophy.
Virat Kohli top-scored with 43 off 35 balls, while Shashank Singh’s valiant 61 off 30 balls nearly pulled off an impossible chase.
Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry stands perfectly balanced at 18-18 after 36 encounters since 2008.
RCB’s victory in the IPL 2025 Final leveled the all-time record, making this one of the most evenly matched rivalries in IPL history.
PBKS held a 17-15 advantage before IPL 2025, but RCB won both league-stage matches and the final to take the series.
| Category | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Punjab Kings |
| Matches Won | 18 | 18 |
| Highest Score | 241/7 (2024) | 232/2 (2011) |
| Lowest Score | 84 (2011) | 88 (2015) |
| Biggest Victory Margin | 138 runs (2015) | 111 runs (2011) |
| Win Rate | 50% | 50% |
Latest Match: IPL 2025 Final (June 3, 2025)
Match Summary
RCB batted first and posted 190/9 in 20 overs at Narendra Modi Stadium. Virat Kohli scored 43 off 35 balls, while skipper Rajat Patidar contributed 26 off 16 balls before Arshdeep Singh claimed 4 wickets.
PBKS needed 191 to win their maiden title but fell 6 runs short despite Shashank Singh’s heroic 61 off 30 balls in the death overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings – 190/9 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Phil Salt | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Virat Kohli | 43 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 122.86 |
| Rajat Patidar (c) | 26 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 162.50 |
| Liam Livingstone | 28 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 155.56 |
| Josh Inglis | 39 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 156.00 |
| Krunal Pandya | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 171.43 |
| Romario Shepherd | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Total | 190/9 | 120 | – | – | 9.50 |
- Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 4/42, Harshal Patel 2/35, Sam Curran 2/38
RCB started positively but lost Phil Salt in the first over for 11. Kohli and Patidar rebuilt with a 50-run partnership before both departed in quick succession.
Josh Inglis anchored the middle order with 39 off 25 balls, while Liam Livingstone’s 28 provided crucial momentum. Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant spell of 4/42 restricted RCB to a below-par total.
Punjab Kings Innings – 184/7 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Prabhsimran Singh | 14 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Atharva Taide | 18 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 163.64 |
| Liam Livingstone | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 115.79 |
| Shashank Singh | 61 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 203.33 |
| Marcus Stoinis | 34 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 121.43 |
| Sam Curran | 14 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Total | 184/7 | 120 | – | – | 9.20 |
- Bowling: Josh Hazlewood 1/54, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/38, Krunal Pandya 2/17, Romario Shepherd 1 wicket
PBKS lost skipper Shreyas Iyer for just 1 in the first over, putting them on the back foot immediately. At 111/4 after 14.2 overs, PBKS looked down and out.
Shashank Singh launched a stunning counter-attack, smashing 61 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 6 sixes.
Marcus Stoinis provided valuable support with 34 off 28 balls.
The pair added 73 runs but PBKS needed 7 runs off the final ball, which proved beyond reach as RCB celebrated their first-ever IPL title.
League Match: April 18, 2025 (IPL 2025, Match 34)
RCB demolished PBKS by 97 runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB posted 198/6 before bowling out PBKS for just 101 in 16 overs.
Virat Kohli scored 59 off 42 balls, while Yash Dayal claimed 4/25 to dismantle PBKS’s batting lineup. This crushing victory kept RCB’s playoff hopes alive.
Recent Match: March 25, 2024 (IPL 2024, Match 6)
RCB secured a thrilling 4-wicket victory over PBKS at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 25, 2024, chasing down 177 with 4 balls to spare.
Virat Kohli anchored the chase with an elegant 77 off 49 balls, while Dinesh Karthik provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 28 off just 10 balls to seal the win.
Punjab Kings Innings – 176/6 (20 overs)
PBKS posted 176/6 with contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Prabhsimran Singh (34). Harpreet Brar provided late impetus, but RCB’s bowlers kept things tight in the death overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings – 178/6 (19.2 overs)
Kohli’s 77 off 49 balls featured 11 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 157.14. RCB needed 24 off 12 balls when Karthik walked in.
The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes in his blistering 28* off 10 balls, finishing the match with consecutive boundaries off Sam Curran to give RCB their first win of IPL 2024.
Historical Memorable Matches
May 9, 2024: Kohli’s 92 Powers RCB at Dharamsala
Virat Kohli smashed a breathtaking 92 off 47 balls at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, powering RCB to 241/7 before bowling out PBKS for 181 in 17 overs.
Kohli’s knock included explosive hitting and a spectacular direct-hit run-out of Shashank Singh that turned the match. Rajat Patidar blasted 55 off 23 balls, while Cameron Green contributed 46 off 27 balls in a comprehensive 60-run victory.
RCB reached 241/7, their highest total against PBKS. Kohli became the first batsman in IPL history to score 1000 runs against three different opponents (PBKS, CSK, and DC). Rilee Rossouw fought back with 61 for PBKS, but the target proved too steep.
RCB’s spinners Karn Sharma (2/36) and Swapnil Singh (2/28) strangled the middle order, while Mohammed Siraj claimed 3/43.
May 6, 2015: Gayle’s 117 Demolishes PBKS
Chris Gayle produced one of the most destructive innings in IPL history, smashing 117 off 57 balls with 12 sixes and 7 fours at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
RCB posted 226/3, with AB de Villiers contributing an unbeaten 47 off 24 balls. PBKS crumbled under the massive target, getting bowled out for just 88 in 13.4 overs.
Gayle reached his century in just 46 balls, the fastest hundred of IPL 2015. The opening partnership of 119 between Gayle and Kohli (32) set the platform.
Mitchell Starc (4/15) and Sreenath Aravind (4/27) shared 8 wickets to complete RCB’s biggest victory by runs (138 runs) in this rivalry.
May 17, 2011: PBKS’s 111-Run Thrashing
PBKS recorded their biggest victory margin against RCB with a 111-run win at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. Adam Gilchrist hammered a scintillating century, propelling PBKS to 232/2, their highest total in this fixture.
RCB collapsed to 121 all out, with Piyush Chawla and Ryan Harris sharing 7 wickets between them.
May 9, 2016: AB’s 64 Seals 1-Run Thriller
RCB won one of the closest matches in this rivalry, defending 175/6 by just 1 run at Mohali. AB de Villiers smashed 64 off 35 balls after Kohli’s rare failure (20 runs).
Murali Vijay nearly pulled off the chase with 89 off 57 balls, but fell in the final over as PBKS finished on 174/9, falling agonizingly short.
April 20, 2023: RCB’s 24-Run Victory at Mohali
RCB defended 174/6 successfully at Mohali, winning by 24 runs. Faf du Plessis anchored with 84 off 56 balls, while Glenn Maxwell provided late fireworks. PBKS could only manage 150/9 in their chase despite a fighting effort from the middle order.
Player Statistics and Records
Top Run-Scorers in RCB vs PBKS Matches
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 1,104 runs in 34 matches at average 35.61 with 6 fifties and 1 century
- Chris Gayle (RCB): 873 runs – Hit 49 sixes while playing for RCB vs PBKS
- AB de Villiers (RCB): 718 runs with consistent match-winning contributions
- KL Rahul (PBKS): 451 runs including highest score of 132*
- Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS): 380+ runs across multiple seasons
Highest Individual Scores
- Chris Gayle (RCB): 117 off 57 balls (2015) – Fastest century in 46 balls
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 113 – Kohli’s century in this fixture
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 92 off 47 balls (2024)
- KL Rahul (PBKS): 132* – PBKS’s highest individual score
- Adam Gilchrist (PBKS): 106 (2011)
Leading Wicket-Takers
- Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB): 25 wickets – Most wickets in this rivalry
- Sandeep Sharma (PBKS): 16 wickets
- Harshal Patel: 16 wickets playing for both teams
- Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): 4/42 best figures in IPL 2025 Final
- Mitchell Starc (RCB): 4/15 best RCB bowling figures (2015)
Most Sixes in This Fixture
- Chris Gayle: 62 total sixes (49 for RCB, 13 for PBKS) – Record holder
FAQs
Who has won more matches between RCB and Punjab Kings?
The head-to-head record is perfectly tied at 18-18 after 36 matches. RCB’s victory in the IPL 2025 Final leveled the all-time series, making this the most balanced rivalry in IPL history.
What is the highest score in RCB vs PBKS matches?
RCB’s 241/7 on May 9, 2024, at Dharamsala is the highest total. PBKS’s highest is 232/2 scored in 2011 when Adam Gilchrist’s century powered them to a 111-run victory.
Who scored the first century in this rivalry?
Adam Gilchrist scored 106 for PBKS in 2011 at Dharamsala. Chris Gayle followed with 117 in 2015, the highest individual score in this fixture, reaching his century in just 46 balls.
What was RCB’s biggest victory margin against PBKS?
RCB’s 138-run victory on May 6, 2015, remains their biggest margin. Chris Gayle’s 117 powered RCB to 226/3, and PBKS collapsed to 88 all out with Mitchell Starc and Sreenath Aravind sharing 8 wickets.
How many wickets does Virat Kohli have against Punjab Kings in IPL?
Virat Kohli has scored 1,104 runs against PBKS in 34 matches, becoming the first batsman to score 1000+ runs against three different IPL teams. His highest score is 113, and he has 6 fifties in this fixture.
Wrapping Up
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title came against Punjab Kings in a perfectly balanced rivalry now tied 18-18. Virat Kohli leads all scorers with 1,104 runs, while Chris Gayle’s 117 and 62 total sixes remain legendary.
The IPL 2025 Final’s 6-run thriller ended RCB’s 18-year wait, with both teams finally achieving what seemed impossible – RCB their first title, and this rivalry achieving perfect equilibrium.
