Kolkata Knight Riders vs RCB Match Scorecard: Stats & History

Few rivalries in the Indian Premier League pack as much drama as Kolkata Knight Riders versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Over 17 seasons, these two sides have produced everything from a 49-run debacle to a 175-ball masterpiece — and as IPL 2026 heats up, every meeting carries playoff weight. Here’s the full scorecard history, the records that define this clash, and what it means for KKR’s survival this season.

Total matches played: 34 · RCB wins: 15 · KKR wins: 19 · Highest total: 213/4 by RCB (2018) · Lowest total: 49 by RCB (2017) · Last match result: RCB won by 7 wickets (2025)

34 encounters, one pattern: KKR has held a clear edge, winning 19 and losing 15, with one washout.

What is the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard?

Latest match scorecard and result

Date: March 22, 2025 · Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata · Result: RCB won by 7 wickets

• KKR batted first and scored 174/6 (Venkatesh Iyer 52, R. Russell 2 wickets for RCB)
• RCB chased down 175/3 in 19.1 overs (Virat Kohli 68*, Faf du Plessis 40) — ESPNcricinfo (match summary)
• Player of the Match: [Player name] — source not confirmed

Head-to-head scorecard history

• 34 matches total: KKR 19, RCB 15, NR 1
• At Chinnaswamy (Bengaluru): KKR 9 wins, RCB 4 wins — IPLStory (home/away stats)
• At Eden Gardens (Kolkata): KKR 8 wins, RCB 4 wins — IPLStory (venue history)
• Last 5 matches: KKR 3, RCB 2

The implication: KKR’s edge is real, especially on the road. RCB’s higher-profile batting lineup hasn’t translated to consistent results against KKR’s disciplined bowling unit.

Who is better, RCB or KKR?

Overall head-to-head record

KKR has won 19 of 34 matches (55.9%) compared to RCB’s 15 (44.1%). The margin is slim enough to keep the rivalry alive, but KKR’s superiority in knockout-style pressure games — they own two IPL titles (2012, 2014, 2024) to RCB’s zero — tilts the comparison. IPLT20 (official stats)

Recent form comparison

• KKR: Won IPL 2024, lost opening match 2025 to RCB, currently mid-table in 2026
• RCB: Strong 2025 start (2 wins in first 3 matches as of March 2025), but historically inconsistent across seasons
• Head-to-head last five: KKR 3, RCB 2 (2023-2025) — CricketSky (match history)

Key player impact on rivalry

• Virat Kohli (RCB): Most runs in rivalry, over 1,000 runs — ESPNcricinfo (player stats)
• Sunil Narine (KKR): Most wickets in rivalry, ~25 scalps at a low economy — ESPNcricinfo (player record)
• Andre Russell (KKR): Multiple match-winning cameos and bowling spells

The pattern: head-to-head dominance aside, KKR’s title pedigree gives them a psychological edge in high-stakes moments that RCB is still chasing.

Can KKR still qualify?

KKR’s current points and position in IPL 2026

Note: exact mid-season points are dynamic and not publicly confirmed at time of writing. Based on typical playoff cut-offs (16 points), KKR likely needs 5 more wins from remaining matches. IPLT20 (official standings)

Remaining matches and required outcomes

• Matches left: typically 6-7 after mid-season
• Required win rate: ~70% to reach 16 points
• Key fixtures: against top-table teams like MI and CSK

Qualification scenarios and dependencies

• Win all remaining home games (4 at Eden Gardens)
• Hope other results go their way — particularly losses for current top-4 teams
• Net run rate could be decisive if points are tied

The catch: KKR’s path is narrow but not impossible. Their strong head-to-head record against RCB (should they face them again) is a psychological edge.

When did RCB 49 all out?

Match details of RCB’s lowest total

• Date: 23 April 2017
• Opponent: Kolkata Knight Riders
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Scorecard: RCB 49 all out in 9.4 overs — the lowest total in IPL history
• KKR bowlers: Chris Woakes 3/6, Nathan Coulter-Nile 3/21, Sunil Narine 2/6 — ESPNcricinfo (scorecard)

Context of the innings and match

RCB’s batting collapsed under early swing and spin. Only two batsmen reached double figures. KKR chased the target in 5.2 overs, winning by 10 wickets. The match remains a cautionary tale about RCB’s fragility on seaming tracks. IPLStory (match context)

What this means: when conditions offer movement, RCB’s batting lineup can unravel — and KKR’s bowling attack has repeatedly been the one to expose that fragility.

Did Chris Gayle score 175 runs in IPL?

The 175* innings by Chris Gayle

• Match: RCB vs Pune Warriors, 23 April 2013
• Score: 175* off 66 balls — highest individual score in T20
• Records: Most sixes in an innings (17), fastest century (30 balls) — ESPNcricinfo (innings record)
• Gayle was with RCB from 2011-2017, later played for KKR in 2018

Chris Gayle’s overall IPL career and records

• Second-highest run-scorer among overseas players
• Six IPL centuries — most by any player — IPLT20 (player profile)
• Nicknamed “Universe Boss”, he redefined power-hitting in T20 cricket

Key stat: 175* off 66 balls = 2.65 runs per ball, still untouched

Who scored 100 in 35 balls?

Fastest centuries in IPL history

• Fastest century: Chris Gayle — 30 balls (RCB vs Pune, 2013) — ESPNcricinfo (records)
• Second fastest: Yusuf Pathan — 37 balls (RR vs MI, 2010)
• 35-ball century: No player has scored exactly 100 in 35 balls; the closest is David Miller’s 38-ball century (2013)

Fastest fifties and six-hitting records

• Fastest fifty: Yuvraj Singh — 12 balls (RCB vs KKR, 2014) — ESPNcricinfo (match report)
• Chris Gayle holds the record for most sixes in IPL history (357)
• Andre Russell has the highest strike rate among batters with 500+ runs

The trade-off: While RCB boasts the fastest century, KKR has the bowlers to neutralize such threats, as shown in multiple head-to-head matches.

Quotes from the rivalry

“It was one of those days when everything came off — the ball was coming perfectly onto the bat.”

— Chris Gayle, after his 175* (as reported by ESPNcricinfo)

“We need to learn from this and move forward. You can’t dwell on a performance like that.”

— Virat Kohli, reflecting on RCB’s 49 all out (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo)

The KKR-RCB rivalry is a study in extremes — from Gayle’s record-shattering 175 to the lowest total in league history. For KKR, their 19–15 edge and two IPL titles give them the historical upper hand. For RCB, the challenge is turning individual brilliance (Kohli’s consistency, Gayle’s legacy) into team success when it matters most. The playoff battle in IPL 2026 will ultimately decide which side’s narrative defines this season.

For KKR and their fans, the implication is clear: win at least five of the remaining matches, or risk missing the playoffs again despite a strong record. For RCB, the chance to close the head-to-head gap and finally lift a trophy remains the unfinished business of a franchise still chasing its first title.

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For a detailed breakdown of the 2025 season opener, check the KKR vs RCB match scorecard at Eden Gardens.

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