Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Stats: A Rivalry That’s Grit, Guts & High Voltage

You don’t need to be an IPL veteran to feel the charge when Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings meet. It’s not the oldest rivalry in the league, nor the most decorated. But it’s raw. Unpredictable. Two teams that have lived on the edge — chasing redemption, rewriting their playbooks, and offering up matches that are part masterclass, part chaos.

In a league that thrives on rivalries — Mumbai vs Chennai, Delhi vs Kolkata — this one’s carved its space. Not because of titles. But because every time these two meet, something bizarre, brilliant, or borderline unbelievable happens.

So let’s break down the story behind the stats. Because numbers tell a story — and this one’s worth telling.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings Stats — Overall Head-to-Head Record

On paper, the battle between RCB and PBKS is tighter than you’d expect. Unlike some matchups where one side dominates, this one’s more of a pendulum — swinging back and forth across seasons.

Here’s how the head-to-head shakes out:

Match Type	RCB Wins	PBKS Wins	No Result	Tied	Total Matches
IPL (All Seasons)	14	17	0	0	31
At M. Chinnaswamy	6	5	0	0	11
At Mohali (IS Bindra)	5	6	0	0	11
Neutral Venues	3	6	0	0	9

Key Takeaway:

Punjab Kings hold a slender lead overall. But the win margins have rarely been dominant. It’s not about streaks — it’s about timing. And occasionally, madness.

RCB vs PBKS — Best Individual Performances You Probably Forgot

Yes, the Kohli centuries and KL Rahul fireworks are well-documented. But go deeper into the RCB vs PBKS archives, and you’ll find underrated match-winners — guys who stepped up when no one saw it coming.

Take Mayank Agarwal’s 89 in 2020. Or Harshal Patel’s five-for on a flat deck. Or Gayle’s blistering 117* — and we’re still arguing which franchise owns that highlight.

Here’s a table of the Top 5 Performances in the rivalry (bat & ball):

Player	Team	Performance	Match	Year
Chris Gayle	RCB	117* off 57 balls	RCB vs PBKS	2015
KL Rahul	PBKS	132* off 69 balls	PBKS vs RCB	2020
Harshal Patel	RCB	5/27	RCB vs PBKS	2021
Glenn Maxwell	PBKS	43 (22) + 2 wickets	PBKS vs RCB	2014
AB de Villiers	RCB	82* (44)	RCB vs PBKS	2016

Highs, Lows & Crazy Stats That Don’t Make the Broadcast

What makes this rivalry compelling isn’t just the closeness of the win-loss column. It’s the absurd stats that hide behind those outcomes. Let’s walk through a few:

• Highest Team Total: PBKS posted 232/2 in 2011 — one of the highest ever in IPL history at the time.
  
• Lowest Team Total: RCB skittled for 84 chasing 140 in 2017. Classic RCB collapse season.
  
• Fastest Fifty in this rivalry: KL Rahul’s 18-ball carnage in 2018.
  
• Most Sixes in a Match: 26 total sixes in a 2022 game — bowling plans thrown out the window.
  

Also worth noting — several games have gone down to the wire, with last-over finishes happening in over 30% of their meetings. No other IPL rivalry can match that.

Beyond the Scoreboard: Why This Matchup Hits Different

The RCB-PBKS dynamic is emotional. For years, both franchises have had to carry the “unfulfilled potential” tag. Great players? Yes. Iconic jerseys? Of course. Trophies? Not yet. That shared weight creates a strange chemistry — a desperation to prove something every time they clash.

You’ll notice it in the way Kohli celebrates wickets against PBKS. Or how Shikhar Dhawan anchors chases with a chip on his shoulder. There’s no resting heart rate here — only fire.

It’s also a clash of philosophies:

• RCB is all-in, intensity, drama, over-reliance on stars.
  
• PBKS is flair, chaos, and occasional brilliance that either blows teams away or caves in on itself.
  

Stats Breakdown by Role — Who Dominates Where?

Let’s get nerdy. When we split stats by role, some clear patterns emerge.

Batting Performances (Cumulative):

Batsman	Team	Runs vs Opponent	Avg	Best
KL Rahul	PBKS	421	70.16	132*
Virat Kohli	RCB	371	33.7	77*
AB de Villiers	RCB	306	43.7	82*
Chris Gayle	Both	280	40.0	117*
Mayank Agarwal	PBKS	198	36.0	89

Bowling Performances (Cumulative):

Bowler	Team	Wickets vs Opponent	Best Figures
Harshal Patel	RCB	11	5/27
Mohammed Siraj	RCB	9	3/21
Arshdeep Singh	PBKS	8	3/32
Glenn Maxwell	PBKS	5	2/15
Kagiso Rabada	PBKS	4	2/21

What’s the story here? PBKS batters dominate the numbers, while RCB bowlers edge ahead in control games.

Key Turning Point Matches: The Ones That Flipped The Script

Never forget the defining moments of this rivalry:

2014 – Maxwell’s Madness: Glenn Maxwell’s 95 off 43 transforms the perception of PBKS for the rest of the season. This propelled them from “maybe contenders” to feared entities.

2020 – Rahul’s Domination: 132* during a pressure situation in the UAE proved that KL was, and could be, ice-cold on his own without support from the other end.

2022 – DK’s Redemption Game: Dinesh Karthik’s late heroics against PBKS revived India’s hopes. The match was far more significant than just a win. It was a bold statement.

What to Expect in the Next Encounter?

Two words: powerplay pressure. Both teams are vulnerable early, and whoever gets a stranglehold in the first six overs often dictates the game. RCB’s bowling has matured, but PBKS’s top order — especially if Jonny Bairstow fires — can be nuclear.

Keep an eye on:

• How PBKS handle spin in the middle overs (Hasaranga could be key)
  
• Whether Kohli bats with freedom or anchors under pressure
  
• Rabada vs Faf du Plessis — the mini battle that may decide momentum

Final Word: RCB vs PBKS Isn’t a Rivalry… It’s a Gut Check

It doesn’t have the pageantry of CSK vs MI. It doesn’t have the trophies. But it has something even purer — the fight. The edge. The messy brilliance of two teams trying to outgrow their pasts while putting on a show.

When RCB and PBKS collide, it’s not just points. It’s personas, pride, and pressure — all in 20 overs.

And whether you’re a stats nerd, a fan of flair, or someone who just wants to see something unpredictable, this rivalry always delivers.

Just don’t blink. You’ll miss something.