Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have met 37 times in IPL history since 2008, and CSK lead the all-time record 21-15 with one no-result. But strip out the 2010-2013 era and the picture flips completely: RCB have won five straight meetings, including a 43-run hammering at Chinnaswamy in April 2026 - and they went on to lift the trophy for the second year running. CSK didn't make the playoffs. The scoreline still reads in yellow, but this rivalry has moved on.
CSK
21
WinsVS
Total37
RCB
15
WinsCSK vs RCB Head-to-Head At a Glance
- Total matches: 37 (since IPL 2008)
- CSK wins: 21 · RCB wins: 15 · No result: 1
- RCB highest total vs CSK: 250 (April 5, 2026) · Lowest: 70
- CSK highest total vs RCB: 226 · Lowest: 82
- IPL Final meetings: 1 (2011 - CSK won by 58 runs)
- Last meeting: RCB won by 43 runs (April 5, 2026)
- Top run-scorer: Virat Kohli - 1,174+ runs
- Top wicket-taker: Ravindra Jadeja - 18 wickets
Head-to-head data sourced from ESPNcricinfo match records.
📊 What the H2H Record Actually Says
The 21-15 scoreline tells one story, but break it by era and another emerges entirely. Between IPL 2008 and 2019, CSK won 17 of 23 meetings - a 74% strike rate built on death-overs discipline, Dhoni's unmatched finishing, and the kind of playoff temperament that wins titles. From IPL 2020 onwards, RCB have flipped that completely: nine wins in the last 14 meetings, and now five straight. The swing wasn't about talent - both squads have always had match-winners. It's about momentum, squad depth, and the weight of a title. RCB's back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026 have reset what this rivalry feels like in a way the cumulative head-to-head number simply hasn't caught up with yet.
CSK vs RCB - Season by Season
| Season | Played | CSK W | RCB W | NR | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | CSK won opener; RCB won return leg |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | CSK swept the South African season |
| 2010 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Dhoni's title-winning year vs RCB |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | CSK won the final by 58 runs |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | RCB's first win at Chinnaswamy |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | CSK dominant year |
| 2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | One match abandoned |
| 2015 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Dhoni's last CSK final year (pre-ban) |
| 2018 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | CSK return from ban |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | CSK Dhoni double |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | RCB swept in UAE |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | CSK won title |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Split season |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | CSK won title (5th) |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | RCB knocked CSK out of playoff race |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | RCB won by 50 runs in Chennai, then by 2 runs in Bengaluru; went on to win maiden title |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | RCB 250/3 beat CSK 207 by 43 runs (April 5); RCB won second straight title; CSK eliminated in league stage |
By Venue - Where Each Team Wins
| Venue | Played | CSK W | RCB W |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Neutral venues (UAE/Pune/etc) | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| Other (one-off venues) | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Biggest Wins on Each Side
🏆 CSK's Biggest Win - IPL 2011 Final
CSK 205/5 beat RCB 147/8 by 58 runs on 28 May 2011 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Murali Vijay's 95 off 52 anchored the total before Albie Morkel and Dwayne Bravo dismantled RCB in the death overs. It remains the only IPL final these two franchises have played against each other, and CSK's second straight title.
🏆 RCB's Biggest Win - IPL 2025, Chepauk
RCB 196/7 beat CSK 146 by 50 runs on 28 March 2025 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. It was a historic result - RCB's first victory at Chepauk since the inaugural 2008 edition, ending a 17-year losing streak at the venue. Rajat Patidar led from the front with 51 off 32 before Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal dismantled the CSK batting line-up. The win was a statement of intent early in RCB's title-winning 2025 campaign.
Playoff & Final Meetings
CSK and RCB have met just twice in IPL playoffs - once in a final and once in a league-stage decider that effectively served as an elimination match. CSK won the IPL 2011 final by 58 runs at Chepauk. RCB knocked CSK out of the IPL 2024 playoff race with a 27-run win in Bengaluru - the game CSK needed to win to stay alive. The two-meeting split (one each) underlines how competitive this fixture has become at the knockout level, even if the teams haven't shared a final since 2011.
⚡ Iconic Moments
Dhoni's 84* off 48 in 2014 chasing 162 - fell one run short, including 24 off the final over, but couldn't get strike for the winning shot. Chris Gayle's 175* in 2013 at Chinnaswamy - still the highest individual score in T20 cricket - came against CSK. Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first fast bowler to reach 200 IPL career wickets during the April 5, 2026 fixture against CSK, dismissing Ayush Mhatre to reach the landmark - only the second bowler overall to do so after Yuzvendra Chahal.
Top Performers in This Rivalry
CSK - IPL 2026 Season Review
- Final position: Eliminated in league stage (failed to reach top 4)
- Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Season outcome: Third consecutive playoff miss; first time CSK failed to reach the final for three straight seasons
- Key strength: Jadeja's all-round contributions; Anshul Kamboj's wicket-taking in the powerplay
- Weak link: Powerplay batting - consistently below 50 runs in the first 6 overs
- Notable: MS Dhoni continued in a finishing role but CSK's top order never found consistency
RCB - IPL 2026 Season Review
- Final position: Champions - beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final (May 31, Ahmedabad)
- Captain: Rajat Patidar
- Season outcome: Back-to-back titles; only the third franchise in IPL history to successfully defend the title after CSK (2010-11) and MI (2019-20)
- Key strength: Virat Kohli's run-machine consistency (75* in the final); Bhuvneshwar Kumar's death bowling
- Weak link: Middle-order reliance on Tim David when Kohli fell early
- Notable: Kohli hit his fastest IPL fifty (25 balls) in the final and finished unbeaten on 75 off 42
The all-time number is still 21-15 in CSK's favour, but it's increasingly difficult to make that mean anything. CSK built that cushion between 2009 and 2019, when their death-overs unit and Dhoni's late finishes simply outclassed RCB in almost every close game. That era ended. Since IPL 2020, RCB are 9-5 against CSK, and they've now won five straight - a run that includes a 50-run demolition at Chepauk, a 2-run thriller at Chinnaswamy, and a 43-run hammering to open the 2026 season. More to the point, RCB went on to win two consecutive IPL titles. CSK didn't make the playoffs either time. The head-to-head number is a historical footnote at this point.
The contrarian read that still holds some water: CSK at Chepauk remain a different animal. Eight wins from 11 home meetings against RCB, and one of RCB's three Chepauk wins was the 2025 season opener which broke a 17-year drought. That venue edge is real. But it only matters if CSK make the playoffs first - which, on two consecutive seasons of evidence, is no longer the automatic assumption it once was. The honest question for the 2027 season isn't "who has the edge?" It's whether CSK can rebuild around a squad that's starting to look like it needs significant retooling to compete with the teams now setting the standard.
🏆 Titles & Finals - A Tale of Two Eras
CSK have won 5 IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and reached the final 10 times - the most of any franchise. RCB won back-to-back titles in IPL 2025 and 2026, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs and Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets respectively. They are now only the third franchise to successfully defend the title after CSK (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20). The two teams have met in one IPL final, in 2011, which CSK won by 58 runs. Whether they meet in a final again will depend heavily on whether CSK can arrest a troubling slide.
CSK vs RCB - FAQs
Who has won more matches between CSK and RCB in IPL?
Chennai Super Kings lead the all-time CSK vs RCB head-to-head record with 21 wins to 15, and one no-result, from 37 IPL meetings since 2008. However, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won five consecutive meetings between the sides - four straight going into 2026 followed by the April 5, 2026 match - and hold a 9-5 edge in meetings since IPL 2020.
When did CSK and RCB meet in an IPL final?
CSK and RCB have met in one IPL final - the 2011 final at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on 28 May 2011. CSK won by 58 runs, with Murali Vijay scoring 95 off 52, to defend their title. It remains the only knockout-stage final between these two franchises. RCB have since won titles in 2025 and 2026, but not against CSK in the final.
What is the highest team total in CSK vs RCB IPL matches?
The highest team total in a CSK vs RCB IPL match is RCB's 250/3, posted on April 5, 2026 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium - the highest total ever recorded against CSK in IPL history. Tim David's 70 off 25 balls in the final overs was the centrepiece of that innings. RCB's lowest total against CSK remains 70. CSK's highest score in the rivalry is 226, and their lowest is 82.
Who is the leading run-scorer in CSK vs RCB matches?
Virat Kohli leads the CSK vs RCB run-scoring chart with over 1,174 runs across his RCB career in this fixture. MS Dhoni is second with 818+ runs for CSK. Suresh Raina sits third with significant contributions from his prime CSK years. On the bowling side, Ravindra Jadeja tops the wicket list with 18, followed by Dwayne Bravo (17) - both for CSK.
How did CSK and RCB finish in IPL 2026?
RCB won the IPL 2026 title, beating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on May 31. It was their second consecutive title and made them only the third franchise to successfully defend the IPL crown. CSK were eliminated from the league stage on May 21 after a loss to Gujarat Titans, failing to make the playoffs for a second straight year. The two sides met only once in IPL 2026 - RCB won by 43 runs on April 5 in Bengaluru.
Bottom Line
The CSK vs RCB head-to-head reads 21-15 in CSK's favour across 37 IPL matches, but the modern version of this rivalry tells a completely different story. Since IPL 2020, RCB lead 9-5, and they've now won five meetings in a row. More importantly, RCB have won back-to-back IPL titles (2025 and 2026) while CSK have missed the playoffs two seasons running. CSK still hold the venue fortress of Chepauk, the trophy edge with 5 titles to RCB's 2, and the record for most IPL finals appearances - but those are historical achievements. The gap between where both franchises sit right now is wider than the head-to-head number suggests. For live standings, records, and season stats, see our IPL 2026 season stats and CSK vs MI head-to-head record.
