Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have met 36 times in IPL history since 2008, and CSK lead the all-time record 21-14 with one no-result. But strip out the 2010-2013 era and the picture flips: RCB have won the last four meetings in a row, including a 43-run hammering in April 2026 that confirmed where this rivalry actually stands today.
CSK
21
WinsVS
Total36
RCB
14
WinsCSK vs RCB Head-to-Head At a Glance
- Total matches: 36 (since IPL 2008)
- CSK wins: 21 · RCB wins: 14 · No result: 1
- RCB highest total vs CSK: 250 · 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 2026)
- Top run-scorer: Virat Kohli — 1,174+ runs
- Top wicket-taker: Ravindra Jadeja — 18 wickets
📊 What the H2H Record Actually Says
The 21-14 scoreline tells one story, but split it by era and another emerges. Between IPL 2008 and 2019, CSK won 17 of 23 meetings — a 74% strike rate driven by death-overs bowling and finishers like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina closing out tight chases. From IPL 2020 onwards, RCB have flipped it: 8 wins in the last 13 meetings, with four straight wins now to close out the rivalry’s most recent stretch. The swing factor isn’t talent — both squads have always had stars. It’s playoff temperament. RCB’s IPL 2025 title win (the franchise’s first in 18 seasons) reset what this rivalry feels like in a way the head-to-head number 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 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | RCB swept; won maiden title |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | RCB won by 43 runs (April) |
By Venue — Where Each Team Wins
| Venue | Played | CSK W | RCB W |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Neutral venues (UAE/Pune/etc) | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 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 death-overs damage from Albie Morkel and Dwayne Bravo finished RCB. It remains the only IPL final the two teams have played, and CSK’s second straight title.
🏆 RCB’s Biggest Win — IPL 2025 League Stage
RCB 213/5 beat CSK 211/8 by 2 runs on 3 May 2025 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Romario Shepherd hit 53 off 14 in the death to push RCB past 210; Yash Dayal then held his nerve against Ravindra Jadeja (77) in a final-over thriller. The win sealed a 2025 season sweep and set up RCB’s title run.
Playoff & Final Meetings
CSK and RCB have met just twice in IPL playoffs — once in a final and once in an eliminator. CSK won the IPL 2011 final by 58 runs at Chepauk. RCB knocked CSK out of the IPL 2024 playoffs at the league-stage finale in Bengaluru, a 27-run win that ended Dhoni’s hopes of a sixth ring. The two-meeting playoff split (one each) underlines how recently this rivalry has become competitive at the knockout level.
⚡ Iconic Moments
Dhoni’s 84* off 48 in 2014 chasing 162 — fell one run short, including 24 runs off the final over but couldn’t get the 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 reached 200 IPL career wickets in the April 5, 2026 fixture, becoming only the second IPL bowler to do so.
Top Performers in This Rivalry
CSK Right Now (IPL 2026)
- Position: 6th — 12 points from 11 games
- Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Last 5 form: W-L-W-L-W
- Key strength: Jadeja’s all-round contribution; Dhoni’s death-over finishing
- Weak link: Powerplay batting — averaging only 49 runs in first 6 overs
- X-factor: Ayush Mhatre (uncapped opener averaging 41.2)
RCB Right Now (IPL 2026)
- Position: 3rd — 14 points from 11 games (defending champions)
- Captain: Rajat Patidar
- Last 5 form: W-W-L-W-W
- Key strength: Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s death bowling (21 wickets); Kohli’s run-machine consistency
- Weak link: Middle-order acceleration when Kohli falls early
- X-factor: Tim David (strike rate 198 in the slog overs)
The all-time number is misleading. CSK built that 21-14 cushion between 2009 and 2019, when their death-overs unit and Dhoni’s late finishes simply outclassed RCB. That era ended. Since IPL 2020, RCB are 8-5 against CSK, and they’ve won the last four meetings in a row, including a 43-run thrashing in April 2026. If you’re asking who walks into a hypothetical IPL 2026 playoff meeting with the edge, it’s not the team that won finals 14 years ago.
The contrarian read: CSK at Chepauk are still a different animal. Eight wins from 10 home matches against RCB, even including the 2024 elimination. If these two meet at MA Chidambaram Stadium in a knockout, the venue tilts the math back toward Chennai. But that’s a thin condition — CSK first have to make the playoffs, which on current form is touch and go. The realistic 2026 question isn’t “CSK vs RCB” anymore — it’s whether CSK avoid another consecutive playoff miss.
🏆 Titles & Finals — A Tale of Two Cultures
CSK have won 5 IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and reached the final 10 times — the most of any franchise. RCB won their maiden title in IPL 2025 after three previous final losses (2009, 2011, 2016). The two have met in one IPL final, in 2011, which CSK won by 58 runs at Chennai.
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 21 wins to 14, with one no-result, from 36 IPL meetings since 2008. However, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the last four meetings in a row including a 43-run win in April 2026, and have an 8-5 edge 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.
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 250 — set in earlier IPL editions at Chinnaswamy. RCB’s lowest total against CSK is 70 (one of the lowest IPL totals overall). CSK’s highest score in the rivalry is 226, and their lowest is 82. The wide spread reflects how often this fixture produces extreme batting performances.
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. 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.
Who is currently performing better between CSK and RCB in IPL 2026?
RCB are clearly ahead in IPL 2026 — third in the points table with 14 points from 11 games, on track for playoff qualification as defending champions. CSK sit sixth on 12 points and need to win all three remaining games to push into the top four. RCB also won the only CSK vs RCB meeting this season by 43 runs at Bengaluru.
Bottom Line
The CSK vs RCB head-to-head record reads 21-14 in CSK’s favour, but the modern version of this rivalry doesn’t match that scoreline. Since IPL 2020, RCB lead 8-5, and they’ve now won four straight meetings including the April 2026 fixture. CSK still hold the venue advantage at Chepauk, the trophy edge with 5 titles vs RCB’s 1, and the most finals of any franchise — but the IPL 2025 title flipped the franchise narrative. The next meeting (whether it’s IPL 2027 or in a 2026 playoff if both qualify) will likely be RCB’s to lose. For deeper rivalry data and live IPL 2026 standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and CSK vs MI head-to-head record.
