The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been home to many intense rivalries. The most famous rivalry is the one between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Their matches are always thrilling and anxious at the same time. Apart from the team’s clashes on the ground, their rivalry is so goated that their fans also clash against each other in terms of support.
Read further to get all the insights about the Royal Challenger Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings stats, records and best performers.
The Historic Rivalry: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Chennai Super Kings
The contest between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL is iconic and as extreme as it gets. Known as the “Southern Derby,” this encounter is about much more than just cricket, it plays out as an event filled with pride, feeling, and regional allegiance.
Since the time IPL began in 2008, RCB and CSK have continued to impress with their entertainment factor. From high scoring chases to amazing wickets, their matches have always been emotional for the fans. RCB vs CSK matches were mostly in favour of CSK, until the 2025 IPL season.
As of 2025, Chennai Super Kings has a better Head to Head (H2H) record. CSK has 21 victories in 34 total matches, and RCB has 13 wins. RCB is known to play under pressure, but the 2025 season has been the game-changer for them. They were able to grab their first-ever IPL title against PBKS after 18 years of struggle.
Head-to-Head Record: RCB vs CSK
The following records are a depiction of a head-to-head Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings stats, which will give you a closer look at what is more closely contested between the teams in IPL history:
| Metric | Value |
| Matches played | 35 |
| RCB wins | 13 |
| CSK wins | 21 |
| No result / abandoned | 1 |
| Highest score in these matches | 218 (RCB) |
| Highest score in these matches | 226 (CSK) |
| Lowest score in these matches | 70 (RCB) |
| Lowest score in these matches | 82 (CSK) |
Venue Wise Breakdown
Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is home to the Royal Challengers Bangalore. It features a pitch that’s conducive to batting, short boundaries, and an energetic crowd. Matches at this venue regularly feature high-scoring matches because of the fans, termed as the “12th Man Army”, who are passionate and create a loud and supportive atmosphere, particularly in the context of the IPL.
M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, or Chepauk, in Chennai, is home to the Chennai Super Kings. It is known for its spin-friendly pitch and sweltering and humid weather. The stadium is a fortress for CSK, where the team thrives in the familiar conditions and the players benefit from the vocal support of the crowd, which makes it very difficult for other teams to visit.
| Venue | Matches | CSK Wins | RCB Wins | No Result |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai) | 9–10 | 8 | 1–2 | 0 |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Neutral / Other venues | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings Stats
Top Run Scorers (RCB vs CSK)
The most prominent batters who have made a significant impact in making the RCB vs CSK rivalry strong are Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Faf du Plessis. These are the overall historic records that are unbeatable till the 2025 IPL season:
| Player | Team | Runs | Highest Score | Innings |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 1084 | 90 | 31 |
| MS Dhoni | CSK | 795 | 70* | 32 |
| Faf du Plessis | RCB/CSK | 413 | 65 | 16 |
Top Wicket-Taker (RCB vs CSK)
As of 2025 IPL, these are some of the most significant wicket takers in the RCB vs CSK rivalry. Ravindra Jadeja stands top by taking 18 wickets in 25 innings. Recently, Yuzvendra Chahal has given a very amazing performance and ranked him in the top list of wicket-takers as he took 15 wickets in just 17 innings.
| Player | Team | Wickets | Best Figures | Innings |
| Ravindra Jadeja | CSK | 18 | 3/13 | 25 |
| Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 17 | 4/42 | 18 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB | 15 | 3/19 | 17 |
RCB vs CSK Key Stats Insights from Recent IPL Matches- 2025
- In Match 52 of IPL 2025:
- RCB scored 213 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
- CSK scored 211 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
- RCB won by 2 runs.
- In another match of IPL 2025:
- RCB scored 196 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.
- CSK scored 146 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
- RCB won by 50 runs.
- In the 2025 season, head-to-head:
- RCB has won 3 matches in a row against CSK.
- CSK has lost 3 matches in a row.
RCB vs CSK rivalry between 2008 and 2025: Best Captaincy Impact
The battle of captains has also been a key storyline in the RCB vs CSK rivalry between 2008 and 2025. Under the calm, methodical leadership of MS Dhoni, CSK has been a very successful team since the start, especially in close matches and under pressure. This experience has led to 21 wins from 35 matches for CSK. More importantly, Dhoni’s understanding of the game, efficient changes of bowlers, and wise decisions on the field have provided CSK with large advantages going into the match.
During this same time, RCB has Virat Kohli as the team’s best captain, who is known for his more aggressive, offensive, and high scoring brand of cricket. As a result, games with RCB were entertaining and filled with memories, but there did seem to be some inconsistencies in their overall performances against CSK.
The contrasting leadership styles of Dhoni, with his skilled experience and calm mentality, and Kohli, with his bold, fast paced, aggressive style, have become a key point of the long existing IPL rivalry between RCB and CSK.
Final Takeaways
The rivalry between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has forever been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the IPL. Both teams are extremely well-respected, captained by players viewed as legends of world cricket, and match up against each other in a manner that produces an entertaining and supremely high quality competition. Both teams over the years have had their victories in matches and games, but CSK holds the advantage in terms of overall records against RCB.
The rivalry comes as both sides possess outstanding batting and bowling ability, two of the best captains in the history of cricket, smartly utilising tactics and strategies, and the pure excitement of facing off against two of the top teams in the league.
While the IPL will continue to grow and change in other aspects, fans can expect more memorable RCB vs CSK matches in the future. With Virat Kohli, M S Dhoni, and Ruturaj Gaikwad playing in the future, RCB vs CSK will continue to be the most entertaining and fiercely contested rivalry in the IPL, both in historical and the present context.
