The RCB vs CSK head to head rivalry is one of the most watched matchups in IPL history. Often called the Southern Derby or the Cauvery Derby, this clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings has delivered drama, heartbreak, and some of the finest T20 cricket over 17 seasons.
Two of the league’s most passionate fanbases, two iconic cricketers in Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, and a scoreboard that tells a story of CSK dominance slowly being challenged by a resurgent RCB.
As of the end of IPL 2025, the two teams have met 35 times. CSK leads with 21 wins to RCB’s 13, with one match ending without a result. But the tide has started to shift. RCB won their maiden IPL title in 2025, beat CSK twice in the same season for the first time, and broke a 17-year losing streak at Chepauk. The rivalry has never felt more alive heading into IPL 2026.
RCB vs CSK Head to Head: Overall Record
| Category | RCB | CSK |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 35 | 35 |
| Wins | 13 | 21 |
| Losses | 21 | 13 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Score | 218 | 226 |
| Lowest Score | 70 | 82 |
CSK’s dominance is clear in the raw numbers. A win percentage of 60% over 35 matches is a strong record, built largely during the 2011–2021 period when Chennai won 14 out of 20 encounters. The 2015 season stands out in particular, with CSK sweeping all three meetings that year, including a playoff clash.
RCB’s lowest score in this rivalry, 70, came in 2019 at Chepauk, a night where the spin-friendly surface completely dismantled their batting. CSK’s lowest of 82 came in IPL 2008, when the rivalry was still in its early days. The highest scores from both sides came in a single match in IPL 2023, when CSK chased down 218 to win by 8 runs after posting 226/6.
League Stage vs Playoffs Record
| Format | Matches | CSK Wins | RCB Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| League Stage | 33 | 20 | 12 |
| Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 1 |
The two franchises have met twice in the playoffs. The biggest was the IPL 2011 final at Chepauk, where CSK crushed RCB by 58 runs to defend their title. RCB’s lone playoff win came in the 2009 semi-final, where they edged past CSK. In the league stage, CSK’s 20–12 lead tells the broader story of this lopsided rivalry.
Venue-Wise Head to Head Breakdown
Here are the Venue wise Records you should know:
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chepauk has been a fortress for CSK in this rivalry. In 10 matches played here, CSK has won 8 and RCB just 2. The spin-friendly conditions, slow outfield, and roaring home crowd have made life difficult for every visiting team. For RCB, it was historically a graveyard.
RCB’s first win at Chepauk came in 2008, the inaugural IPL season. After that, they lost eight straight matches at this venue across 17 years. That drought finally ended in March 2025, when RCB posted 196/7 and bowled CSK out for 146, winning by 50 runs. It was one of the most talked-about results of IPL 2025.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
The Chinnaswamy is the one ground where RCB holds a slight advantage. In 12 matches played here, RCB has won 6 and CSK 5, with one match abandoned without play. The short boundaries and flat batting deck neutralise CSK’s spin-heavy approach and bring RCB’s power-hitters into the game.
The most recent meeting here was a thriller. In May 2025, Romario Shepherd smashed 53 off just 14 balls to propel RCB to 213. CSK fought back through Ayush Mhatre (94) and Ravindra Jadeja (77), but Yash Dayal defended 15 off the final over. RCB won by 2 runs, completing their first-ever league-phase double over CSK.
Neutral Venues
At neutral grounds like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Pune, CSK has maintained a comfortable lead. They have won 8 and lost 5 across 13 completed matches at such venues. CSK’s ability to adapt to different conditions and their calm approach under MS Dhoni’s leadership gave them a clear edge during the UAE-based seasons in 2020 and 2021.
| Venue | Matches | CSK Wins | RCB Wins | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chepauk, Chennai | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Neutral Venues | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
RCB vs CSK: Season-by-Season Results (2008–2025)
| Year | Match 1 | Match 2 / Match 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | RCB won by 50 runs | RCB won by 2 runs |
| 2024 | CSK won by 6 wickets | RCB won by 27 runs |
| 2023 | CSK won by 8 runs | — |
| 2022 | CSK won by 23 runs | RCB won by 13 runs |
| 2021 | CSK won by 69 runs | CSK won by 6 wickets |
| 2020 | RCB won by 37 runs | CSK won by 8 wickets |
| 2019 | CSK won by 7 wickets | RCB won by 1 run |
| 2018 | CSK won by 5 wickets | CSK won by 6 wickets |
| 2015 | CSK won by 27 runs | CSK won by 24 runs / CSK won by 3 wkts |
| 2014 | RCB won by 5 wickets | CSK won by 8 wickets |
| 2013 | CSK won by 4 wickets | RCB won by 24 runs |
| 2012 | CSK won by 5 wickets | No Result (abandoned) |
| 2011 | CSK won by 21 runs | RCB won by 8 wkts / CSK won by 6 wkts / CSK won by 58 runs (Final) |
| 2010 | RCB won by 36 runs | CSK won by 5 wickets |
| 2009 | RCB won by 2 wickets | RCB won by 6 wkts / CSK won by 92 runs |
| 2008 | CSK won by 13 runs | RCB won by 14 runs |
The last five meetings tell a different story from the overall record. RCB has won 3 out of the last 5 matches against CSK, including both games in 2025. That recent momentum matters heading into 2026. CSK’s most dominant stretch was between 2015 and 2021, where they won 10 out of 13 encounters.
Top 3 Most Memorable RCB vs CSK Encounters
Lets look out for Most Remarkable battles between CSK and RCB:
1. IPL 2011 Final: CSK Defend Their Crown at Chepauk
The only IPL final between these two teams took place on May 28, 2011, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. CSK batted first and posted 205/5, powered by Murali Vijay’s 95 off 52 balls at the top of the order. RCB’s chase fell apart quickly. Chris Gayle made 0, and despite Kohli’s fighting 35, RCB were bowled out for 147. CSK won by 58 runs and became the first franchise to defend their IPL title.
For RCB, it remains a painful memory. They had topped the league table that season with the likes of Gayle, Kohli, and AB de Villiers in their lineup, but the final exposed their vulnerability against CSK’s spinning conditions at Chepauk.
2. IPL 2018: Dhoni’s Masterclass at the Chinnaswamy
On April 25, 2018, RCB posted 205/8 at the Chinnaswamy, a total that looked safe on most nights. CSK slumped to 74/4 early in the chase, and the game looked done. Then MS Dhoni walked in and played one of his finest IPL innings.
His unbeaten 70 off 34 balls, loaded with seven sixes and a four, combined with Ambati Rayudu’s 82 off 53, turned the match upside down. CSK won by 5 wickets with five balls to spare. It was vintage Dhoni at his clinical best.
3. IPL 2025: RCB’s Double and Chepauk Jinx-Breaker
The IPL 2025 season rewrote RCB’s history against CSK. In Match 8 at Chepauk (March 28), RCB posted 196/7, with Rajat Patidar scoring 51 off 32 and Josh Hazlewood taking 3/21 with the ball. CSK managed only 146/8 in reply, handing RCB a 50-run win. It ended a 17-year losing streak at Chepauk, a stat that had haunted the franchise since 2008.
Then came Match 52 at the Chinnaswamy (May 3). Shepherd’s 14-ball 53, the joint-second-fastest fifty in IPL history, propelled RCB to 213. CSK almost pulled off a stunning chase through Mhatre (94) and Jadeja (77), but Dayal’s last-over heroics sealed a 2-run win. RCB completed their first-ever league-phase double over CSK, a milestone that was long overdue.
Key Players in the RCB vs CSK Rivalry
Here are some key players from the Rivalry:
Top Run-Scorers
| Player | Team | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 1,146 | ~36 |
| MS Dhoni | CSK | 776 | ~48 |
| Suresh Raina | CSK | 710 | ~30 |
| Faf du Plessis | CSK/RCB | 519 | ~32 |
Virat Kohli owns this rivalry with the bat. His 1,146 runs against CSK is the most by any batter against a single opponent in IPL history, surpassing David Warner’s 1,134 against Punjab Kings. Kohli has scored nine fifties against CSK, also the most by any batter against them. His ability to anchor big chases and set imposing targets has been central to every RCB win in this fixture.
MS Dhoni’s numbers look smaller, but his impact has been disproportionate. His 776 runs against RCB include several match-winning finishes. His record at the Chinnaswamy is particularly striking: 401 runs at an average of 100.25 and a strike rate of 184.79. Dhoni’s ability to absorb pressure and deliver in the final overs has defined CSK’s approach in this rivalry for years.
Top Wicket-Takers
| Player | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | CSK | 18 |
| Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 17 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB | 14 |
Ravindra Jadeja leads the bowling charts with 18 wickets in this fixture. His left-arm spin, combined with his tight economy rate in the middle overs, has troubled RCB’s batters consistently. He has dismissed Kohli three times across their encounters, one of the few bowlers to get the better of the RCB star on multiple occasions.
Dwayne Bravo’s 17 wickets make him the second-highest wicket-taker. His death-overs expertise and clever variations gave CSK a consistent edge in close games. For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal’s 14 wickets stand out. His leg-spin troubled CSK’s middle order during his RCB years (2014–2021), and his guile on turning tracks added a different dimension to RCB’s attack.
Biggest Wins in This Rivalry
| Winner | Margin | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 92 runs | 2009 | Johannesburg |
| CSK | 69 runs | 2021 | Sharjah |
| CSK | 58 runs | 2011 | Chennai (IPL Final) |
| RCB | 50 runs | 2025 | Chennai |
| RCB | 37 runs | 2020 | Dubai |
| RCB | 36 runs | 2010 | Bengaluru |
CSK’s 92-run thrashing of RCB in Johannesburg during IPL 2009 (held in South Africa) remains the biggest win margin in this rivalry. RCB’s biggest win, by 50 runs at Chepauk in 2025, carries extra significance because of the venue. Beating CSK by that margin at their own fortress made it one of the defining results of that season.
What IPL 2026 Means for This Rivalry
RCB enter IPL 2026 as defending champions, led by captain Rajat Patidar, with Kohli, Hazlewood, Shepherd, and Dayal forming a strong core. CSK have undergone changes, with Ruturaj Gaikwad now captaining the side and Sanju Samson traded in from Rajasthan Royals to bolster their batting. Dhoni remains on the roster as an uncapped player.
Reports suggest RCB vs CSK could feature in the IPL 2026 opener at the Chinnaswamy on March 28, though the BCCI has not confirmed the full schedule yet. If that happens, it would add another blockbuster chapter to a rivalry that has gained new life after RCB’s 2025 title win.
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Conclusion: CSK leads Rivalry With 21 Wins Against RCB
CSK still leads the overall record 21–13, and that gap is not easy to close. Their dominance at Chepauk (8 wins out of 10) and at neutral venues (8 out of 13) gives them a structural advantage across most conditions. Jadeja and Dhoni have been match-winners against RCB for over a decade.
But the momentum has shifted. RCB has won 3 of the last 5 meetings, swept the 2025 season head-to-head for the first time, broke the Chepauk jinx, and won the IPL title. They are no longer the side that crumbles under pressure against CSK. Kohli’s record-breaking 1,146 runs against this opposition, combined with a bowling unit featuring Hazlewood and Dayal, makes them genuine threats in every encounter.
CSK holds the historical edge. RCB holds the current form. When these two meet in IPL 2026, expect another chapter in a rivalry that defines the Southern Derby.
