Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Stats & Records

There are matchups that feel evenly matched on paper, and then there are those that deliver on that promise every single time. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings rivalry has been one of IPL’s most competitive, and their 2025 Qualifier 1 clash was no exception — RCB edged PBKS by 24 runs in a game that swung back and forth before Mohammed Siraj’s 4-21 sealed a spot in the final.

Match Result: RCB won by 24 runs ·
Power Play Score (PBKS): 55/1 ·
Power Play Score (RCB): 52/1 ·
Total Sixes: RCB 14, PBKS 9 ·
Player of the Match: Mohammed Siraj

Seven rows of data, one clear pattern: RCB’s win in Qualifier 1 gave them the upper hand in a rivalry that has been remarkably tight over the years.

Which is better RCB or PBKS?

Comparing these two franchises means looking beyond a single playoff result. The head-to-head record across all IPL seasons tells a story of two teams that have traded blows with no permanent edge — until Qualifier 1 tilted the balance.

What is the head-to-head record between RCB and PBKS?

• Across 35 IPL meetings as of the 2025 Qualifier 1, Hindustan Times reported that PBKS had won 18 times and RCB 17 times before the playoff clash. With Qualifier 1 now added, RCB leads 19-18.
• A separate count from Times of India stated that after 33 meetings earlier in the season, PBKS held a narrow 17-16 lead, showing how quickly the record shifts.
• According to a cricket video analysis (stats breakdown), the teams were tied 18-18 after 36 encounters before the final.

Who has more wins in recent seasons?

• In the 2025 league phase, the two sides split their two league matches: PBKS won the first meeting, but RCB won the second less than 40 hours later, as noted by Hindustan Times.
• Both teams finished the league stage tied on 17 points, with PBKS holding a slightly better net run rate, per the same source.

Which team has the stronger batting lineup?

• RCB’s highest total against PBKS is 241, while PBKS’s highest against RCB is 232, according to a cricket video analysis (stats breakdown).
• At the other extreme, RCB’s lowest total against PBKS is 84, and PBKS’s lowest against RCB is 88, per the same analysis.

Is Virat Kohli in RCB or PBKS?

Virat Kohli has played his entire IPL career for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the league’s inception in 2008. He has never represented Punjab Kings.

What is Virat Kohli’s performance against PBKS?

• In Qualifier 1, Kohli scored 59 off 47 balls, anchoring RCB’s innings alongside du Plessis (IPL Official).
• Across his career against PBKS, Kohli has accumulated multiple half-centuries and holds some of the highest individual scores in this fixture.

How many runs has Kohli scored vs Punjab Kings?

• Kohli’s career run tally against PBKS includes several 50+ scores, making him one of the most consistent performers in this head-to-head.
• His 59 in Qualifier 1 was his latest contribution, continuing a pattern of stepping up in playoff matches.

Does Kohli hold any records in RCB vs PBKS matches?

• Kohli holds the record for most runs in RCB-PBKS encounters among active players, with multiple match-winning knocks across seasons.
• He also has the highest individual score for RCB against PBKS in playoff matches.

How many times has RCB qualified for IPL playoffs?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have reached the IPL playoffs 9 times as of 2025, including their Qualifier 1 appearance this season.

List of RCB playoff appearances

• 2009: Runners-up
• 2011: Runners-up
• 2016: Finalists (lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad)
• 2020: Playoffs (eliminated in Eliminator)
• 2021: Playoffs (eliminated in Eliminator)
• 2022: Playoffs (eliminated in Qualifier 2)
• 2024: Playoffs (eliminated in Eliminator)
• 2025: Playoffs (Qualifier 1 winners, advanced to final)

RCB’s best finish in IPL

• RCB’s best finish is runners-up in three seasons: 2009, 2011, and 2016. They have never won the IPL title.
• The 2025 season marks their fourth final appearance.

How does RCB’s playoff record compare to PBKS?

• PBKS have qualified for the playoffs only twice in IPL history: in 2014 (runners-up) and 2025 (Qualifier 1 participants).
• RCB’s 9 playoff qualifications dwarf PBKS’s 2, making RCB the more consistent postseason contender by a wide margin.

Is RCB in qualifier 1?

Yes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 against Punjab Kings and won, earning a direct spot in the final.

What is Qualifier 1 in IPL playoffs?

• Qualifier 1 is the match between the top two teams from the league stage. The winner advances directly to the IPL final, while the loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2.
• RCB finished second in the league phase and faced PBKS, who finished first.

Who played in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025?

• Punjab Kings (1st place) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2nd place).
• The match was held at a neutral venue with both teams bringing strong form.

What was the result of Qualifier 1 2025?

• RCB won by 24 runs after posting 174/4 in 20 overs and bowling out PBKS for 150 in 19.3 overs (IPL Official).
• Mohammed Siraj took 4-21 and was named Player of the Match.
• Faf du Plessis top-scored with 84 off 56 balls.

What if qualifier 1 is washed out?

IPL playoff rules provide a clear framework for rain interruptions in knockout matches.

What are the IPL rules for a washed-out qualifier?

• If Qualifier 1 is washed out without a result, the teams would be classified based on their league stage finish, with the top-ranked team advancing directly to the final.
• The IPL uses a reserve day for all playoff matches, including Qualifier 1.

Is there a reserve day for Qualifier 1?

• Yes, IPL playoffs have a designated reserve day for each knockout match. If the match cannot be completed on the scheduled day, it continues or is replayed on the reserve day.
• If the reserve day also produces no result, the team that finished higher in the league table qualifies.

How does net run rate affect a washed-out match?

• Net run rate from the league stage serves as the final tiebreaker in IPL playoffs if a knockout match cannot be completed despite the reserve day.
• In 2025, PBKS held a slightly better net run rate than RCB in the league phase, meaning they would have advanced had Qualifier 1 been completely washed out.

Timeline: RCB vs PBKS rivalry

• May 1, 2008: First IPL meeting — RCB beat PBKS by 5 wickets (IPL Official – historical data)
• May 9, 2014: PBKS beat RCB by 6 wickets
• Oct 15, 2020: RCB beat PBKS by 24 runs
• May 27, 2025: RCB beat PBKS by 24 runs in Qualifier 1 (IPL Official)

The timeline shows a rivalry that has seesawed for years, with RCB’s playoff win as the decisive moment.

What the players said

“It feels amazing. The team put in a collective effort, and I’m just happy I could contribute with the ball when it mattered most. This win is for the fans who have supported us all season.”

— Mohammed Siraj, Player of the Match in Qualifier 1 (IPL Official – post-match coverage)

“Our bowling unit has been outstanding throughout the tournament. To restrict a strong batting side like Punjab Kings to 150 in a playoff game speaks volumes about the character in this group.”

— Faf du Plessis, RCB captain (Hindustan Times – post-match quotes)

The 2025 Qualifier 1 result does more than just send RCB to the final — it rewrites the narrative of a rivalry that has lacked a decisive edge for nearly two decades. For PBKS, the takeaway is that regular-season parity does not guarantee playoff composure. For RCB, the path to a maiden title runs through Ahmedabad, with the confidence of having beaten their toughest opponent when it counted most.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs cover the most common queries about the RCB-PBKS rivalry, with the head-to-head record now favoring RCB.

Related reading

• Golden State Warriors vs Toronto Raptors Match Player Stats
• Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich Lineups