The history of the Indian Premier League is full of memorable moments. It has featured nail-biting matches between different franchises of the IPL. The rivalry between Royal Challengers Banglore and Chennai Super Kings is one of the most intense rivalries in IPL history. Both teams have been a part of thrilling encounters. The matches between RCB and CSK have always been highly anticipated matches with two passionate fanbases involved.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 RCB vs CSK matches.
1. RCB vs CSK, Johannesberg, 2009
This semi-final was played between the two teams at Johannesburg in the IPL season of 2009. Batting first, CSK scored 146 runs with the loss of 5 wickets. No player from the CSK side had an exceptional day with the batting. The opener, Parthiv Patel was the only batsman who reached the figure of 30’s. He scored 36 runs off 27 balls with the help of 7 boundaries.
Except for Anil Kumble, all the bowlers of RCB took a wicket. The medium pacer, Vinay Kumar took two wickets in the four overs he bowled.
RCB lost two early wickets for 22 runs. However, the opener, Manish Pandey and Rahul Dravid performed well under pressure. Manish Pandey scored 48 runs off 35 balls. Dravid scored 44 runs off 39 balls with the help of 6 boundaries.
The power-hitting of Virat Kohli and Ross Taylor helped RCB achieve this target on the second last ball of the 18th over. Kohli scored 24 runs off 17 balls and Taylor scored 17 runs off 12 balls.
There were some remarkable performances by the bowlers of CSK as well. Muthiah Muralidaran in his four overs, bowled at an economy rate of just 3.25. Muralidaran also got Dravid out at a very crucial stage of the game.
2. RCB vs CSK, Bengaluru, 2019
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru witnessed another nail-biting match between RCB and CSK. Batting first, RCB scored 161 runs with the loss of 7 wickets. In a low-scoring match, batsman Parthiv Patel kept the scoreboard moving as he scored 56 runs off 37 balls. His innings featured 4 sixes and 2 boundaries.
AB de Villiers added 25 runs off 19 balls. In the lower-middle order, the English all-rounder, Moeen Ali, scored a quick 26 runs off 16 balls. Among the CSK bowlers, Deepak Chahar’s performance was the highlight of the innings as he took 2 wickets with an economy rate of 6.25
In response to RCB’s target, the batsmen of CSK had a tough time. The skipper MS Dhoni played a crucial knock, scoring 84 runs. Dhoni scored these runs from 48 balls at a strike rate of 175. His innings included 7 sixes and 5 fours. Apart from him, only Ambati Rayudu entered the figure of 20s. Rayudu scored 29 runs off 29 balls.
RCB’s bowlers played a major role in restricting the batsmen of CSK. Umesh Yadav and Dale Steyn took 2 wickets, and Navdeep Sani also claimed a wicket. However, Steyn’s performance was remarkable as he maintained an economy rate of 7.25.
CSK needed only two runs to win the match on the last ball. However, due to the brilliant fielding by Parthiv Patel, Shardul Thakur got run out while attempting to take a run. RCB won a nerve-wracking encounter by 1 run.
3. RCB vs CSK, Chennai, 2012
Batting first in a day/night match at Chennai, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 205 runs. The RCB’s top order had a major role in setting up this huge target. Mayank Agarwal scored 45 runs off 26 balls. From the other end, Chris Gayle scored 68 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate of 194.28.
At #3, Virat Kohli anchored the innings, scoring 57 runs off 46 balls. However, the middle order failed to capitalize and could not add anything impactful to the scorecard.
The bowlers of CSK, Doug Bollinger and Albie Morkel, played a huge role in restricting RCB in the death overs. Bollinger took 3 wickets, including Daniel Vettori’s run out as well. Morkel, on the other hand, claimed two crucial wickets of Agarwal and AB de Villiers.
When CSK came to bat, they had the challenge of chasing a massive target. However, Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis, played an impactful knock of 71 runs off 46 balls. In the middle order, the skipper, MS Dhoni scored a quick 41 runs off 24 balls. The all-rounder Albie Morkel played an equally effective knock, scoring 28 runs off 7 balls.
Muthiah Muralidaran took three wickets with an economy rate of just 5.25. The crucial match ended with CSK chasing the target on the last ball with 5 wickets in hand.
4. RCB vs CSK, Ranchi, 2014
Another match in the list of top matches between RCB and CSK is the one that occurred in 2014 at Ranchi. It was a low-scoring match as batting first, CSK set up a target of 139 runs. Indian top-order batsman, Suresh Raina scored 62 runs off 48 balls. David Hussey scored 25 runs from 29 balls. Raina was the only batsman who stood tall against the lethal bowling attack of RCB.
The bowling attack of RCB restricted the batsmen of Chennai Super Kings quite well. The right-arm fast bowler, Varun Aaron, claimed two crucial wickets of the CSK’s openers.
RCB started quite well in response to the target set up by CSK. Chris Gayle played a slow knock of 46 runs off 50 balls. However, his innings was equally effective as RCB had to achieve a small target.
In the middle-order, AB de Villiers added a quick 28 runs off just 14 balls. The bowlers of CSK did well in challenging the batsmen. Mohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin stood out with their incredible bowling spells. However, RCB chased the target on the second-last ball.
5. RCB vs CSK, Benagaluru, 2018
Another close contest occurred between RCB and CSK as they met at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Batting first, RCB was able to set a massive target of 206 runs. The wicket-keeper batsman, Quinton de Kock, played an impactful innings and scored a half-century.
He was followed by the star batsman, AB de Villiers who scored 68 runs off just 30 balls. His brilliant innings featured 8 sixes and 2 boundaries. In the middle-order, Mandeep Singh played at a strike rate of 188.24, scoring 32 runs off 17 balls.
Among the bowlers of CSK, Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo gave the best performances. Both these bowlers took two wickets each at an economy rate just above 8. In response to the target, CSK lost 4 wickets for just 74 runs. From there, Ambati Rayudu and MS. Dhoni built a memorable partnership as they helped their team reach the target in 19.4 overs.
Ambati Rayudu made 82 runs from 53 balls. He got run out to a ball thrown by Umesh Yadav. The skipper, Dhoni, stayed till the end, scoring 70 runs off 34 balls. RCB, despite a good batting and bowling performance, could not win the match. However, in the bowling department, Yuzverndra Chahal did well with his 2 wickets and an economy rate of 6.50.
6. RCB vs CSK, Bengaluru, 2023
Another match at Bengaluru has been listed in the top 10 matches between CSK and RCB. It was a league stage game between the two teams. Batting first, Chennai Super Kings put up a massive target of 227 runs for RCB to chase. The Kiwi opener, Devon Conway scored 83 runs off 45 balls. Ajinkya Rahane quickly added 37 runs off 20 balls at a strike rate of 185.0.
In the middle order, Shivam Dube scored a blistering half-century. He added 52 runs from 27 balls with the help of 5 sixes and 2 boundaries. The bowling attack of RCB could not get a breakthrough. All the bowlers ended their bowling figures with just a wicket.
RCB had a tough time while chasing the target. They lost 2 wickets on 15 runs. However, they bounced back with the help of a solid partnership between Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. Du Plessis scored 62 runs off 33 balls. Maxwell played an innings of 76 runs off just 36 balls. Dinesh Karthik scored 28 quick runs off 14 balls in death overs.
Despite the incredible performance of the RCB batters, the bowlers of CSK did well to defend the target. With his 3 wickets, Tushar Deshpande topped the list. He was followed by Matheesha Pathirana who claimed two wickets. CSK won this thrilling match by 8 runs.
7. RCB vs CSK, Pune, 2022
RCB vs CSK at Pune in the IPL season 2022 is another match on this list. Batting first, RCB scored 173 runs with a loss of 8 wickets. Faf du Plessis and Mahipal Lomror stood out with their performances. Du Plessis scored 38 runs off just 22 balls. Lomror scored 42 runs off 27 balls at a strike rate of 155.5.
Once again, in the lower middle-order, Dinesh Karthik played an impactful innings by scoring 26 runs off 17 balls. Maheesh Theekshana and Moeen Ali had a great day with the ball. Theekshana claimed 3 wickets and Ali took two wickets.
CSK had a decent and steady start with the bat. Devon Conway scored 56 runs off 37 balls. The English all-rounder, Moeen Ali was equally effective with the bat. He scored 34 crucial runs in the middle-order. However, due to the failure of other batsmen, CSK lost this match by just 13 runs. Harshal Patel played a huge role in the victory of RCB, with these 3 wickets.
8. RCB vs CSK, Chennai, 2008
The rivalry between RCB and CSK has always been a highlight of the IPL. The next one on the list is their match from the inaugural season of IPL. Batting first, RCB scored 126 runs, with Rahul Dravid being the top run-scorer for the side. Dravid scored 47 runs off 39 balls with the help of 5 boundaries.
In the lower order, Praveen Kumar’s 21 runs off 11 balls helped RCB register a decent target. CSK bowlers had a great day with the ball. Albie Morkel claimed 4 wickets at an economy rate of 8.00. Manpreet Gony bowled a great spell as he took two wickets at an economy rate of just 2.75.
In response to the target, CSK middle-order could not perform well. The only prominent knock for the side was the opening batsman Stephen Flemming’s innings. He scored 45 runs off 40 balls. CSK fell just 14 runs short of the target. Anil Kumble was the Player of the Match for RCB as he took 3 wickets at an economy rate of 3.50.
9. RCB vs CSK, Bengaluru, 2008
Another match from the first season of IPL has found its place in the list of top RCB vs CSK matches. CSK batted first and scored 178 runs with the loss of 5 wickets. Australian batsman, Michael Hussey played crucial innings of 47 runs off 37 balls.
The main highlight of the show was MS Dhoni, who scored 65 runs off just 30 balls. Dhoni’s innings featured 3 sixes and 9 fours. Zaheer Khan was the most effective bowler for RCB. He took 3 wickets in his four overs.
RCB’s top order performed well with the bat. Wasim Jaffer scored a fifty from 33 balls. The Kiwi batsman, Ross Taylor scored 53 runs off 34 balls. However, the middle-order failed to capitalize on the performance of the top order. RCB lost this thriller by 13 runs.
Manpreet Gony had a great day with the ball, taking 3 wickets. Jognider Sharma also played a huge role in the win of Chennai Super Kings.
10. RCB vs CSK, Chennai, 2011
This encounter between the two teams is often overlooked due to the margin of 21 runs by which RCB lost the match. However, the game was on till the 19th over. Batting first, Michael Hussey scored 83 runs off 56 balls for CSK. His innings featured 11 fours and a six. Hussey was accompanied by Murali Vijay who scored 31 runs off 21 balls.
At #3, Suresh Raina added 29 runs off 16 balls. Although, Daniel Vettori could not claim a wicket in the match, he was the most economical bowler for RCB with his economy rate of 5.75. Ryan Ninan Tillakaratne Dilshan took 2 wickets.
For RCB, AB de Villiers scored 65 runs from 44 balls with the help of 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. From the other end, Kohli scored 35 runs off 28 balls. It was a well-rounded performance by the bowlers of CSK. Except for Suresh Raina, who only bowled one over, all the bowlers were able to claim at least a wicket. Suraj Randiv had the best figures with 2 wickets at an economy rate of 6.00.
Conclusion
RCB vs CSK has been one of the most celebrated rivalries in the IPL. There have been countless exciting encounters between these two teams. However, the top 10 list of the matches between Royal Challengers Banglore and Chennai Super Kings has a few notable inclusions.
The semi-final between RCB and CSK in the second edition of the league has found its place on the number one spot on the list. The two matches from the inaugural season of 2008 between the teams have also registered their place.
The other matches on this list are from the 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2023 seasons of the IPL.
