Table of Contents
The rivalry between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru has produced some of the Indian Premier League’s most memorable batting displays, close finishes, dramatic collapses, and high-scoring chases. Both franchises have been part of the IPL since its inaugural season, with Delhi originally competing as Delhi Daredevils and Bengaluru as Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their meetings have taken place across regular-season games and at venues in India and overseas. As of the end of IPL 2026, the teams had met 35 times, with RCB winning 21, Delhi winning 13, and one match producing no result.
This statistical guide covers the overall head-to-head record, team totals, individual batting and bowling records, recent meetings, major milestones, and the numbers that explain how this matchup has developed over nearly two decades.
Head-to-Head Stats
The overall record shows a clear advantage for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Before the 2026 season, RCB had won 20 of the first 33 meetings, while Delhi had won 12 and one match ended without a result. The two 2026 fixtures changed the numbers again: Delhi won the Bengaluru meeting by six wickets on April 18, while RCB won the Delhi meeting by nine wickets on April 27.
| Statistic | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
|---|---|---|
| Matches played | 35 | 35 |
| Wins | 13 | 21 |
| Losses | 21 | 13 |
| No result | 1 | 1 |
| Highest team total | 196/4 | 215/1 |
| Lowest team total | 75 | 137 |
| Biggest win by runs | 59 runs | 47 runs |
| Biggest win by wickets | 7 wickets | 10 wickets |
| Most notable individual score | 108, Quinton de Kock | 128*, Chris Gayle |
The 2026 figures make the overall record particularly interesting because both teams won one match against the other during the season. The latest game, however, ended in one of RCB’s most emphatic victories in the fixture, with Delhi dismissed for only 75 before Bengaluru reached 77/1 in 6.3 overs.
Batting Statistics
The fixture has featured several elite IPL batters. Virat Kohli has been one of the most productive players in this matchup over the years, while former RCB stars Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers also produced major innings against Delhi.
For Delhi, Rishabh Pant has been one of the franchise’s most successful batters against Bengaluru, while Quinton de Kock owns Delhi’s highest individual score in the fixture.
| Player | Team | Runs in Fixture | Notable Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 1,000+ | Leading RCB run scorer in the matchup |
| AB de Villiers | RCB | 690 | Consistent high-impact middle-order batter |
| Rishabh Pant | DC | 421 | Leading Delhi batter in the fixture |
| Chris Gayle | RCB | 400+ | Holds highest individual score, 128* |
| Quinton de Kock | DC | 400+ | Delhi’s highest individual score, 108 |
Historical statistical sources place Kohli comfortably at the top among RCB batters in this matchup, with different databases showing totals around the 1,050-run mark depending on the point at which the record was compiled. Pant’s 421 remains the leading total for a Delhi batter in commonly published head-to-head records.
Virat Kohli’s Consistency
Kohli’s record is important because he has played against Delhi across several generations of the IPL. His value in this fixture has not depended solely on one spectacular innings. Instead, he has repeatedly contributed runs across different venues and team combinations.
His 2026 campaign also showed that he remained a major part of RCB’s batting structure. In the April 18 meeting, he made 19 from 13 balls, while in the April 27 match he finished unbeaten on 23 from 15 balls as RCB chased 76.
Highest Individual Scores
| Batter | Team | Score | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | RCB | 128* | 2012 |
| Quinton de Kock | DC | 108 | — |
| KL Rahul | DC | 132* | 2020 |
| AB de Villiers | RCB | 101* | 2012 |
Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 128 remains the most explosive individual score in the rivalry. It came during the period when RCB regularly built innings around aggressive top-order batting.
KL Rahul’s unbeaten 132 in 2020 is another standout performance. It demonstrated how a batter could dominate the matchup through both boundary hitting and strike rotation.
Bowling Statistics
Bowling records in this matchup are led by players from different eras. Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets for RCB against Delhi, while Kagiso Rabada has been particularly successful for the Capitals.
| Bowler | Team | Wickets | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB | 15 | — |
| Kagiso Rabada | DC | 13 | 4/21 |
| Harshal Patel | RCB | 13 | — |
| Mohammed Siraj | RCB | 13 | — |
| Jaydev Unadkat | RCB | — | 5/25 |
Published head-to-head records list Chahal with 15 wickets and Rabada with 13. Rabada’s 4/21 is among Delhi’s best bowling efforts, while Jaydev Unadkat’s 5/25 is the best bowling figures recorded by an RCB bowler in this fixture.
The importance of these records is that the rivalry has not been controlled by one type of bowler. Leg-spin, pace, swing, and variations at the death have all played a role depending on venue and conditions.
Highest Team Totals
The highest totals show how different the scoring patterns have been across the rivalry.
| Rank | Team | Score | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | 215/1 | 2012 |
| 2 | DC | 196/4 | 2020 |
| 3 | DC | 192/3 | 2016 |
| 4 | RCB | 191/5 | 2016 |
| 5 | DC | 191/5 | 2008 |
RCB’s 215/1 remains the highest score in this matchup. It is a useful reminder of how heavily Bengaluru have sometimes relied on explosive top-order batting.
Delhi’s 196/4 in 2020 is their highest total against RCB. The Capitals have also crossed 190 several times, particularly when their top order has survived the powerplay and converted starts into long innings.
Lowest Team Totals
The lower end of the numbers tells an equally important story.
| Team | Lowest Total | Season/Match |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 75 | 2026 |
| Delhi Daredevils | 95 | 2015 |
| RCB | 137 | 2020 |
| RCB | 137 | Historical low |
Delhi’s 75 all out in the April 27, 2026 match is now the lowest total in the rivalry. RCB’s bowling attack dismantled the Capitals’ batting order in only 16.3 overs, with Josh Hazlewood taking 4/12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar contributing four wickets.
The previous major low point came in 2015, when Delhi were bowled out for 95 and RCB completed a 10-wicket victory.
Top Individual Scores
Individual batting performances have often changed the direction of this rivalry.
| Player | Team | Score | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | RCB | 128* | Highest score in the fixture |
| KL Rahul | DC | 132* | Major Delhi individual performance |
| Quinton de Kock | DC | 108 | Delhi’s highest score in published head-to-head records |
| AB de Villiers | RCB | 101* | Century-level RCB performance |
KL Rahul’s unbeaten 132 came during the 2020 season and remains one of the most memorable Delhi innings against Bengaluru. Gayle’s 128* remains the benchmark for an RCB batter in the rivalry.
Best Bowling Performances
| Bowler | Team | Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Jaydev Unadkat | RCB | 5/25 |
| Kagiso Rabada | DC | 4/21 |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | 4/12 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 3/26 |
Hazlewood’s 4/12 in 2026 deserves special attention because it came in one of the most one-sided recent games between the sides. He helped reduce Delhi to 75, after which RCB needed only 6.3 overs to finish the chase.
Rabada’s 4/21 represents an earlier example of Delhi using high-quality pace to disrupt RCB’s middle order. His record remains among the best bowling performances by a Capitals bowler in the matchup.
Recent Meetings
The recent record has produced a much tighter sequence of results than the all-time numbers suggest.
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 27, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium | RCB won by 9 wickets |
| Apr. 18, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | DC won by 6 wickets |
| Apr. 27, 2025 | Arun Jaitley Stadium | RCB won by 6 wickets |
| Apr. 10, 2025 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | DC won by 6 wickets |
| May 12, 2024 | Delhi | RCB won by 47 runs |
| May 6, 2023 | Delhi | DC won by 7 wickets |
| Apr. 15, 2023 | Bengaluru | RCB won by 23 runs |
| Apr. 16, 2022 | Mumbai | RCB won by 16 runs |
| Oct. 8, 2021 | Dubai | RCB won by 7 wickets |
| Apr. 27, 2021 | Ahmedabad | RCB won by 1 run |
The official IPL head-to-head listing shows RCB winning seven of the last 10 meetings and Delhi winning three.
That sequence includes some contrasting games. The April 18, 2026 match was a close chase, with Delhi reaching 179/4 after RCB made 175/8. Two matches later in the rivalry, RCB produced a completely different result, dismissing Delhi for 75 and winning by nine wickets.
Major Records
Highest Team Score
RCB’s 215/1 is the highest team total in the matchup. It reflects the franchise’s long-standing ability to turn a good powerplay into a very large total.
Lowest Team Score
Delhi’s 75 in 2026 is now the lowest total in the fixture. The collapse was particularly severe because the Capitals lost wickets throughout the innings rather than suffering a single late-order collapse.
Biggest Win by Runs
Delhi’s biggest victory by runs came in 2020, when they defeated RCB by 59 runs. That remains one of the most decisive results in the rivalry.
Biggest Win by Wickets
RCB’s 10-wicket victory in 2015 stands out because Delhi were dismissed for only 95. RCB reached the target without losing a wicket.
Closest Finish
The April 27, 2021 meeting was decided by only one run. Such narrow margins have helped give this fixture its reputation for producing tense finishes.
Interesting Statistical Facts
RCB leads the overall series. After 35 meetings through IPL 2026, Bengaluru had 21 wins compared with Delhi’s 13, plus one no-result.
The rivalry has produced both extreme totals and extreme collapses. RCB’s 215/1 and Delhi’s 75 all out sit at opposite ends of the statistical spectrum.
The fixture has been played outside India. Meetings have taken place in locations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ahmedabad and other neutral venues, making the rivalry broader than a simple home-ground contest.
Chasing has frequently been successful. Several recent meetings have been won by teams batting second, including Delhi’s six-wicket victory in Bengaluru in 2026 and RCB’s nine-wicket victory in Delhi later that month.
The matchup has featured a Super Over. A 2013 meeting was tied after the regulation innings, with RCB winning the Super Over.
Kohli remains central to RCB’s history against Delhi. His longevity means his numbers span multiple versions of both teams and several generations of IPL players.
2026 Meetings: What the Numbers Show
The two 2026 games provide an excellent snapshot of how unpredictable T20 cricket can be.
In Bengaluru on April 18, RCB scored 175/8. Phil Salt led the innings with 63 from 38 balls, while Kohli made 19. Delhi then chased 176 in 19.5 overs. KL Rahul scored 57 from 34 balls, Tristan Stubbs made an unbeaten 60 from 47, and David Miller finished with 22 from only 10 deliveries. Stubbs was named Player of the Match.
Nine days later in Delhi, the story was completely different. Delhi collapsed to 75 in 16.3 overs. Hazlewood’s 4/12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s early wickets created a chase that required very little from RCB’s batters. Devdutt Padikkal smashed 34 from 13 balls and Kohli finished unbeaten on 23 from 15 as RCB reached 77/1 in only 6.3 overs.
Together, the two matches underline an important feature of this rivalry: the statistical history can change dramatically when powerplay wickets, middle-over spin, or late-innings hitting shifts the momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times have Delhi Capitals and RCB played each other?
Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru had played 35 IPL matches by the end of the 2026 season. RCB won 21, Delhi won 13, and one match ended without a result.
Who has won more matches between Delhi Capitals and RCB?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won more matches overall. Their 21 victories give them an eight-win advantage over Delhi’s 13 after 35 completed meetings.
What is the highest score in Delhi Capitals vs RCB matches?
RCB’s highest team score against Delhi is 215/1. It remains the highest total recorded in the fixture. Delhi’s highest total is 196/4.
Who has scored the most runs in this rivalry?
Virat Kohli is the leading RCB run scorer against Delhi in published head-to-head records. Rishabh Pant is the leading Delhi batter in the matchup, with 421 runs listed in historical records.
What is the lowest score in the matchup?
Delhi’s 75 all out against RCB on April 27, 2026 is the lowest team total in the rivalry. RCB chased the target in 6.3 overs and won by nine wickets.
Conclusion
The numbers behind this IPL rivalry tell a story of changing eras rather than one fixed pattern. RCB have the stronger overall head-to-head record, but Delhi have produced major wins, high totals, outstanding individual innings, and several successful chases. The fixture has included a 215/1 batting masterclass, a 75 all-out collapse, a one-run thriller, a Super Over, and several dominant victories.
The 2026 season added another layer to the history. Delhi won a tight six-wicket chase in Bengaluru, while RCB responded with a nine-wicket demolition in Delhi. Those contrasting results show why historical statistics provide useful context, but individual match conditions can completely reshape the outcome.