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The rivalry between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is one of the long-running contests in Indian Premier League Cricket history. The two franchises first met in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru were known as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals played as Delhi Daredevils. Over the years, their meetings have produced close finishes, high-scoring contests, dominant bowling displays and several memorable individual performances. The teams have also experienced name and squad changes, but the competitive nature of their encounters has remained a consistent feature of the IPL. By the end of the 2026 season, the two sides had played 35 IPL matches against each other. Conventional IPL head-to-head records credit Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 21 wins, while Delhi Capitals have 13 wins, with one match recorded as a no result. Their 2013 meeting is officially recorded as a tie before Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the one-over eliminator, which explains why some statistical databases classify that result differently.
Overall Head to Head Record
Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have met regularly since 2008, giving the fixture a substantial statistical history. The overall numbers show that Royal Challengers Bengaluru have recorded more victories in this matchup. Delhi Capitals have won 13 of the 35 completed or otherwise recorded encounters, while RCB have been credited with 21 victories under the conventional result classification. One match ended without a result. The official IPL record of the 2013 contest is particularly notable because the teams finished level at 152 runs before RCB won the one-over eliminator.
| Head to Head Statistic | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 35 | 35 |
| Wins | 13 | 21 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Team Total | 196/4 | 215/1 |
| Lowest Team Total | 75 | 137 |
| First Meeting | 2008 | 2008 |
| Latest Meeting | 2026 | 2026 |
The highest score in the fixture belongs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who made 215 for 1 against Delhi. Delhi Capitals’ highest total against RCB is 196 for 4. On the other side of the scale, Delhi were bowled out for 75 in 2026, while RCB’s lowest listed total against Delhi is 137.
Season Wise Performance
The head-to-head record has changed considerably across different IPL seasons. In the early years, Delhi Daredevils produced several victories against RCB, including their opening meeting in 2008 and further wins in 2009 and 2010. RCB also established periods of strong control, particularly during the middle years of the rivalry.
In 2013, the teams produced one of their most unusual encounters. Both sides scored 152 in their allotted 20 overs, creating a tie. Royal Challengers Bangalore then won the one-over eliminator.
| IPL Season | Result Pattern |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Delhi won one match and RCB won one |
| 2009 | Delhi won one and RCB won one |
| 2010 | Delhi won both meetings |
| 2011 | RCB won |
| 2012 | RCB won both meetings |
| 2013 | RCB won one and one match was tied before eliminator |
| 2014 | RCB won both meetings |
| 2015 | Delhi won one meeting |
| 2016 | Delhi won one meeting |
| 2017 | RCB won |
| 2018 | RCB won both meetings |
| 2019 | Delhi won both meetings |
| 2020 | Delhi won both meetings |
| 2021 | RCB won both meetings |
| 2022 | RCB won |
| 2023 | Both teams won once |
| 2024 | RCB won |
| 2025 | Both teams won once |
| 2026 | Both teams won once |
The 2025 season was also evenly split. RCB won the April 27 meeting by six wickets, while Delhi had earlier defeated RCB by six wickets on April 10. The 2026 season followed a similar pattern, with Delhi winning the April 18 encounter and RCB responding with a nine-wicket victory on April 27.
Batting Records and Key Players
The fixture has featured several major IPL batters. Virat Kohli has been particularly productive in matches against Delhi Capitals. Available head-to-head statistics credit Kohli with 957 runs in 24 innings against the Capitals, including a highest score of 99. AB de Villiers also made a substantial contribution during his RCB career, scoring 480 runs in 12 innings. For Delhi, Rishabh Pant is among the leading run scorers in this fixture, with 411 runs and a highest score of 85. Quinton de Kock also produced a notable 108 during his time with Delhi.
| Player | Team | Runs in Fixture | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 957 | 99 |
| AB de Villiers | RCB | 480 | 90 |
| Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | 411 | 85 |
| Shreyas Iyer | Delhi Capitals | 273 | 67 |
| Quinton de Kock | Delhi Capitals | 243 | 108 |
These statistics demonstrate how the rivalry has included contributions from different generations of IPL players. Kohli and de Villiers were central figures for RCB during several seasons, while Pant, Iyer and de Kock produced important innings for Delhi. The highest individual score listed in the fixture is Quinton de Kock’s 108.
Bowling Records
Bowling has played an equally important role in determining the results between the two teams. Kagiso Rabada is one of the leading wicket-takers in this fixture, with 13 wickets in five innings according to available head-to-head statistics. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj have also taken 11 wickets each against Delhi, while Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal have recorded 11 wickets apiece in the matchup.
| Bowler | Team | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 4/21 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 11 | 3/5 |
| Mohammed Siraj | RCB | 11 | 2/23 |
| Axar Patel | Delhi Capitals | 11 | 2/18 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB | 11 | 3/32 |
The 2026 season added another notable bowling performance to the history of the fixture. On April 27, Josh Hazlewood took 4 for 12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3 for 5 as RCB dismissed Delhi for 75 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. RCB then completed the chase in only 6.3 overs, winning by nine wickets.
Memorable Recent Matches
The 2026 meetings showed two completely different styles of contest. On April 18, Delhi Capitals successfully chased 176 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. KL Rahul scored 57 from 34 balls, while Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 60. Delhi reached the target with one delivery remaining to win by six wickets.
Only nine days later, RCB produced a dramatically different result. Delhi were bowled out for 75, with Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar leading the attack. RCB reached 77 for 1 in just 6.3 overs. Virat Kohli finished unbeaten on 23, while Devdutt Padikkal scored an unbeaten 34. The nine-wicket victory gave RCB a strong response after their earlier defeat to Delhi in the same season.
The 2025 meetings were also split between the teams. Delhi won the April 10 match by six wickets after chasing RCB’s 163 for 7, while RCB won the April 27 match by six wickets after successfully chasing Delhi’s 162 for 8.
Venue and Statistical Trends
Venue has often influenced the character of Delhi Capitals versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru matches. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium generally provides opportunities for aggressive batting, while the Arun Jaitley Stadium has produced both high-scoring matches and low totals. The 2026 meeting in Bengaluru saw Delhi chase 176 successfully, whereas the return match in Delhi became a dominant bowling contest with the Capitals dismissed for 75.
The fixture also contains a number of statistical extremes. Delhi’s highest total against RCB is 196 for 4, while RCB’s highest is 215 for 1. Delhi’s lowest total is 75. The teams have also experienced a tied match, with the 2013 contest decided through the one-over eliminator.
| Record Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Most matches played | 35 |
| Conventional RCB wins | 21 |
| Delhi Capitals wins | 13 |
| No result | 1 |
| Highest RCB total | 215/1 |
| Highest Delhi total | 196/4 |
| Lowest Delhi total | 75 |
| Highest individual score | 108 by Quinton de Kock |
| Leading run scorer | Virat Kohli, 957 |
| Leading wicket-taker | Kagiso Rabada, 13 |
Conclusion
The Delhi Capitals cricket versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket rivalry has developed through more than 35 IPL meetings and includes some of the tournament’s most memorable batting, bowling and finishing performances. RCB have the stronger conventional head-to-head record with 21 wins compared with Delhi’s 13, while one match ended without a result. The rivalry has also featured a tied match decided by an eliminator, high totals such as 215 for 1, and dramatic low-scoring contests such as Delhi’s 75 all out in 2026. With players such as Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, AB de Villiers, Kagiso Rabada and others contributing major performances, these meetings have continued to add important chapters to IPL history.
FAQs
1. How many times have Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played each other?
Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have played 35 IPL matches against each other through the 2026 season.
2. Who has won more matches between Delhi Capitals and RCB?
Using the conventional IPL result classification, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won 21 matches, while Delhi Capitals have won 13. One match was recorded as a no result.
3. What is the highest score in Delhi Capitals versus RCB matches?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s highest total against Delhi Capitals is 215 for 1. Delhi Capitals’ highest total against RCB is 196 for 4.
4. Who has scored the most runs in this head to head?
Virat Kohli is listed as the leading run scorer in the fixture, with 957 runs in 24 innings and a highest score of 99.
5. What happened in the latest Delhi Capitals versus RCB match?
In the latest meeting of the 2026 season on April 27, Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Delhi Capitals by nine wickets. Delhi were dismissed for 75, while RCB reached 77 for 1 in 6.3 overs. Josh Hazlewood took 4 for 12 and was named Player of the Match.
