Royal Challengers Bangalore Team – IPL Squad, Players & Stats

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team is based in Bangalore, Karnataka, and is a professional T20 cricketing franchise. The Royal Challengers franchise is one of the most popular teams and has a following that includes many of the biggest superstars in the cricket world. The team is one of the most consistently successful franchises and made the finals of the IPL in 2009, 2011, and 2016 and finished as runners-up. The team has a huge fan following, and M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the team hosts its home games, is known for its high-scoring games. The 2024-25 season is set to be one of the best seasons in the team's history, with senior players like Virat Kohli and younger players like Rajat Patidar delivering incredible innings and games. Recently, Virat Kohli has made back-to-back centuries and is one of the most iconic players in the world.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Team: Legacy & Achievements

• Anil Kumble's captaincy was with the team in 2009, and they defeated CSK in the semifinals. The team went on to the finals but lost to the Deccan Chargers in the final match by 6 runs.
• 2011 was the final season, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad became a runner-up with Daniel Vettori's captaincy and lost the 2011 finals against CSK.
• One of the seasons is 2016, where Kohli made 973 runs in total, the highest run total in a season. The team was also in the finals, but unfortunately lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
• Eventually, in IPL 2025, the Royal Challengers Bangalore team dominated in the group stage, qualified for the playoffs, and obtained their first trophy by beating the Punjab Kings in the final match. In 2025, the IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore team made history after 18 long years with their first title in the IPL by 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. It remains a highlight of any historic Royal Challengers Bangalore schedule.
• Rajat Patidar's calm and composed captaincy proved highly effective this season, keeping the team balanced and confident under pressure. Furthermore, the bowling unit comprising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya has delivered consistent star performances, resulting in match-winners. On the batting side, Virat Kohli finished in the 3rd position for the Orange Cap, and on the bowling side, Josh Hazlewood finished 3rd in the Purple Cap race; clearly delineating the all-round performance of the team, RCB.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Team & Key Players

The passion and hard work of the team players make them the core pillars of the team. Here, their impactful and memorable events are reflected:

• Virat Kohli: He has been the most important and iconic player of RCB. He played for only one franchise since 2008 till now. He reached the finals with RCB and scored 973 runs in the 2016 IPL. He was also the top run-scorer in the 2024 tournament. After the 2025 season, Kohli has become the most prolific batsman in IPL history, with 8661 runs to his name. His leadership and consistency helped him manage the situation during difficult times and improve the overall performance of the IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore team.
• AB de Villiers: He entered the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2011 and, for the next 10 years, became the spine of the team. His role in pressure situations in the middle order was crucial, especially when the team was playing with inexperienced players. After shifting to the role of finisher, he scored 4522 runs for RCB. He was the reason why his team was able to create a defendable target and ultimately win the game due to his high strike rate and game-changing innings.
• Chris Gayle: His RCB career began in 2011, when he came in as a replacement player. He made an immediate impact and was the tournament's top run-scorer in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Gayle comes in with immense talent, and in 2013, attained the phenomenal score of 175 in T20. Gayle built his batting style into one of the already set RCB.
• Harshal Patel: The biggest breakthrough for him happened in 2021 with 32 wickets, becoming the season's top wicket-taker. This performance changed the course of RCB's bowling strategy. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he took more important wickets and was a specialist in death over bowling. His performance in the high-pressure games was invaluable, and thus, he became a fan favourite.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Stats & Records

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team has a very entertaining history. They made their mark for the first time in IPL history in the 2025 season final. However, their players have always been at the top of the stats chart. Here are some iconic Royal Challengers Bangalore stats and records as follows:

Top Run Scorer for the Royal Challengers in IPL history

The batting has always been RCB's biggest weapon. Here are the Royal Challengers Bangalore stats of the top players who have scored the most runs for the side:

• Virat Kohli (King Kohli): He is the undisputed king of the IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Kohli has scored 8661 runs in 273 innings, averaging around 39.54 and having a strike rate of 132.85. He has the most centuries in the IPL. His 2016 season is a "gold standard” with 973 runs and four centuries to his name.
• AB de Villiers (Mr. 360): This great legend of the game has now scored 4,491 runs in 144 innings. His strike rate during this period has been 158.63. He has played many innings for RCB, which can be described as nothing less than 'miracles'. His highest score for RCB so far is 133 runs.
• Chris Gayle (Universe Boss): The 'Universe Boss' hit 3,163 runs while playing for RCB from 2011 to 2017. His blistering innings of 175 are not only memorable but also the highest score in IPL history. He dominated the batting with a strike rate of 152.72 and 239 sixes, including 5 centuries. 
• Faf du Plessis: He played 45 matches for RCB between 2022 and 2024, scoring 1,636 runs at an average of 38.04 and a strike rate of 146.99. As captain, he provided steady starts and bolstered the top order with consistent runs.

Top Wicket Taker for the Royal Challengers in IPL History

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team's bowling attack has featured many notable stars, but only a few names have been etched into the pages of history when it comes to wicket-taking. Here are the key points and details of RCB's top wicket-takers:

• Yuzvendra Chahal (2014–2021)

He took 139 wickets in 113 matches between 2014 and 2021. His best performance was 4/25. He bowled at an average of 22.03 and an economy of 7.58, becoming a leading wicket-taker of the IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore team.

• Harshal Patel (2012–2023)

He took 99 wickets in 80 matches for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. His best figures were 5/27. He bowled at an average of 23.17 and an economy rate of 8.47.

• Mohammed Siraj (2018–2024)

Siraj took 83 wickets in 87 matches between 2018 and 2024. His best performance was 4/21. He bowled for RCB at an average of 31.44 and an economy of 8.60.

• Vinay Kumar (2008–2013)

He took 72 wickets in 64 matches. His best performance was 4/40. He bowled at an average of 25.30 and an economy of 8.37.

The Topmost rivals of the Royal Challengers in the IPL

There is tough competition between the IPL teams, but the most iconic and memorable rivalries are given below:

RCB vs CSK

RCB vs CSK Head-to-Head stats records the rivalry between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore team (RCB) has always been explosive. A total of 35 matches have been played between the two teams so far, out of which CSK has won 21 times, and RCB has won only 13 matches. However, RCB made a strong comeback in the 2025 season and improved its record by winning after 18 years. CSK has made 226 highest score against RCB, and RCB's best score is 218.

RCB vs KKR

RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head record states that KKR has dominated with 20 wins out of 36 matches played, while RCB has managed 15 victories. The highest score of KKR is 222 runs, and that of RCB is 221 runs, whereas the lowest score of RCB is 49 runs, and that of KKR is 84 runs.

RCB vs SRH

RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head record states 26 matches have been played between RCB and SRH, in which SRH has won 13 times, and RCB has won 11 times. In this rivalry, SRH has made the highest total of 287 runs in IPL history against RCB, in reply to which RCB also made a big score of 262 runs. Whereas the lowest score, RCB's lowest total has been 68 runs, while SRH's lowest score is 72 runs.

RCB vs MI

RCB vs MI Head-to-Head record reveals RCB and MI have played 34 matches so far, with MI winning 19 times and RCB winning 15 times. RCB have posted a total of 235 runs against MI, while MI's highest score is 213. MI's lowest score in this rivalry is 111 runs, and RCB's lowest score is 116 runs.

Iconic Clashes of the Royal Challengers in IPL

In IPL history, RCB has been more than just a team but an emotion. Their matches have always featured high-voltage drama, massive scores, and intense rivalries. Here are details of the most iconic and memorable clashes of RCB:

RCB vs KKR, 2008

The first-ever IPL match was played on 18 April 2008 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium between RCB and KKR, which laid the foundation for the entire tournament. In this match, KKR opener Brendon McCullum gave an iconic performance in which he made 158 runs (10 fours, 13 sixes) in just 73 balls, making the then-highest score in T20 cricket. KKR posted a huge total of 222/3, in response to which RCB's batting completely collapsed, and the team was all out for just 82 runs. RCB lost this match by 140 runs, which is one of the biggest defeats in their history, but this match brought the image of "glamour and fire" of IPL in front of the whole world.

RCB vs PWI, 2013

On 23 April 2013 at Bangalore's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the "Gaylestorm" shattered all the old records of cricket. The Royal Challengers Bangalore team opener Chris Gayle shook things up against Pune Warriors India by smashing the fastest century in T20 history in just 30 balls and eventually set a world record by scoring 175 runs in 66 balls. Gayle's innings included 17 sixes, with the help of which RCB made a massive total of 263/5, which was the highest team score of IPL at that time. RCB won the match by 130 runs, and Gayle, after batting, also made the day his own by taking 2 wickets in bowling.

RCB vs. SRH, 2016

The 2016 final was the biggest "heartbreak" for RCB fans because Virat Kohli was at his peak with 973 runs, and the match was played at Chinnaswamy. Batting first, SRH set a huge target of 208/7, in response to which Chris Gayle scored 76 and Virat Kohli scored 54, giving RCB a stormy start of 114 runs. At one point, Royal Challengers Bangalore was winning comfortably, but as soon as Gayle and Kohli were out, the batting collapsed, and due to not having a set batsman, RCB fell just 8 runs short of the target. With this defeat, RCB's dream of winning its first trophy was shattered, and SRH became the champion.

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