Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Timeline and Squads 2026

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad timeline outlines how these two IPL teams have competed over more than a decade, producing high‑octane cricket, iconic performances, and milestone moments. In this rivalry, SRH’s balanced bowling attacks and aggressive batting have often challenged RCB’s explosive batting lineup and star‑studded order. While SRH hold a slight edge in overall wins, RCB have produced standout victories and dramatic chases that have left fans enthralled. Through changing team compositions, evolving strategies, and the shifting patterns of T20 cricket, this timeline highlights how each season added layers to one of the IPL’s most fascinating matchups.

2026 – IPL Schedule & Squads: RCB vs SRH

In IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad will face each other in crucial league matches that could shape the playoff race. RCB host SRH in one early-season fixture, while SRH return the clash later in the league. Fans can expect high-energy contests, record-chasing opportunities, and thrilling finishes in these marquee matchups. These encounters will once again showcase explosive batting, tactical bowling, and the evolving strategies of both franchises.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad (IPL 2026)

Rajat Patidar (Captain), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Dar Salam, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad (IPL 2026)

Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Brydon Carse, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Harsh Dubey, B Smaran, Zeeshan Ansari

RCB vs SRH Head‑to‑Head: Team & Match Stats

Statistic	RCB	SRH
Matches Played	25	25
Wins	11	14
Wins Batting First	6	7
Wins Chasing	5	7
Highest Team Total	262/7	287/3
Lowest Team Total	68	125

Across 25 IPL matches between RCB and SRH, Sunrisers Hyderabad maintain a slight lead with 14 wins, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won 11 games. SRH’s 287/3 is the highest team total in this rivalry and in IPL history, while RCB’s 262/7 remains one of their most memorable high scores despite ending in a loss.

RCB vs SRH Top Performer Records

Virat Kohli leads RCB’s scoring in this matchup with consistent run accumulation, including a century that powered RCB in one of their decisive wins. For SRH, David Warner is the standout run-scorer across multiple seasons. On the bowling side, Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the chart for SRH, while RCB’s spin ace Yuzvendra Chahal frequently provided crucial breakthroughs.

Statistic	RCB	SRH
Most Runs (All‑Time)	Virat Kohli (~762+)	David Warner (~647+)
Highest Individual Score	Virat Kohli (100*)	David Warner (100*)
Most Wickets (All‑Time)	Yuzvendra Chahal (17)	Bhuvneshwar Kumar (18)
Best Bowling Figures	Wanindu Hasaranga (5/18)	Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/19)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Timeline Season‑Wise

2013–2015 – SRH Debut & Early RCB Dominance

Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the IPL in 2013, replacing the Deccan Chargers. In these early years, RCB’s batting depth — featuring marquee names like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle — often dominated the contests. While SRH showed flashes of brilliance, particularly through David Warner’s stroke play and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s seam bowling, RCB’s experience and firepower usually gave them the edge.

In this phase, RCB frequently posted big totals that SRH struggled to chase, and the Hyderabad side used these early losses to build a stronger bowling plan for seasons ahead.

2016 – IPL Final & SRH’s First Title

The 2016 season was pivotal. In the IPL 2016 final, RCB and SRH faced off in one of the most dramatic title deciders in IPL history. SRH posted a big total batting first and then defended it with precise bowling under pressure, defeating RCB by eight runs to lift their first IPL trophy. This victory became a defining moment in the rivalry — not only giving SRH a major championship but also establishing their ability to outperform RCB in high‑stakes games.

2017–2019 – Competitive & Tactical Matches

Following SRH’s championship, RCB vs SRH matches became increasingly competitive. Both teams made strategic adjustments — RCB fortified their batting with more versatile players, while SRH deepened their bowling lineup and empowered their middle order. Matches during this period were often tactical affairs:

• 2017 & 2018: Balanced contests where neither team won consistently, with tactical bowling changes and smart chase plans becoming decisive.

• 2019: RCB claimed a convincing win by 67 runs in one fixture thanks to a dominant batting display, showing that they could counter SRH’s bowling attack effectively.
  

This era marked the rivalry’s transition from one‑sided affairs to unpredictable encounters where match conditions, tactical acumen, and player form often determined the result.

2020–2023 – High‑Scoring Games & Individual Brilliance

The early 2020s saw RCB vs SRH clashes featuring exciting cricket at both ends of the pitch.

2020 & 2021: Neutral venues and varied conditions due to global disruptions led to mixed results. RCB relied on top order firepower, while SRH leaned on their bowling strength. Results were tightly contested, with several matches decided in the final overs.

2023: At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, RCB chased down 186/5 with an 8‑wicket win, powered by Virat Kohli’s century — a standout individual performance that highlighted RCB’s run‑chase proficiency.

2024 – Record-Breaking Batting & Thrilling High Totals

The IPL 2024 season delivered one of the most memorable RCB vs SRH games in IPL history:

• SRH posted 287/3 — the highest team total ever in IPL history — at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.

• The combined tally of 549 runs in the match set the highest aggregate in a T20 match.

• RCB responded with 262/7 but could not chase down the massive total, losing by 25 runs.
  

This match not only showcased SRH’s explosive batting attack, with players like Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen producing blistering innings, but also illustrated how RCB’s batting lineup could fire back even in a defeat.

2025 – Landmark Wins & Evolving Rivalry

In IPL 2025, SRH continued to flex their strength against RCB:

• In Match 65, SRH scored 231/6 batting first, setting the tone and winning by a comfortable margin, handing RCB their first away loss of the season.
  

Although RCB would go on to secure their first IPL title in franchise history later that season, their head‑to‑head battles with SRH remained competitive and influential in shaping their campaign. SRH’s ability to challenge on the road signaled a narrowing gap in performance and added fresh chapters to the rivalry.

RCB vs SRH Trophies

Both franchises have claimed one IPL title each. SRH’s championship came at the expense of RCB in the 2016 final, while RCB finally won their maiden trophy in 2025, ending years of near misses and heartbreaks for their passionate fan base.

Team	IPL Titles	Years Won
Royal Challengers Bengaluru	1	2025
Sunrisers Hyderabad	1	2016

Milestones in the RCB vs SRH Timeline

• 2013 — First Encounter: SRH debuted in the competition and faced RCB for the first time.

• 2016 — IPL Final Thriller: SRH defeated RCB to lift their first IPL title.

• 2019 — RCB’s Big Win: RCB recorded a massive 67‑run victory, highlighting tactical clarity and batting power.

• 2023 — Century Chase: RCB chased 186 successfully, with Virat Kohli scoring a century.

• 2024 — IPL Record Total: SRH posted 287/3, the highest team total in IPL history.

• 2025 — Road Win: SRH posted 231/6 and beat RCB away, demonstrating their evolving balance and depth.

These milestones show the rivalry’s transformation from early tactical battles to record‑breaking performances and high‑scoring thrillers, reflecting the broader evolution of IPL cricket itself.

Conclusion

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad timeline highlights more than a decade of thrilling IPL cricket, featuring explosive batting, tactical bowling, and unforgettable finishes. SRH’s balanced attack often challenges RCB’s star-studded lineup, creating high-stakes matches and record-breaking performances, like SRH’s 287/3 and Virat Kohli’s century chases. While SRH hold a slight head-to-head edge, RCB’s landmark victories, including their first IPL title in 2025, show their resilience. This timeline showcases the evolution of strategies, player brilliance, and intense rivalries, promising fans more high-energy, memorable clashes between RCB and SRH in the seasons to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When did Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad first face each other in the IPL?

 RCB and SRH first met in 2013, the debut season of Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking the start of a competitive and evolving rivalry.

2. What is the overall head-to-head record between RCB and SRH?

Out of 25 IPL matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad have won 14, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have claimed 11 victories.

3. Which team has scored the highest total in RCB vs SRH matches?

SRH hold the record with 287/3, scored at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2024 — the highest total in IPL history.

4. Who are the top performers in RCB vs SRH encounters?

Virat Kohli leads RCB in runs, including century chases, while David Warner is SRH’s top run-scorer. For bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads SRH, and Yuzvendra Chahal leads RCB in wickets.