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The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline rivalry has been a regular feature of the Indian Premier League since 2008. Both franchises have enjoyed championship success, developed star players, and produced memorable performances against each other.
KKR are known for their aggressive batting, tactical spin bowling, and strong IPL history. Rajasthan Royals have built their identity around discovering talented players, developing match-winning all-rounders, and producing exciting performances under pressure.
Their encounters have included one-run victories, successful high-scoring chases, dominant bowling displays, and matches decided by unusual tie-break rules. This article explores the KKR vs RR timeline, season-by-season results, head-to-head statistics, memorable matches, and key records.
KKR vs RR Head-to-Head Record
Through their April 2026 meeting, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals had played 33 IPL matches, according to Rajasthan Royals’ published head-to-head summary.
| Head-to-head category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 33 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders wins | 17 |
| Rajasthan Royals wins | 14 |
| Abandoned/no-result matches | 2 |
| First meeting | 1 May 2008 |
| Latest meeting | 19 April 2026 |
KKR have the advantage in the overall record, but Rajasthan have also delivered several memorable wins. The teams have often been competitive, and the result can depend on individual performances, pitch conditions, and how effectively each side handles the closing overs.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline: Season by Season
The rivalry began in the inaugural IPL season and has continued through different eras of the tournament. The following timeline highlights the results reported for their meetings.
| IPL season | Match timeline and result |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals won both matches, including the first meeting by 45 runs. |
| 2009 | Rajasthan won one encounter in a Super Over; another match was abandoned. |
| 2010 | Both teams won one match each. |
| 2011 | KKR won both league meetings. |
| 2012 | Both sides recorded one victory each. |
| 2013 | Both sides recorded one victory each. |
| 2014 | Rajasthan won one match in a tie-break and another by 10 runs; one result was affected by the competition’s tie-breaking rules. |
| 2015 | Rajasthan won one match by nine runs; another was abandoned. |
| 2018 | KKR won all three of their meetings with RR that season. |
| 2019 | Both teams won one match each. |
| 2020 | KKR won both matches by 37 runs and 60 runs. |
| 2021 | Both teams won one match each. |
| 2022 | Rajasthan won one match by seven runs; KKR won the other by seven wickets. |
| 2023 | Rajasthan Royals won by nine wickets at Eden Gardens. |
| 2024 | Rajasthan won a dramatic chase by two wickets; another scheduled meeting was abandoned. |
| 2025 | KKR won both matches, by eight wickets and one run. |
| 2026 | KKR won by four wickets at Eden Gardens. |
The table summarises the reported season-by-season results. IPL schedules and abandoned fixtures can make season totals differ across statistical databases.
The Early Rivalry: IPL 2008 to 2012
2008: Rajasthan Royals set the tone
The first KKR vs RR match took place on 1 May 2008 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Rajasthan Royals won by 45 runs, beginning the rivalry with a convincing victory.
Swapnil Asnodkar was named Player of the Match after scoring 60 off 34 balls. Rajasthan’s bowling attack then restricted Kolkata, giving the Royals a strong start in the inaugural IPL season.
Rajasthan also won the return fixture in Kolkata by six wickets. Their two victories gave them the early advantage in the rivalry.
2009: A memorable Super Over
The 2009 season produced one of the rivalry’s most unusual finishes. A match between the sides went to a Super Over, with Rajasthan Royals emerging as the winners under the tie-breaking rules used at the time.
The result became part of IPL history because it demonstrated how a tied match could be decided by rules different from those used in later seasons.
2010–2012: Results become more balanced
The next three seasons featured victories for both teams. KKR and RR alternated between strong batting performances and effective bowling displays, making the matchup less one-sided than in 2008.
These seasons helped establish the fixture as a competitive contest rather than a rivalry dominated by one franchise.
KKR vs RR Timeline: The Middle Years, 2013–2019
2013: Rajasthan and Kolkata share the wins
Both teams recorded a victory in the 2013 season. Rajasthan were competitive at home, while Kolkata demonstrated their ability to win at Eden Gardens.
The results reflected the developing balance between the sides, with neither team consistently dominating the fixture.
2014: Another unusual finish
The 2014 season included a match between KKR and RR that was decided using a boundary-count tie-break after the match itself ended level. Rajasthan Royals were declared winners under the rules in use at that time.
The encounter remains one of the most unusual moments in their rivalry. The IPL subsequently moved away from boundary count as the deciding criterion for tied matches, making this historical result particularly notable.
2015: A narrow Rajasthan victory
Rajasthan Royals won one of their 2015 meetings by nine runs. Close finishes such as this highlighted the importance of bowling discipline and lower-order contributions, particularly when a team is defending a modest advantage.
Another scheduled match between the sides was abandoned.
2018: Kolkata dominate the fixture
KKR enjoyed one of their strongest periods against Rajasthan in 2018, winning all three reported meetings that season.
They won one match by seven wickets, another by six wickets, and a third by 25 runs. The clean sweep demonstrated Kolkata’s ability to adapt to different match situations and maintain consistency against the Royals.
2019: Both sides fight back
The teams shared the victories in 2019. Kolkata won one meeting by eight wickets, while Rajasthan responded with a three-wicket win.
The season showed that previous results did not guarantee future outcomes, as the teams continued to exchange victories.
KKR vs RR Timeline: The 2020–2022 Seasons
2020: Kolkata secure two convincing victories
The teams met twice during the 2020 IPL season in the United Arab Emirates. KKR won the first match by 37 runs and the second by 60 runs.
Kolkata’s performances showed how effective their bowling and batting plans could be in neutral conditions. Rajasthan struggled to keep pace with the targets set by KKR in both encounters.
2021: A season of contrasting results
The teams shared the two victories in 2021. Rajasthan won one match by six wickets, while Kolkata produced a commanding 86-run win in the other.
The 86-run victory was particularly emphatic and highlighted KKR’s ability to put together a dominant all-round performance.
2022: Rajasthan win a close contest
The 2022 season produced two different results. Rajasthan Royals won one encounter by seven runs after defending their total, while Kolkata Knight Riders won the other by seven wickets.
Yuzvendra Chahal delivered a standout performance for Rajasthan, taking 5/40 in their seven-run victory. His spell was one of the most memorable bowling performances by a Rajasthan player against KKR.
Recent KKR vs RR Timeline: 2023–2026
2023: Rajasthan win by nine wickets
On 11 May 2023, Rajasthan Royals defeated KKR by nine wickets at Eden Gardens.
Kolkata scored 149/8, but Rajasthan chased the target comfortably, finishing on 151/1. The result demonstrated the Royals’ ability to control a chase through strong top-order batting and a limited loss of wickets.
2024: Jos Buttler’s extraordinary chase
The 2024 season produced one of the most memorable matches in the rivalry.
On 16 April, Kolkata scored 223/6 at Eden Gardens. Rajasthan chased the target and finished on 224/8, winning by two wickets.
Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls, guiding Rajasthan through a demanding chase. The result matched the IPL’s then-record successful chase of 224 and demonstrated how one exceptional innings can change a match.
Another scheduled meeting between the teams in 2024 was abandoned.
2025: KKR win two close encounters
Kolkata defeated Rajasthan twice in 2025.
In their March meeting, KKR chased down Rajasthan’s 151/9, finishing on 153/2 to win by eight wickets.
The return fixture on 4 May was far more dramatic. KKR posted 206/4, with Andre Russell scoring 57 off 25 balls. Rajasthan responded with 205/8, but KKR held on to win by just one run.
The result was one of the closest finishes in the recent history of the rivalry.
2026: Rinku Singh leads Kolkata to victory
The latest reported meeting took place on 19 April 2026 at Eden Gardens.
Rajasthan Royals batted first and scored 155/9 in 20 overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 46 off 28 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal added 39 off 29 deliveries. Rajasthan made a quick start but lost momentum as Kolkata’s spinners took control.
Varun Chakaravarthy finished with 3/14, restricting Rajasthan to a manageable total.
KKR’s chase was not entirely straightforward, but Rinku Singh scored an unbeaten 53 and helped the hosts recover. Kolkata reached 161/6 in 19.4 overs to win by four wickets, securing their first victory of the 2026 season.
Highest Scores and Important Records
The KKR vs RR rivalry has produced outstanding individual performances and large team totals.
| Record | Player or team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Highest RR team total against KKR | Rajasthan Royals | 224/8 in 2024 |
| Highest KKR team total against RR | Kolkata Knight Riders | 223/6 in 2024 |
| Notable RR individual innings | Jos Buttler | 107* off 60 balls in 2024 |
| Notable KKR individual innings | Sunil Narine | 109 in 2024 |
| Standout RR bowling figures | Yuzvendra Chahal | 5/40 in 2022 |
| Latest match-winning innings | Rinku Singh | 53* in 2026 |
The 2024 match stands out because both teams exceeded 220 runs. Buttler’s unbeaten century helped Rajasthan complete a record-equalling chase, while Narine’s century showed Kolkata’s own batting power.
Chahal’s five-wicket haul is an important example of how a bowler can influence this rivalry. In the latest meeting, Varun Chakaravarthy’s economical spell played a major role in limiting Rajasthan’s total.
What Makes KKR vs RR Matches Exciting?
Several factors contribute to the rivalry’s popularity among IPL fans.
- Powerful batting: Both teams have featured explosive batters capable of scoring quickly and changing the match within a few overs.
- Spin-bowling battles: KKR have often used spin effectively, while Rajasthan have also produced influential spin bowlers.
- Close finishes: The one-run victory in 2025 and two-wicket chase in 2024 demonstrate how small margins can decide matches.
- Different playing conditions: The teams have met in Jaipur, Kolkata, and neutral venues, creating different tactical challenges.
- Emerging talent: Young players have frequently made their mark in this fixture, adding a new dimension to the rivalry.
These elements mean that historical records provide context, but the outcome of each match still depends on current form, team selection, and performance on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who has won more matches between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals?
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the reported IPL head-to-head record with 17 wins, while Rajasthan Royals have won 14 matches. Two matches are listed as abandoned or no-result in the published summary.
2. When was the first KKR vs RR IPL match played?
The first match took place on 1 May 2008 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Rajasthan Royals won by 45 runs.
3. What was the result of the KKR vs RR match in 2025?
KKR won both matches in 2025. They won the first by eight wickets and the second by one run, after scoring 206/4 and restricting Rajasthan to 205/8.
4. What was the highest successful chase in the KKR vs RR rivalry?
Rajasthan Royals chased 224 against Kolkata in April 2024, finishing on 224/8 to win by two wickets. Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 107.
5. Who won the latest KKR vs RR match in 2026?
Kolkata Knight Riders won the match on 19 April 2026 by four wickets at Eden Gardens. Rajasthan scored 155/9, and KKR reached 161/6 in 19.4 overs, with Rinku Singh scoring an unbeaten 53.
