Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Timeline

When Lucknow Super Giants entered the IPL in 2022, few expected them to make an immediate impact against one of the league's most iconic franchises. Yet their rivalry with Royal Challengers Bangalore a club carrying the weight of 18 years without a title has already produced some of the most unforgettable moments in recent T20 history. From Rajat Patidar's playoff century in the very first meeting to Nicholas Pooran's breathtaking 81 off 27 balls, from Mayank Yadav's express pace masterclass to Jitesh Sharma's title-defining chase, every LSG vs RCB match has delivered drama in full measure. RCB currently leads the head-to-head record 5–2 across seven meetings and finally lifted their maiden IPL title in 2025 after 18 years. This is the complete Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore timeline every match, every record, every defining moment.

LSG vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats

Overall Statistics

All Matches: LSG vs RCB Timeline

Complete Match List

Key Highlights from LSG vs RCB Matches

IPL 2022 – The Eliminator Classic

The first-ever meeting between these two sides came in the highest-pressure scenario possible: the IPL 2022 Eliminator at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. What followed was one of the most celebrated knockout innings in IPL history. Rajat Patidar, then an uncapped Indian player, smashed an unbeaten 112 off just 54 balls, laced with 12 fours and 7 sixes. His maiden IPL century powered RCB to 207/4 on a Kolkata night that would define his career.

LSG fought back with genuine intent. KL Rahul anchored the chase with 79 off 58 balls, and Deepak Hooda contributed a quickfire 45, the pair adding 96 runs for the third wicket. But Josh Hazlewood's brilliant 3/43 and Harshal Patel's mastery in the death overs shut the door. LSG finished on 193/6, 14 runs short.

Patidar became the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs — a record that announced him as a bona fide big-game player. RCB advanced to Qualifier 2, and the rivalry between these two clubs was born in spectacular fashion.

IPL 2023 – A Season of Contrasts

The 2023 season produced two encounters that could not have been more different in character.

Match 1 – Bengaluru, April 10, 2023: RCB posted a competitive total, with Kohli and du Plessis giving them a flying start on their home ground. Their final total of 212 looked imposing, but LSG refused to concede. Chasing 213, they lost wickets regularly and seemed destined for defeat — until Nicholas Pooran walked in and changed everything. Reaching his half-century in just 15 balls (the fastest fifty of the season), he launched an assault that left the Chinnaswamy crowd stunned. His final tally of 81 off 27 balls at a strike rate of 300, featuring six maximums and four boundaries, carried LSG to victory off the last ball. The margin was one wicket. It was the first time LSG had won at the Chinnaswamy, and it remains one of the most extraordinary finishes in the history of this rivalry.

Match 2 – Lucknow, May 1, 2023: The reverse fixture produced a completely different story. RCB posted a modest 126/9 — one of their lowest totals in any IPL season. Under normal circumstances, LSG would have cruised home. Instead, RCB's bowlers delivered a masterclass under pressure. Faf du Plessis's 73 with the bat was not enough for LSG, who crumbled to 108 all out. RCB won by 18 runs in a performance that proved T20 cricket is never about scorecards alone — execution and collective discipline decide matches.

IPL 2024 – Mayank Yadav's Pace Masterclass

The 2024 encounter at the Chinnaswamy belonged entirely to a 21-year-old bowler from Delhi who had barely played senior cricket. Mayank Yadav took the ball and consistently touched 150 kph with an aggression that rattled RCB's top order from the first over. His figures of 3/14 were devastating. Despite Quinton de Kock's excellent 81 off 56 balls powering LSG to 181/5, it was Mayank's spell that truly won the match. RCB responded with only 153, losing by 28 runs. LSG had now won both their Chinnaswamy assignments, and Mayank Yadav had announced himself to the world.

IPL 2025 – Historic Chase, Title Glory

The May 27, 2025 encounter at Ekana Stadium produced the highest-scoring game in the history of this rivalry and one of the greatest run chases in IPL history. LSG, already eliminated from playoff contention, put on a show. Rishabh Pant blazed 118* off 61 balls — the highest individual score in this rivalry — while Mitchell Marsh hit 67 off 37. Together they posted a record 152-run partnership for the second wicket, and LSG's total of 227/3 looked out of reach for most teams in the world.

For RCB, this match was not just a game — they needed to win to secure a top-two finish and earn two shots at the final. What followed was extraordinary. Virat Kohli provided a composed 54 off 30 balls at the top, but it was stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma who delivered the match-winning innings for the ages. His unbeaten 85 off 33 balls was calculated, fearless, and perfectly timed for the situation. RCB reached 230/4 in just 18.4 overs, completing the third-highest successful chase in IPL history and sending the Chinnaswamy faithful into delirium — even though they were miles away in Lucknow.

That victory sent RCB to Qualifier 1, and they went on to win their maiden IPL title after 18 years. Jitesh's knock, delivered under the heaviest of pressure, became an instant classic in RCB folklore.

IPL 2026 – RCB Break the Chinnaswamy Drought

The April 15, 2026 meeting at the Chinnaswamy added another chapter to the rivalry — and a significant one at that. RCB won the toss, chose to bowl, and produced a disciplined bowling display on a two-paced pitch to dismiss LSG for just 146. Rasikh Salam Dar was exceptional, finishing with 4 wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 3 and Krunal Pandya took 2. Mitchell Marsh top-scored for LSG with 40 and Ayush Badoni contributed 38, but the rest of the lineup fell away. Rishabh Pant retired hurt early after taking a blow to the elbow and was largely ineffective on return.

RCB's chase was brisk and purposeful. Virat Kohli led the way with 49, and Patidar chipped in with 27 before a mid-innings wobble saw RCB lose five wickets. But Tim David and Romario Shepherd finished the job, and RCB crossed the line in 15.1 overs, winning by 5 wickets. Most significantly, it was RCB's first-ever win at the Chinnaswamy against LSG — ending a frustrating record that had defined the rivalry's Bengaluru chapter. RCB moved to the top of the IPL 2026 points table as a result.

Notable Records in the LSG vs RCB Rivalry

Individual Performances

Team Records

Venue Records (updated through April 2026)

Head-to-Head: Top Performers

Top Batsmen

1. Rajat Patidar (RCB) – His unbeaten 112 in the 2022 Eliminator launched this rivalry and made him a hero overnight. The first uncapped player to score a century in IPL playoffs, he is now RCB's captain and a cornerstone of their 2025 title campaign.

2. Rishabh Pant (LSG) – His 118* off 61 balls in the 2025 Lucknow clash is the highest individual score in this fixture and the finest batting display from the LSG side across all seven meetings.

3. Nicholas Pooran (LSG) – One of the most jaw-dropping cameos this rivalry has seen. His 81 off 27 (SR 300) in 2023 stands alone as the most explosive single innings in this head-to-head.

4. Jitesh Sharma (RCB) – His unbeaten 85 off 33 balls in the record 2025 chase was a player of the match performance that went far beyond match points — it was the defining innings of RCB's entire championship run.

5. Faf du Plessis (RCB) – The rivalry's leading run-scorer with 238 runs. His 73 at Lucknow in 2023 helped RCB defend 126 in what became their most surprising win in this fixture.

6. Virat Kohli (RCB) – Consistent and reliable across encounters: 54 off 30 in the crucial 2025 chase, 49 in the 2026 Chinnaswamy win.

7. KL Rahul (LSG) – His 79 off 58 in the 2022 Eliminator was a captain's knock in defeat — the best innings from either side in a losing cause.

Top Bowlers

1. Josh Hazlewood (RCB) – 9 wickets across the rivalry, including 3/43 in the 2022 Eliminator. His ability to take wickets at crucial moments has consistently tilted matches in RCB's favour. Named Player of the Match in the April 2026 Chinnaswamy game (1/20) for his sustained pressure.

2. Mayank Yadav (LSG) – His 3/14 at the Chinnaswamy in 2024 was the most impactful bowling spell in this rivalry's history. Consistently hitting 150 kph, he announced himself to the world in this very fixture.

3. Rasikh Salam Dar (RCB) – Four wickets in the April 2026 win at Chinnaswamy made him the decisive performer on a night when RCB finally broke their home-ground drought against LSG.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) – Three wickets in the April 2026 match; a reliable contributor with his swing and accuracy.

5. Harshal Patel (RCB) – His death-over mastery in the 2022 Eliminator was pivotal in sealing RCB's victory. His 100th IPL wicket also came during the 2023 Chinnaswamy thriller.

LSG vs RCB: What Makes This Rivalry Special?

Despite RCB's dominant 5–2 lead, no one-sidedness defines this contest. What makes the Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore timeline special is the sheer variety and drama packed into just seven matches across five seasons.

The Chinnaswamy has been the rivalry's most intriguing battleground. For a long stretch, RCB's own fortress had never yielded a win against LSG — an extraordinary anomaly that became a talking point before every Bengaluru meeting. That changed decisively on April 15, 2026, when RCB finally broke through with a dominant five-wicket victory. Now that chapter is written; the next edition at Bengaluru will carry even more weight.

At Lucknow, the contrasts have been equally striking. RCB defended a paltry 126/9 in 2023 with a display of bowling brilliance that still feels improbable. Two years later, the same venue hosted an aggregate of 457 runs as RCB chased down 228 off 18.4 overs to secure their Qualifier 1 berth and, ultimately, a maiden title.

The broader narrative contrasts are what give this rivalry its emotional texture. RCB, one of the IPL's founding franchises since 2008, carried 18 years of heartbreak before finally lifting the trophy in 2025. LSG, three-year-old newcomers from Lucknow, are still searching for their first title. Individual brilliance has shaped every meeting: Patidar's debut century, Pooran's impossible SR-300 innings, Mayank's express pace revolution, Jitesh's title-defining knock — each match has had its own protagonist.

The 2022 Eliminator – Rajat Patidar's Defining Moment

The May 25, 2022 Eliminator at Eden Gardens deserves its own chapter in IPL history. It was the match that launched this rivalry and gave RCB one of their most iconic moments in years without a title.

Patidar walked in with RCB needing to build momentum and proceeded to destroy the LSG bowling with a clarity and confidence that belied his uncapped status. He took Ravi Bishnoi apart for three sixes and two fours in the 16th over alone. A 50-run stand with Dinesh Karthik in the final overs pushed RCB to 207/4 — a total that felt insurmountable.

LSG had genuine match-winners in Rahul and Hooda. Their third-wicket stand of 96 gave the chase real momentum, and for a period, the match felt open. But Hazlewood's 3/43 disrupted the rhythm, and Harshal's death-over precision finished the job. LSG fell 14 runs short. Patidar walked off Eden Gardens as the first uncapped Indian to score a century in IPL playoffs, and RCB had a moment to celebrate in what had been a long trophy drought. He was appointed RCB captain in 2025 and 2026, the years in which the club finally turned heartbreak into history.

Conclusion

The Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore timeline, spanning just five years and seven matches, has delivered unforgettable cricket at nearly every turn. Patidar's playoff heroics launched it. Pooran's impossible hundred-strike-rate cameo elevated it. Mayank's express pace redefined it. Jitesh's title-winning chase gave it immortality. And in April 2026, RCB finally broke their Chinnaswamy duck against LSG adding yet another chapter. RCB's 5–2 dominance reflects their quality across conditions, but the margin of drama in every LSG win proves this is no one-sided contest. As IPL 2026 continues with a second meeting still to come, and as LSG hunt for their first title, this rivalry shows every sign of delivering more of the same: high scores, explosive individuals, and results that nobody sees coming.