Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have played like neighbours with a long history. One side kept winning titles. The other often found ways not to, until they did. Through all that, they've built a rivalry that's given the IPL some of its strangest finishes and most replayed highlights. As they get ready to resume the battle in IPL 2026, here are five RCB-CSK classics at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
RCB's biggest moment
IPL 2024
CSK weren't winning the game, but with MS Dhoni at the crease, playoff qualification prospects were alive with 17 needed in the final over. Dhoni had already smashed a massive six off the first ball, but Yash Dayal's back-of-the-hand slower one had him caught next ball. The magic seemed to leave with him. With ten needed off two balls to qualify, the stage was still set for a CSK heist. But Dayal held his nerve against Ravindra Jadeja. The win completed RCB's remarkable six-match winning streak and sealed their place in the playoffs.
A future star is born
IPL 2025
No RCB-CSK game is a dead rubber. Not even when one team is already knocked out of the tournament and the other is on the verge of a playoff qualification. When these two teams met at the Chinnaswamy in 2025, even though some of the buzz was missing, the quality of cricket more than made up for it. RCB were sent in and thanks to a whirlwind 53 not out off 14 balls from Romario Shepherd and fifties from Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli, they amassed 213 for 5. In reply, Ayush Mhatre, not yet 18, announced his arrival by smashing 94 off 48. His 114-run third-wicket partnership with Jadeja seemed to be taking CSK over the line, but CSK then lost two wickets in two balls. With 15 required from the last over, Dayal outwitted Dhoni for the second season running as RCB won a classic by two runs.
RCB survive Dhoni epic
IPL 2019
Chasing 162, CSK sunk to 28 for 4 in 5.5 overs. Dhoni steadied the ship even as more wickets fell around him. He began his acceleration in the 16th over and, in typical Dhoni style, took it to the last over. CSK needed 26 off Umesh Yadav. Dhoni went 4, 6, 6, 2, 6 to leave two to get off one. But he missed the last ball, and Parthiv Patel hit the stumps direct from behind to give RCB the win. Dhoni finished with 84* off 42 balls.
A high-scoring affair
IPL 2023
Two fifties on each side and it was CSK who came out winners in this high-scoring contest despite Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell's fireworks. Sent in, CSK lost Rururaj Gaikwad early but Devon Conway and Ajinkya Rahane set a solid platform with a 74-run second-wicket stand. Conway scored 83 off 45 and Shivam Dube 52 off 27 as CSK posted 226 for 6. RCB lost Kohli and Mahipal Lomror early in the chase but du Plessis and Maxwell threatened to run away with the game in a 126-run third-wicket stand in 10.1 overs. But CSK kept coming back and restricted RCB to 218 for 8.
Kohli magic gives RCB win in the rain
IPL 2013
Thousands braved the rain at the Chinnaswamy Stadium as RCB kept their playoffs hopes alive with Kohli thumping an unbeaten half-century. The match began at 11pm and was reduced to eight overs per side. Kohli promoted himself to open and hit 56 not out off 29 as RCB racked up 106 for 2. In reply, M Vijay scored 32 off 19 and Dhoni 24 off ten but CSK were restricted to 82 for 6, with the game ending well past midnight.