The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is one of cricket’s most exciting stories. These two IPL teams have battled since 2008, producing some of the most jaw-dropping moments in T20 history. From a high-voltage IPL Final to the biggest chase ever recorded and the smallest total ever defended, this rivalry has it all. KKR leads the head-to-head, but PBKS keeps rewriting the record books. If you love unpredictable cricket, this is the rivalry for you.
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record tells a clear story — KKR holds a strong lead of 21 wins against PBKS’s 13. However, PBKS owns both the highest IPL chase (262) and the lowest total ever defended (111) in this very fixture. Those two records prove that Punjab can win from any position.
| Category | KKR | PBKS | Draw/NR | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 35 | 35 | — | As of IPL 2026 |
| Matches Won | 21 | 13 | 1 NR | KKR leads 21–13 |
| Highest Total | 261/6 | 262/2 | — | PBKS holds record chase |
| Highest Successful Chase | 200 | 262 | — | Highest ever in IPL |
| Lowest Defended Total | — | 111 | — | Lowest in IPL history |
| Win % at Neutral Venues | 58% | 42% | — | Competitive on neutral ground |
Even though KKR has a strong overall lead, the win percentage gap gets much smaller in neutral and modern conditions. The rivalry is far closer than the numbers first suggest, especially from 2022 onward.
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline (2008–2026)
The complete spans four distinct phases from 2008 to 2026. Each phase has its own flavor. It starts with early unpredictability, then moves to KKR’s peak dominance. Most recently, we saw PBKS’s dramatic record-breaking era.
| Phase | Period | Dominant Team | Key Feature | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008–2010 | Balanced | Alternating wins each season | Both teams won 1 game each per year |
| 2 | 2011–2017 | KKR | Gambhir-led spin dominance | 2014 IPL Final — KKR chased 199 |
| 3 | 2018–2021 | Mixed | Competitive clashes; PBKS pushback | KL Rahul anchored several PBKS wins |
| 4 | 2022–2026 | PBKS (drama wins) | Record-breaking high/low scores | IPL’s biggest chase + smallest defence |
Knowing these four phases helps fans understand how team strategies, player changes, and retirements shifted power over 18 seasons of T20 cricket.
Phase 1 — Early Years (2008–2010)
The foundation years of this rivalry were marked by balanced competition and alternating wins. Neither side dominated. Each season produced one win each. This period laid the groundwork for what would become a fierce, long-running contest.
| Season | Venue | Winner | Key Performer | Match Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Neutral (India) | Split (1–1) | Shaun Marsh — PBKS | PBKS chased 170+; KKR won the other game |
| 2009 | South Africa | Split (1–1) | Brendon McCullum — KKR | McCullum’s explosive start secured KKR win in Durban |
| 2010 | India (DY Patil) | PBKS | Yusuf Pathan all-round effort | Close finish — PBKS won by under 10 runs |
Phase 2 — KKR Dominance Era (2011–2017)
Under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership, KKR entered its golden period. The team’s spin-heavy attack and disciplined middle order proved too strong for PBKS in most encounters. The 2014 IPL Final remains the defining moment of this phase — and arguably the entire rivalry.
| Season | Venue | Winner | Key Performer | Match Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Gautam Gambhir — steady 50+ | Gambhir’s calm chase set the tone for KKR era |
| 2012 | PCA Mohali | KKR | Sunil Narine — early wicket burst | Narine’s spin strangled PBKS top order |
| 2014 Final | M Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | KKR | Wriddhiman Saha 115* | Manish Pandey 94 | KKR chased 199; Pandey played match-winning innings |
| 2015 | Eden Gardens | KKR | Andre Russell — death-over blitz | Russell smashed 40+ in final overs; KKR won easily |
| 2016–17 | Various | KKR (9/10) | Gambhir, Narine consistency | KKR won 9 of 10 contests between 2015 and 2017 |
Phase 3 — Balanced Era (2018–2021)
This phase saw PBKS push back hard. KL Rahul’s consistent batting and Arshdeep Singh’s emergence as a death-over specialist gave Punjab a genuine threat. Matches during this era often went down to the final over, with results that impacted playoff qualification for both sides.
| Season | Venue | Winner | Key Performer | Match Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Eden Gardens | KKR | Andre Russell — 40+ off 18 balls | KKR recovered from 100/5 to win by 5 wickets |
| 2019 | PCA Mohali | KKR | Shubman Gill — consistent run-scoring | Gill’s powerplay dominance gave KKR early control |
| 2020 | UAE (Neutral) | PBKS | Arshdeep Singh — debut death-over clinic | Arshdeep’s emergence as death-over specialist stunned KKR |
| 2021 | UAE (Neutral) | PBKS | KL Rahul — anchored 80+ chase | Rahul’s controlled innings hurt KKR’s playoff chances |
Phase 4 — High-Scoring Modern Era (2022–2026)
The most extraordinary phase yet. The Impact Player rule changed T20 tactics. This match set two IPL world records in consecutive seasons. In 2024, PBKS achieved the highest chase ever at 262. Then, in 2025, PBKS defended the lowest total ever at 111. No other fixture in IPL history holds both extremes.
| Season | Venue | Winner | Key Performer | Match Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Various | KKR | Venkatesh Iyer — explosive batting | KKR’s flexible batting order proved too strong |
| Apr 2023 | PCA Mohali | PBKS | Arshdeep Singh — 3/19 | PBKS won by 7 runs (DLS) in rain-affected game |
| May 2023 | Eden Gardens | KKR | Andre Russell — 42 off 23 | Nitish Rana’s half-century set up KKR’s 5-wicket win |
| Apr 2024 | Eden Gardens | PBKS | Jonny Bairstow 108* (48 balls) | PBKS chased 262 — highest IPL chase EVER |
| Apr 2025 | Mullanpur | PBKS | Yuzvendra Chahal 4/28 | PBKS defended 111 — lowest IPL total ever defended |
| Apr 2026 | Mullanpur | PBKS | Sam Curran 42* & 2/28 | Curran’s all-round show handed PBKS 5-wicket victory |
| Apr 2026 | Eden Gardens | KKR | Varun Chakravarthy 4/21 | KKR choked PBKS chase; won by 12 runs |
Year-by-Year PBKS vs KKR Match Highlights
This yearly breakdown shows every key match in the Punjab Kings vs. Kolkata Knight Riders history. Every match shows how personal skill, strategy, and conditions influenced the outcome.
| Year | Date | Winner | Margin | Top Batter | Top Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Apr–May | Split 1–1 | Varies | Shaun Marsh (PBKS) | RP Singh (PBKS) |
| 2009 | Apr–May SA | Split 1–1 | Varies | B McCullum (KKR) | Ishant Sharma (KKR) |
| 2010 | Mar–Apr | PBKS | <10 runs | Yusuf Pathan (KKR) | Piyush Chawla (KKR) |
| 2011 | Apr | KKR | Controlled | G Gambhir (KKR) | S Narine (KKR) |
| 2014 Final | Jun 01 | KKR | 3 wkts | M Pandey 94 (KKR) | Narine 3/22 (KKR) |
| 2018 | Apr 18 | KKR | 5 wkts | A Russell 42* (KKR) | Kuldeep Yadav 2/28 (KKR) |
| 2020 | Oct 26 | PBKS | 8 wkts | KL Rahul 74 (PBKS) | Arshdeep 3/24 (PBKS) |
| 2021 | May 19 | PBKS | 5 wkts | KL Rahul 85* (PBKS) | Ravi Bishnoi 3/25 (PBKS) |
| Apr 2023 | Apr 01 | PBKS | 7 runs DLS | B Rajapaksa 57 (PBKS) | Arshdeep 3/19 (PBKS) |
| May 2023 | May 08 | KKR | 5 wkts | N Rana 52 (KKR) | Russell 1/23 (KKR) |
| Apr 2024 | Apr 26 | PBKS | 8 wkts | J Bairstow 108* (PBKS) | Narine 1/24 (KKR) |
| Apr 2025 | Apr 15 | PBKS | 16 runs | Prabhsimran 48 (PBKS) | Chahal 4/28 (PBKS) |
| May 2025 | May 15 | KKR | 3 wkts | Rinku Singh 34* (KKR) | Chakravarthy 2/32 (KKR) |
| Apr 2026 | Apr 11 | PBKS | 5 wkts | Sam Curran 42* (PBKS) | Curran 2/28 (PBKS) |
| Apr 2026 | Apr 26 | KKR | 12 runs | Phil Salt 65 (KKR) | V Chakravarthy 4/21 (KKR) |
Recent Matches
The five most recent clashes between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have been extraordinarily competitive. Both teams have won recent matches with fine margins, proving the rivalry’s current competitive balance is at its peak.
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Top Performer | Match Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 2026 | Eden Gardens | KKR | 12 runs | Varun Chakravarthy 4/21 | KKR spin web choked PBKS chase |
| 11 Apr 2026 | Mullanpur | PBKS | 5 wkts | Sam Curran 42* & 2/28 | Curran’s match-winning all-round show |
| 15 May 2025 | Eden Gardens | KKR | 3 wkts | Rinku Singh 34* off 12 | Rinku’s last-over heroics sealed a tense win |
| 15 Apr 2025 | Mullanpur | PBKS | 16 runs | Yuzvendra Chahal 4/28 | PBKS defended 111 — lowest ever in IPL |
| 26 Apr 2024 | Eden Gardens | PBKS | 8 wkts | Jonny Bairstow 108* (48b) | Highest successful IPL chase: 262 |
The most striking pattern from recent games: bowlers are deciding outcomes. Varun Chakravarthy’s 4/21, Chahal’s 4/28, and Curran’s match-winning all-round efforts show that spin and swing bowling now dominate this fixture more than pure batting firepower.
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Top Performers
Several players have built legendary status specifically within both teams. Their numbers in this fixture stand out from their broader IPL careers.
Top Run Scorers (All-Time)
| Player | Team | Innings | Runs | Avg | Best Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gautam Gambhir | KKR | 22 | 492 | 27.3 | 5 fifties; most runs in this fixture |
| KL Rahul | PBKS | 7 | 444 | 63.4 | Highest avg; 85* in 2021 chase |
| Sunil Narine | KKR | 30 | 430 | 22.1 | 71 off 32 balls in 2024 record game |
| Wriddhiman Saha | PBKS | 12 | 380 | 34.5 | 115* in 2014 IPL Final — highest individual score |
| Andre Russell | KKR | 18 | 360 | 45.0 | 32 sixes in fixture; most sixes all-time here |
| Phil Salt | KKR | 10 | 450+ | 51.0 | Consistent powerplay aggressor since 2024 |
Gautam Gambhir’s 492 runs make him the all-time leading scorer in this fixture. However, KL Rahul’s average of 63.40 across just 7 innings is staggering — he was PBKS’s most reliable weapon against KKR’s formidable attack.
- Sunil Narine’s 71 off 32 balls in April 2024 remains the most explosive batting performance in this fixture.
- Wriddhiman Saha’s 115* in the 2014 IPL Final is the highest individual score ever recorded in a PBKS vs KKR clash.
- Andre Russell holds the record for most sixes hit in this fixture with 32 maximums — a testament to his raw hitting power.
- Phil Salt has emerged as KKR’s most dangerous powerplay batter since 2024, consistently giving his team 60+ run starts.
Leading Wicket-Takers
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best Spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | KKR | 30+ | 34 | 17.2 | All-time fixture top wicket-taker |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 15+ | 25+ | 18.5 | 3/19 (Apr 2023); 3/24 (2025) |
| Varun Chakravarthy | KKR | 10+ | 18 | 15.8 | 4/21 in Apr 2026 — career-best vs PBKS |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS | 6+ | 12 | 14.3 | 4/28 in 2025 — defended IPL-record 111 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | KKR | 8 | 11 | 19.1 | Regular middle-over threat; troubled PBKS lefties |
| Sam Curran | PBKS | 8+ | 15+ | 20.0 | 2/28 & 42* in 2026 Mullanpur; strategic all-rounder |
Sunil Narine’s 34+ wickets make him the undisputed bowling king of this fixture. His mystery spin has repeatedly broken Punjab’s batting partnerships at crucial stages. On the PBKS side, Arshdeep Singh’s death-over accuracy has repeatedly denied KKR in the final three overs.
- Varun Chakravarthy’s 4/21 in April 2026 is the best recent spell — his carrom ball and googly made PBKS look helpless.
- Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/28 in 2025 remains the most memorable bowling spell in this fixture — he defended an almost undefendable 111.
Venue-Wise Record
Where a match is played matters enormously in T20 cricket. The timeline for Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders shows that KKR is nearly unbeatable at Eden Gardens. Meanwhile, PBKS has adjusted well to their new home in Mullanpur.
| Venue | Matches | KKR W | PBKS W | KKR Win % | Notable Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 13 | 9 | 4 | 69% | KKR’s strongest home fortress |
| PCA Stadium, Mohali | 6 | 4 | 2 | 67% | KKR won even at PBKS home oddly |
| HPCA Dharamsala | 3 | 2 | 1 | 67% | High-altitude venue suits power hitters |
| Mullanpur, Punjab (new) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% | PBKS holds edge at new home ground |
| UAE / Neutral (2020–21) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50% | Perfectly balanced on neutral ground |
| M Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% | 2014 Final played here; KKR won |
Eden Gardens is genuinely KKR’s fortress — a 69% win rate here is the highest for any team at their home ground against a single opponent in IPL history. Crowd pressure, slow turner wicket conditions, and Narine’s spin combine to make it extremely difficult for visiting teams, including PBKS.
Key Moments in PBKS vs KKR Timeline
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is filled with moments that cricket fans remember forever. Here are the eight most defining events across 18 seasons.
- 2014 IPL Final: PBKS scored 199 with Wriddhiman Saha’s 115*, but KKR chased it successfully thanks to Manish Pandey’s 94 and won the title.
- 2015–2017 — KKR Dominance: KKR won 9 out of 10 matches against PBKS, building a strong lead in head-to-head records.
- 2019 — Rise of Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill delivered consistent performances, strengthening KKR’s batting lineup.
- 2020 (UAE) — Arshdeep’s Breakthrough: Arshdeep Singh impressed with a 3-wicket haul, marking his arrival as a key bowler for PBKS.
- April 26, 2024 — Record Chase: PBKS chased 262 against KKR, the highest successful run chase in IPL history.
- April 15, 2025 — Historic Defence: PBKS defended just 111 runs as Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 wickets, bowling KKR out for 95.
- April 11, 2026 — Sam Curran’s All-Round Show: Sam Curran scored 42* and took 2 wickets to win the match for PBKS.
- April 26, 2026 — Varun’s Match-Winning Spell: Varun Chakravarthy took 4/21, helping KKR secure a crucial win.
Conclusion
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is a living, breathing story of contrasts. KKR leads the head-to-head, but PBKS has authored the most dramatic chapters. From a record-breaking 262-run chase to defending an almost impossible total of 111, this rivalry has produced moments that define the IPL. Sunil Narine’s spin genius, Arshdeep’s death-over brilliance, and Sam Curran’s all-round class all live in this fixture. Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline squads evolve, one thing is certain the next chapter of this rivalry will be just as unpredictable and thrilling as every chapter before it.
FAQs
Who has won more matches in Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders history?
Kolkata Knight Riders have won more matches than Punjab Kings in their head-to-head history. KKR’s steady performances over the years give it an advantage. However, PBKS has also achieved many memorable and record-breaking wins.
What is the highest score in PBKS vs KKR matches?
The highest score in this rivalry came during a record-breaking match where the Punjab Kings chased down a massive total. It became one of the most successful run chases in IPL history, showcasing incredible batting power.
Which is the most memorable PBKS vs KKR match?
One of the most memorable matches was the historic 2024 game where the Punjab Kings completed a record chase. The match featured explosive batting, multiple sixes, and a dramatic finish that stunned fans and experts alike.
What makes the PBKS vs KKR rivalry unique?
This rivalry is unique because it includes both the highest successful chase and the lowest total defended in IPL history. These extreme records make matches unpredictable and exciting for fans of both teams.
When did the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry start?
The rivalry began in 2008 during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League. Since then, the teams have met often. This has created a fun and competitive cricket rivalry.
