The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline is one of the original rivalries in Indian Premier League history. The franchises first met back in the 2008 season of IPL, where they have played a number of notable matches at various venues during different seasons. It has included everything: thrillers, run fests, Super Overs, record chases and match-winning performances from some of the biggest stars in T20.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have seen changes in the captaincy, team compositions, and approach over the years. This development has translated into their overall head-to-head record changing from year to year. Kolkata had a few more good – spells after Rajasthan dominated most of the earliest meetings. It needs to be noted that the competition has always been tightly contested since neither side has completely dominated the fixture throughout IPLs long history.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2008: Match 01

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals TimelineImage Source: IPL. It all started back on the 1st of May, 2008, during the first season of IPL ever. Rajasthan Royals put in a brilliant effort against Kolkata Knight Riders at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur RR managed to score 196/7 while their bowlers restricted KKR to only 151/9, thus winning the match by 45 runs.

This was a notable result as Rajasthan were one of the new franchises in the inaugural IPL season, while Kolkata had already received plenty of publicity due to their high-profile squad. When the two teams met again later in the tournament, as covered here on Crikzoo, Rajasthan carried their formidable start against KKR by winning the second encounter six wickets. It also put RR up 2-0 on the season over Kolkata.

KKR vs RR Timeline 2009-2010

In the following two IPL seasons, however, the rivalry got a fair bit more intense. The two teams generated one of their earliest dramatic battles in a meeting back in Cape Town 2009. Both teams got to 150 in their innings thus leading to the requirement of playing a Super Over. The resultant superover was won eventually by Rajasthan Royals to create yet another significant result in this rivalry with Kolkata, one that will last into posterity.

The second match in 2009 ended in favour of Kolkata, with KKR winning the game against Royals by four wickets at Durban. In 2010 the squads traded wins once again. Rajasthan triumphed by 34 runs in Ahmedabad while Kolkata produced an eight-wicket victory at Eden Gardens. These figures indicated far greater parity with respect to the rivalry than had been the case for the opening season.

Season	Winner	Margin
2009	Rajasthan Royals	Super Over
2009	Kolkata Knight Riders	4 wickets
2010	Rajasthan Royals	34 runs
2010	Kolkata Knight Riders	8 wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals History between 2011 and 2013

Kolkata Knight Riders came up with a better success rate against Rajasthan Royals from 2011 to 2013. KKR got the better of RR in both instances in 2011, winning by nine wickets at Jaipur and eight wickets at Eden Gardens. This quality became a characteristic of their play during that time, and they became adept at chasing targets down.

In 2012, Rajasthan won by 22 runs at Jaipur; Kolkata responded with a five-wicket victory in Kolkata. This trend only continued in 2013. Rajasthan won the match at their home ground by 19 runs whereas KKR clinched an eight-wicket victory at Eden Gardens. These seasons showed you how one-sided the contest could be given venue conditions.

Season	Jaipur Match	Kolkata Match
2011	KKR won by 9 wickets	KKR won by 8 wickets
2012	RR won by 22 runs	KKR won by 5 wickets
2013	RR won by 19 runs	KKR won by 8 wickets

KKR vs RR Timeline in 2014

A different tied match was responsible for this 2014 chapter in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline. The contest in Abu Dhabi ended with both teams on 152 runs. Afterward, a Super Over was played, but it still could not separate the teams with both scoring 11 runs. The match was eventually handed to Rajasthan Royals as per the boundary-count rule that was prevalent at that time.

Teams met again later in the 2014 season — this time at Ahmedabad. Kolkata lost the previous contest by 10 runs, meaning Rajasthan completed a season double over them. Saturday’s two matches showed how unpredictable this rivalry can be, especially when the games went to sudden death at the end and strange tie-breaking procedures were needed.

2015 Timeline: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders: There were 2 meetings between these teams in the 2015 season but only one provided us with a full result. Their first clash, scheduled for February at Eden Gardens had no result due to rain. The two sides then clashed later at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, where Rajasthan Royals went on to beat Kolkata by nine runs.

Rajasthan Royals missed the IPL in 2016 and 2017, which made for an unusual chapter in their rivalry that season too. Consequently, there were no league matches played between KKR & RR for those two seasons. The fixture was immediately switched back on when Rajasthan returned to the fray in 2018.

Timeline: KKR vs RR 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders have dominated this head-to-head contest, and enjoyed a particularly successful 2018 season against Delhi. Kolkata won all three clashes between KKR and RR. KKR started with a seven wicket victory over Rajasthan in Jaipur, before winning their next match by six wickets against Kolkata. Then came another triumph at Eden Gardens & this time they ended victorious by 25 runs.

KKR registered a significant momentum in the rivalry by winning three times against the same opponent during the same IPL season. This also showed how their combinations in-teams worked for the past campaign. 2018 was a slightly more one-sided year in the bigger picture, with Rajasthan losing to Kolkata in their return season.

2019 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline

The rivalry was then balanced in the 2019 season. The first time in Jaipur, Kolkata Knight Riders chased that successfully by eight wickets with a solid display from their batting. In Kolkata, Rajasthan Royals then hit back, beating KKR by three wickets in another nail-biting contest.

Both matches mirrored the kind of rivalry this encounter had developed into. The result in the two meetings was so close that neither side had a clear edge and once again the outcome relied highly on performances during the chase. So that 1-1 tie from the 2019 season is another entry in the long running head-to-head history.

KKR vs RR Timeline in 2020

Like the 2020 IPL was played in UAE, and the change of locations made for conditions that suited both sides differently. The venues that met in Dubai International Cricket Stadium : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals. KKR took down both these matches in style, with bat and ball.

After giving the lowest of ratings to get first blood for Kolkata: they secured a significant 37-run win against Rajasthan, and finally again but 60-runs convincing success in corresponding two matches. Both results granted KKR a faultless 2-0 record for the season. The 2020 campaign was yet another key period in that Kolkata fortified their overall head-to-head better preference.

KKR vs Royals Timeline 2021

Franchises had one win each (again) in the 2021 season. In their repeat fixture, Royals proved they can chase the target set by Kolkata — having won their initial meeting at Wankhede by six wickets. KKR went on to produce an even more thumping reply in Sharjah crushing RR by 86 runs.

That by the way was the score-line the significance of which was largely due to its margin. While Kolkata’s batting and bowling units served very well to prevent Rajasthan from coming closer. The overall record at the end of the season, however, was level for that year with one victory apiece by each side.

2022 Schedule: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals

2019, 2020 and 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals: Another contest that remained competitive as per the games played in 2021 with maybe slight advantages for both sides. In their first meeting held at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals won by 7 runs. The result indicates how close the two teams were with the outcome understandably dependent on a narrow margin in a contest that went to the wire.

In their next meeting at Wankhede Stadium, IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hit back. KKR chased down, successfully chasing the record of Rajasthan and won that match by 7 wickets. The season ended with both franchises splitting their two head-to-head meetings again, confirming the nip-and-tuck nature of their recent history.

KKR vs RR Timeline in 2023

The 2023 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens came to a one-sided contest in favor of Rajasthan. Kolkata’s total was chased down by RR to register a comfortable 9-wicket win. It was particularly remarkable in terms of the margin and how quickly Rajasthan completed the chase.

Kolkata had a tough home match and they were not able to pressure Rajasthan too much during the second innings. That result helped RR to another significant win in their emerging rivalry and maintained the trend of different teams dominating distinct periods.

Timeline of Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals in 2024

One of the most unique recent chapters in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline was written out in the 2024 season. Rajasthan Royals pulled off the highest successful run chase in history to win a thriller by 2 wickets at Eden Gardens. The game included quality batting displays including a hundred from Jos Buttler.

During the season, KKR also had Sunil Narine scoring at a phenomenal pitch scoring 109. In season 2024, Rajasthan managed to score its highest ever against Kolkata with a total of 224/8, while KKR’s highest ever score against RR remains the same at 223. However, their second meeting, which was scheduled in Guwahati, ended without a conclusion.

2024 Record	Details
RR highest score vs KKR	224/8
KKR highest score vs RR	223
RR notable batter	Jos Buttler – 107*
KKR notable batter	Sunil Narine – 109
Guwahati meeting	Abandoned

2025 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline

It was the 2025 season where fortune turned once again in favour of Kolkata Knight Riders. In the first of their two fixtures, KKR defeated Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets at Guwahati. That gave Kolkata a near-fatal grip on the match and set them well on their way to take an early claim over RR in the season series.

The second meeting was much tighter. Batting first, KKR could score only 151 in their 20 overs but the bowlers stood up and aided them to a narrow win over RR. Such a slim margin indicated the minuscule differences that can make or break an IPL game and especially when the chase comes down to the last over. This win thus allowed KKR to whitewash Rajasthan 2-0 in the season of 2025.

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Update on KKR vs RR Justin Time’s Match in 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals: Last UpdatedApril 19, 2026 The latest chapter in this ongoing rivalry came on the fateful day of April 19, 2026 at Eden Gardens Batting first, Rajasthan Royals scored 155/9 in their quota of 20 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal made 39 from 29 balls, whilst Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 46 off 28 balls.

Kolkata’s run chariot was not short and perhaps got a fighting score of 161/6 in 19.4 overs. Rinku Singh also played a crucial role with an unbeaten 53 off 34 balls, while Anukul Roy made 29 from just 16 balls. KKR won the game by four wickets with two balls to spare as KKR vs RCB continued its long history of tight finishes.

Head to Head KKR vs RR

Kolkata Knight Riders led the aforementioned overall head to head in completed matches, which dated back to their April 2026 clash. Of the 33 IPL clashes, KKR had won 17 times and Rajasthan Royals on 14 occasions. Two matches had finished with no result.

Those numbers also highlight just how competitive the fixture has been over the years. Over the span of 31 seasons, the margin between the two franchises’ championships is actually negligible. The overall record is more interesting than the win totals alone because of tied games and narrow victories to go along with the competitive spirit.

Head-to-Head Category	Record
Total matches	33
Kolkata Knight Riders wins	17
Rajasthan Royals wins	14
No result/abandoned	2
Tied matches requiring Super Over	2

KKR vs RR Highest Team Scores

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline has also yielded some significant batting scores. Rajasthan Royals high score against KKR — 224/8, Kolkata Knight Riders high score against Rajasthan Royals — 223/6 Such is the growing impact of unabashed aggression in contemporary IPL cricket as illustrated by both figures.

As we have seen, higher totals have become more the norm through developments of T20 strategies. Now teams wish to start aggressively but slowly during powerplay and increase the scoring rate in middle/death overs. That transformation is reflected in the KKR-RR rivalry with a number of games on high-scoring venues requiring large scores, and run chases.

Most Remarkable Super-Over Matches Between KKR and RR

This fixture is historically unique because there have been two tied matches. The first had come in 2009 in Cape Town when the two sides scored 150 apiece during their innings proper. For 19 overs, it gave little sign of a draw taking place at all in a contest which may have produced no winner were it not for the Super Over ultimately secured by Rajasthan Royals. That was one of the earliest instances of a nailbiter from an IPL match that goes down to the very last ball

The second notable dead heat came in 2014 at Abu Dhabi. The sides finished level again, as they did previously, and it took a Super Over to separate them. The result of the match was later determined under a boundary-count rule in force then. These two contests still have their standalone chapters in the story of KKR v RR.

KKR vs RR Key Player Performances

There have been numerous individual performances instrumental in shaping this rivalry. Rajasthan Royals: Highest individual scoreJos Buttler, 107 not out vs Kolkata Knight RidersSunil Narine, 109Not a lot of notable batting performances of Rajasthan Royals against KKR and vice versaRegards the latter. The list of match-winners is made from seasoned performers and relatively inexperienced stars who became household names through the IPL.

Bowling has been huge as well. While Rajasthan have had brilliant spells with their spin unit, Kolkata have often used their mystery-spin and pace options effectively in the final overs. Such individual displays have often swung otherwise tightly-contested games one way or the other.

KKR vs RR Rivalry Through IPL Eras

The KKR v RR timeline can be roughly segregated into different phases. While the first two encounters came in the favour of Rajasthan way back in 2008, Kolkata had more significant periods in their favor during the early-2010s and again in 2018 and 2020. Rajasthan then claimed crucial victories in 2023 and 2024 before KKR hit back in the 2025-26 seasons.

Team personnel have been a huge factor in these changes. Captains,j and overseas players, homegrown performers or auxiliary bowlers have also become periodic subjects of change. Instead, that rivalry continues to evolve instead of being defined by one generation of players.

Takeaways From the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline

There have been many significant milestones through the long history between these two teams that go a long way in understanding why this IPL fixture is one of the most watched. The pair have been fixtures in competitive results throughout their matches while several contests have gone to the dying moments or required tie-breaking processes.

Key points from the timeline include:

• This rivalry originated in the very first season of IPL back in 2008.
• Matches Played- 2Matches Won- Rajasthan Royals(RR)- 2 Runners Up Team- Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR)
• The two sides have already had two Super Over tied matches when they met.
• Kolkata Knight Riders did a clean sweep over Rajasthan Royals of 3-0 in the year 2018.
• In 2020 – KKR beat RR in both the matches.
• RR carved out an exciting two-wicket win in 2024.
• KKR and RR met on two occasions during the 2025 season and KKR won both times.
• The last match played in April 2026, KKR won by four wickets.
• KKR won the overall head-to-head record by 17-14 with two no-results from the match up before the 2026 meeting.

Conclusion

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals timeline is thus over 18 years of IPL cricket, starting from their first-ever meeting in 2008 to their latest meeting in 2026. In 33 matches, Kolkata Knight Riders have won 17 and Rajasthan Royals have won 14 with two matches ending in no result.

This is not just about the overall record making this rivalry interesting, but rather how widely our matches have ranged. Be it Super Overs, boundary-count drama or numerous run-high scoring encounters along with one-run finishes and/or particular individual performances by either the batsmen or bowlers – KKR and RR have provided a host of unforgettable contests over the years in IPL. The list of chapters in their head-to-head history continues to grow with each new season, furthering one of the league’s established rivals.

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