The Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline is truly one of the most intriguing rivalries in Indian Premier League history. Lacking the typical finish to power through some monster totals and individual brilliance, both teams have played countless faded pieces of equipment into each other since their meeting in 2008. Punjab Kings have put in many memorable performances too but Rajasthan Royals boast a superior overall head-to-head record against them. Over the years this rivalry has transformed as players, captains and team strategies have changed. This timeline features all the key incidents that have defined this Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings in leading up to 2020 Season as per first IPL season till now.

Head to Head Record Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings

Overall H2H records are in favour of Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings. Up until meeting for the last time in 2026, across their IPL history these franchises have gone head-to-head on 31 occasions. Rajasthan won 18 of those matches while Punjab managed to win only on 13 occasions. Rajasthan, however, has snatched the numbers in its favour but this rivalry over years has brought forth many close contests. A few games have ended in nail biting finishes, on the other hand some marked incredible batting spectacles and successful run chases. The latest Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline can also be viewed at Crikzoo, where you will get to know the history of this exciting IPL rivalry and other Cricket stats for cricket fans.

Category	Rajasthan Royals	Punjab Kings
Matches Played	31	31
Matches Won	18	13
Matches Lost	13	18
No Result	0	0

The numbers certainly showcase Rajasthan’s dominance, but Punjab have been in a position to take them on too as long as their top order has fired.

2008 : The Case of Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings

The Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings rivalry timeline officially began in 2008 during the first season of IPL. The first encounter was in Jaipur between the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab (as they were then known). In that match, Rajasthan chased down Punjab’s total and won the contest by six wickets. The bat needed entertainment and Shane Watson delivered it in a manner that will do little to quash the conspiracy theorists while Shane Warne produced a masterclass of a bowling display. The two sides clashed again earlier this season in Mohali, with Kings XI Punjab bouncing back to a convincing win. Punjab ended the inaugural season with one win each — they won by 41 runs (221/3 to Rajasthan’s 180).

2009: Each Team Holds Onto Their Feisty Rivalry

The Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings saga, if we’d call it that way, became more interesting in the 2009 season. Due to the tournament taking place in South Africa, both franchises were up against contrasting conditions from the previous season. In their first encounter in Cape Town, Punjab clinched victory by 27 runs after limiting Rajasthan. The Royals then bounced back emphatically in Durban with a resounding 78-run win. Rajasthan scored 211/4 before restricting Punjab to 133/8. The outcome again left the head-to-head record for the season locked at a victory each, highlighting how well matched these sides appeared to be.

A New Era Begins For Rajasthan Royals in 2010

The 2010 season was among the earliest instances for Rajasthan Royals when their supremacy in a single IPL edition over Punjab became never more apparent. Rajasthan clinched both fixtures between the sides, starting off with a 31-run win in Mohali. The Royals posted 183/5 and defended the total successfully. Jaipur: Rajasthan continued their domination with a nine-wicket win over Punjab as both teams picked up 153/6. Michael Lumb batted really well for 83 off 43 balls. The twin wins consolidated their spot in the emerging rivalry and showed that Rajasthan had match-winning talents with both bat and ball.

2011: Punjab Kings Respond Strongly

Punjab ended Rajasthan’s winning streak in 2011 before returning to the top of the pile again. Kings XI Punjab had a convincing win over them at Mohali in the only meeting they played that season. Punjab made 195/7 and at the end left Rajasthan Royals behind on just 147, so won the game by an excellent margin of forty-eight runs. The significance of the result was in Punjab’s ability to respond after Rajasthan’s successful 2010 season. The teams were scheduled to meet on multiple occasions that season but Punjab turned in such a convincing victory here, the overall rivalry at least continues evenly instead of becoming lopsided.

2012 : Rajasthan Royals Get Back On Top

The rivalry was once again dominated by Rajasthan Royals, who carried on their winning momentum into the 2012 season. Their wins against Kings XI Punjab showed how strong they looked with both bat and ball seeing as nothing about them at least had an air of perfection to it. Rajasthan 191/4 def. Rajasthan by virtue of the fact that they batted first by defeating some team in Jaipur In the return game in Mohali, Rajasthan proved too good for Punjab once again making 177/6 and bowling them out to just 134 runs. In the Jaipur fixture, an impressive four wicket haul by Kevon Cooper produced a superb bowling display. These two wins also allowed Rajasthan to extend their improving dominance in the head-to-head overall record.

2013: Rajasthan Royals Once Again Prove Their Best

The 2013 Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Timeline still remained weighted heavily in favor of the boundaries crossing Rajasthan. Away from home, they recorded comprehensive victories over Punjab at Jaipur and Mohali respectively. Jaipur: A batting order collapse from Punjab saw them shot out for just 124, paving the way for Rajasthan to conquer a rather comfortable six-wicket victory. Punjab scored 145/6 in the second faceoff and Rajasthan achieved that with eight wickets left. These two consecutive wins showcased the consistency of Rajasthan through this phase against Punjab. It was yet another season where Rajasthan conquered pressure and retained the lead over their opponents.

The Rivalry Makeover: Punjab Kings 2014

The 2014 season marked a key inflection point in the story of Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings. Rajasthan started the tournament as a dominant side even having not being able to beat Kings XI Punjab delayed them in all two meetings. It also looks back at Punjab’s success in chasing 191/5 set by Rajasthan to mark their first victory in Sharjah. The second was played in Mohali where Punjab made 179/4 and won by 16 runs. The two victories from Punjab proved that the balance of power in IPL can change rapidly. That season, they executed their plans well to cash in on Rajasthan’s weaknesses and came away with a clean sweep.

2015: The Super Over Of Glory

One of the most thrilling matches in Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings history occurred during the 2015 season. Rajasthan claimed the number one meeting by 26 runs after its total of 162/7 and limited Punjab to 134 /8. The second match, on the other hand, turned out to be a right cliff hanger. The match finished in a tie with both teams scoring 191/6 from their respective 20 overs forcing into Super Over. However, Punjab managed to clinch the Super Over and snatch victory in this match. Neither side managed to get on top during the 20 overs of regulation play, which made for a particularly memorable fixture as it all came down to such a dramatic finish.

2016, 2017: Not Held

The timeline of Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings had a gap between the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons. That suspended Rajasthan Royals from the tournament for those two editions, which meant Punjab didn’t play against them in both those seasons. It left the rivalry with a two-year hole. The Royals vs Punjab Rivalry: The rivalry between the two sides was back on in 2018 when Rajasthan made their comeback to IPL. This was particularly important because it fell at a time of considerable change for both teams, with several new players and football styles soon entering the rivalry.

2018: Return of Royals and Split Round of Honour

In 2018, Rajasthan Royals returned to the IPL and they renewed their rivalry with Kings XI Punjab right away. Punjab chased down the target set by Rajasthan in Indore and went back winning that contest by six wickets. KL Rahul was also a key player for Punjab during this match. Rajasthan then hit back in Jaipur, defending their total to win by 15 runs. Jos Buttler was brilliant during that game. Both results meant no team was able to gain the upper hand in a season, with Punjab and Rajasthan each taking it turn over victory as these two teams added yet another close contest known within their long IPL history.

2019: Punjab Kings Achieve a Season Sweep

2019: KXIP beat Rajasthan (home) Punjab won both games against Rajasthan Royals and this was one of their most successful seasons in the rivalry. Punjab managed 184/4 and defeated Rajasthan by54 runs in Jaipur. Mohali hosted the second match and once again Punjab defended their score, winning by 12 runs. Showing their coping skills with the batters from Rajasthan, Punjab registered two wins in a row. It also proved this same head-to-head rivalry could shift heavily one way and then the other in consecutive seasons.

Rajasthan Royals Execute a Legendary Chase (2020)

As such, the 2020 encounter is often remembered as one of the most memorable moments in Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings history. Punjab Kings posted an impressive 223/2 in Sharjah and seemed to have everything under control. Rajasthan, on the other hand delivered a stunning reply and achieved it in just 226/6 with three balls to spare. Rahul Tewatia became the hero of the chase after smashing 5 sixes in one over. Rajasthan chased down the target to become one of IPL’s most discussed successful run chases with Chris Morris bringing it home for four wickets. Kansas City also won its second clash that year.

2021: Two Extremely Close Matches

Another two thrilling contests between the franchises came during 2021. Punjab Kings – Won by Four Runs after scoring 221/6 (vs Gujarat Titans) Rajasthan replied 217/7 — with New Zealand’s Tom Latham scoring a brisk half-century (62 off just 29) but in vain. But in the next encounter, Rajasthan got a taste of their own medicine as they were edged out by two runs. The Royals had defended 185/10 and held Punjab to 183/4. These matches showed the exceedingly thin lines that often defined between two sides. 2021 was yet another year of note in the rivalry, with both games being defined by batters (and bowlers) bending under pressure.

2022: Rajasthan Royals Chase Down A Tall Target

When the two sides met in 2022 during the league stage, Rajasthan Royals maintained their overall lead. Rajasthan were set a challenging target as Punjab Kings posted 189/5. Chasing, the Royals kept their cool and crossed 190/4 with two deliveries remaining. Rajasthan showed their mettle under the pump with a six-wicket victory chasing down 176. Rajasthan chased down a target of 221, which was in fact again the last feature to have turned into an ordinary for this match-up: two groups who can make runs yet Rajasthan are regularly good chasers.

2023: Another Campaign Finishes 1-1

The rivalry was close to equal during the 2023 IPL season. In their first encounter, Punjab Kings defeated Chennai Super Kings by five runs after scoring 197/4 and defended the total. Rajasthan nearly pulled off the chase but eventually fell short, ending their innings at 192/7. Losing the earlier game at home, Rajasthan hit back when they won in the return fixture by four wickets. Punjab managed a score of 187/5, whereas Rajasthan chased it down with an impressive 189/6 in just within the innings’ last ball (19.4 over). That meant for the second night, it was honours even between the two teams with one each taking a blatantly contrasting result. It showed how marginal the gains are in this fixture, just a few executions here and there separated out what happened during these final overs of sport.

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings, 2024: Split the points

In 2024, the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline was equilibrated again as one game had been won by each team. Punjab batted first and posted 147/8, which Rajasthan chased to win their initial encounter by three wickets. The batting unit of Royals chased down the targets comfortably despite few wickets falling. In the next leg in Guwahati, it was Punjab who struck back. Punjab chased down 144/9 in nine overs to beat Rajasthan by five wickets. Again, both sides ended the season level in their head-to-head record; just as has so often been the case of late.

2025: Teams Win One a Piece

Again the same competitive pattern continued into 2025, with Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings both winning one match. Rajasthan put up a strong show in the first encounter, scoring 205/4 and then rattling Punjab to just 1559. The result was a resounding win for the Royals by 50 runs and both their batting and bowling units played prominent roles. The second match was played at Jaipur where Punjab responded. Kings 219/5 (20 overs), Stags 209 all out, Kings won by 10 runs. It meant that neither side could really lay claim to winning the contest over the long haul of a season.

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2026: Rajasthan Royals Write yet Another Glorious Chapter

Last Completed Chapter: 2026: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Timeline. Batting first, Punjab Kings set a mammoth 222/4 total to put Rajasthan in a difficult situation. Rajasthan pursued the target and successfully chased it in an amazing manner instead of playing defensively. The Royals chased down the target with a score of 228/4 in only 19.2 overs, winning by six wickets. That’s Rajasthan’s 18th win in their last 31 meetings with Punjab. It was another case of Royals successfully chasing huge totals and this IPL rivalry has now produced yet another high-scoring thriller.

Season-Wise Results of Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings

The season-by-season record depicts how often the momentum has shifted from one side (Rajasthan Royals) to another(Punjab Kings). Rajasthan had its best years early on while Punjab performed well in 2014 and again in 2019. In recent editions, these have been shared between the teams. This spell makes their rivalry unpredictable, with the results of past meetings not directly affecting what transpires next. Here is a quick reference of their meetings over the IPL seasons:

Season	Result
2008	1-1
2009	1-1
2010	Rajasthan Royals 2-0
2011	Punjab Kings 1-0
2012	Rajasthan Royals 2-0
2013	Rajasthan Royals 2-0
2014	Punjab Kings 2-0
2015	1-1, including a Super Over
2016	No meeting
2017	No meeting
2018	1-1
2019	Punjab Kings 2-0
2020	Rajasthan Royals 2-0
2021	1-1
2022	Rajasthan Royals 1-0
2023	1-1
2024	1-1
2025	1-1
2026	Rajasthan Royals 1-0

One thing that stands out in the table is how evenly matched they have often become after lengthy stretches of clear-cut dominance.

Top Batting Display From The Rivalry

The period between Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline has been distinguished by some great batting performances. Sanju Samson’s ton against Punjab (Rajasthan) and Shaun Marsh’s famous hundred for Punjab in early IPL seasons As has been the case in this fixture, Shane Watson, Jos Buttler, KL Rahul and Rahul Tewatia have played some impactful knocks here too. Over the years, this rivalry has often favoured fierce shot makers and high-scoring one-day games as both teams can recover lost positions in what seem to be no time via heavy hitting and reckless run chases.

Rajasthan Royals’ Notable Batting Records

Rajasthan : Legends of Batting Against Punjab Samson’s ton is one of the highest individual scores for the Royals and Buttler too has been vital in key matches. One of the most prominent characteristics between these two franchises during that time has been whether one or the other were more capable when behind a sizable target. This shows how Rajasthan’s batting approach makes even the toughest targets fightable, as their 223 in 2020 and then in ’26 were both run chases. This is one of the reasons Rajasthan has had a slightly better overall record against Punjab.

Punjab Kings’ Notable Batting Records

There are batting performances from Punjab Kings that also have gone down but in their own right against Rajasthan. However, there was an individual effort in the early IPL years from Shaun Marsh which can still hold its own among those auction prices. KL Rahul, of course with Punjab winning the title using important innings in this very fixture. Punjab posting huge scores has been another recurring theme. This includes a score of 223/2 in the Sharjah match in October 2020 among other high-scoring shows, which are evidence to their batting prowess that has made them a tough foe for Rajasthan.

Top Bowling Performances in the Series

Bowling has been just as influential in establishing the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline. Despite the high-scoring nature of many matches, a few bowlers have turned out to be match-winners for their teams when they needed it the most. Kevon Cooper with the stunning figures for Rajasthan against Punjab Pakkee 06 Arshdeep Singh with some brilliant showing from his side as well! Some of the best bowling spells have been taking place in the middle and death overs phase once you are genuinely looking to control runs that can swing a match one way or another.

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings: Memorable Matches

Among those matches are several that stand out for their drama and significance. The Super Over contest from 2015 is still fresh in the memory since one could not separate both sides after 40 overs. The 2020 clash is remembered for Rajasthan’s chase of 223 and in particular one unbelievable over bowled by Rahul Tewatia. They broke the 2021 meetings by four runs and two runs respectively, added yet another high-scoring chase to their rivalry in a match that would end up scoring — was it any surprise? These clashes tell why this fixture keeps IPL fans on the edge of their seats.

Sneak Peek into the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Rivalry

One of the best and biggest reasons (reason we love talking about, building this rivalry) is how unpredictable it remains. While Rajasthan may have the head-to-head record overall, Punjab has proven time and again that they can beat Royals by large margins. The fixture has had everything that an IPL encounter can deliver – big scores, successful pursuits, last-over finishes, Super Overs and individual brilliance. An exciting aspect is the evolution of supposedly Punjab’s franchise, competing till recently as Kings XI Punjab and now emerging out from under that name to retake what identity it’s been able to operate with in a deflated fashion-More like feasting on crumbs instead-till it morphed into new avatar-Punjab kings? However with these changes, the fixture has retained its edge as a competitive one.

Points to Remember from the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Timeline

IPL Followers: There Are Few Key Takeaways From The History Of This Matchup Rajasthan Royals have an overall head-to-head advantage, but there are periods when Punjab Kings dominated. The rivalry has also become known for closely contested, high-scoring games. 

Key observations:

• Overall head to head: Rajasthan Royals lead the battle
• The Punjab Kings have been on the end of many famous wins, for example: 2015 Super Over
• In 2020, Rajasthan finished a well-remembered IPL chase against Punjab.
• The 2026 meeting continued the mutual-dismemberment rivalry with another successful high-score chase.
• Chances this season have more often than not ended in stalemates with wins for either team once.

Wrap Up on the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Timeline

The full Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings timeline makes for an interesting read, weaving a story threaded with changing fates and all-time performances in the backdrop of IPL drama. An opening meeting in 2008 and a high-scoring affair ahead of the franchises’ new journeys (in 2026) produced many memorable moments for fans. The overall record is now 18 wins from 31 matches in favour of Rajasthan Royals, but over the years Punjab Kings have shown they are more than capable of reversing those trends and making that match-up go their way.

A great thing about this matchup is it has never been a constant. Rajasthan has ruled several of the early seasons, Punjab shone in many a middle season and lately their exchanges have often been nip-and-tuck. New players keep emerging, but both franchises are always evolving themselves and there will be plenty more dramatic pages to the IPL rivalry in years to come.

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