Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is one of the most iconic franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team is known for its passionate fan base and explosive batting line-ups.
Over the years, the franchise has earned the reputation of setting massive scores, with the help of their explosive top-order batsmen. They have given some of the most memorable performances in the league.
Their record of RCB highest score in IPL of 263 runs stood tall for 11 years before Sunrisers Hyderabad broke all records.
Despite not winning the IPL in their formative years, they’ve accumulated some big totals to their name. In this article, we will take a look at RCB’s highest score in the IPL.
RCB’s highest score in IPL history is 263 for five wickets against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013 in Bengaluru. This iconic inning from the RCB boys remains the best of the best they had to offer. It was one of the most dominant performances in T20 cricket which could not be replicated.
Over the years, RCB has had the knack of scoring big at M. Chinnaswamy Bengaluru. Not only in Bengaluru, they’ve also been able to score big on other grounds.
Have a look at the five of RCB’s highest scores in the IPL.
| Team | Score | Inns | Opposition | Ground | Result | Date |
| RCB | 263/5 | 1 | Pune Warriors India | Bengaluru | won | 23-Apr-13 |
| RCB | 262/7 | 2 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | lost | 15-Apr-24 |
| RCB | 248/3 | 1 | Gujarat Lions | Bengaluru | won | 14-May-16 |
| RCB | 241/7 | 1 | Punjab Kings | Dharamsala | won | 09-May-24 |
| RCB | 235/1 | 1 | Mumbai Indians | Wankhede | won | 10-May-15 |
These RCB records are a testament to the powerhouse of batting RCB has always been. RCB still has two scores in the list of top 10 highest scores in IPL.
Now, let’s look at what happened in these matches and how they were able to score mammoth totals in a T20 game.
RCB highest score in IPL was achieved against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The match was against the now-defunct team Pune Warriors India.
It was a one-sided affair as RCB dominated the game and dismantled Pune’s bowling attack. The standout performer in that game was Chris Gayle,(one of the most dangerous batsmen) he smashed 175 runs in just 66 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 17 sixes. It is the highest individual score in T20 cricket.
Other notable contributions were from AB de Villiers who contributed 31 off just 8 balls to take their team to an unbeatable total.
For a long time, RCB’s highest score in IPL stood and was broken by SRH in 2024.
RCB’s second-highest score in IPL came against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a game of blitz in 2024. On 15 April 2024, RCB and SRH lit up the Chinnaswamy stadium with sixes and fours.
SRH batted first and they were in no mood to play slowly. They started to fire away from the get-go and ended up with 287 for 3 in their 20 overs. Travis Head scored a century in that match.
RCB did not give up easily and they tried to take the fight to SRH. Dinesh Karthik played one of the best innings of his life and scored 83 out of just 35 balls. But RCB could only get to 262/7 in the end. It was one hell of an encounter in the IPL.
The third most runs for RCB came in a match against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions team in 2016. RCB team scored 248/3 in their regulation 20 overs on the back of Virat and de Villiers innings.
It was a special match for fans as their favorite superstars, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers wreaked havoc on the ground. After losing the first wicket early, the two superstars smashed the Gujarat Lions bowlers all around the ground.
Both AB and Virat scored centuries as RCB posted a mammoth 248-run score. Kohli scored 109 runs off just 55 balls and de Villiers scored 129 runs off just 52 balls. The duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers also recorded the highest partnership in the IPL. The 229-run partnership for the second wicket is an all-time record in IPL.
The RCB side served Punjab Kings a slice of their own medicine in the 2024 IPL when they scored 241 for 7 batting first with Kohli making 92. Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, and Dinesh Karthik also contributed significantly to the total.
In reply, Punjab Kings could only manage 181 runs in 17 overs. Rilee Rossouw fought well but, in the end, he also perished for 61. After that, no batter could get going and they were bundled out for 181 runs.
In the 2015 IPL, RCB shocked the Mumbai Indians when they batted first and the duo of Virat Kohli (Run machine of the cricket) and De Villiers dominated yet again. Chris Gayle got out early but after that, there was no success for MI in the innings.
Kohli and De Villiers, both kings of IPL contributed 215 runs for the second wicket stand. As Kohli struck an unbeaten 82 off 50 balls, De Villiers was at his best again blasting an unbeaten 133 off merely 59 balls. The pair together blasted 25 fours and 8 sixes in their time in the middle.
On the back of these mammoth knocks, RCB hammered 235 runs for the loss of one wicket in 20 overs. In reply, Mumbai Indians struggled hard due to Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard’s knocks. However, they managed only 196 runs, losing seven wickets in their 20 overs.
RCB’s highest scores in IPL have given the fans some of the most memorable innings of all time. Here are some of the memorable highlights from RCB’s high-scoring matches.
Royal Challengers Bangalore might not have an IPL title yet, but they have made some of the league’s most iconic moments with the bat. Their score of 263/5 is still a benchmark for all teams. With energetic players and a passionate fan following, RCB keeps entertaining and impressing year after year.
As the IPL grows, RCB supporters continue to believe that this explosive style of cricket will soon be followed by championship success. Until then, their record-breaking efforts, particularly the 263/5 against Pune Warriors India, guarantee their place as one of the most exciting sides in IPL history.
