RCB Playoffs Record: How Many Times RCB Qualified for Playoffs in IPL History?

One of the most popular franchises of the Indian Premier League has once again qualified for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League. This time unbelievably winning six matches in a row and booking the 4th spot in the playoffs. In this particular article, we will know about how many times Royal Challengers Bengaluru qualified for the playoffs in the history of the Indian Premier League and what their record was in the playoffs of the IPL.

How many times RCB qualified for the playoffs?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered their ninth entry in the Indian Premier League playoffs by beating Chennai Super Kings last Saturday at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Before this year, RCB qualified for the playoffs in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, and the 2022 season. Let’s see RCB’s record in the IPL playoff matches.

In the second season of the Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered their first-ever qualification for the playoffs. RCB, after 14 league matches, stands in 3rd place in the points table with 16 points after winning 8 matches. Under Ability Kumble, the RCB franchise played its first final. RCB beat CSK in the semi-final by six wickets and confirmed their final tickets. Unfortunately, RCB lost the final against the Deccan Chargers by just six runs. Anil Kumble bowled an unbelievable spell of 4 overs by taking 4 wickets and just giving 16 runs, but that performance came in the losing cause. Anil Kumble’s team, RCB lost that final, but he was named player of the match for his performance. After finishing in 7th place in the eight-team tournament in the IPL inaugural season in 2008, RCB made a brilliant comeback in the 2009 season and ended up as a runner-up team.

After an outstanding 2009 season, the next season, RCB qualified for the playoffs by winning 7 out of 14 league matches. In the first semi-final against the Mumbai Indians, RCB failed to chase a big target of 184 runs and lost the match by 35 runs. Kieron Pollard was named player of the match for his all-rounder performance, scoring 33 runs from just 13 balls and taking 3 wickets with the ball. RCB did not enter the final that year, but they beat the Deccan Chargers in the 3rd place playoff match. Once again, Anil Kumble gets the player of the match by leading his team from the front; he took four wickets after just giving up 16 runs in 3.3 overs. 

For the continuous season, RCB qualified for the playoffs. In the 2011 season, RCB topped the points table after the league matches by winning nine games out of 14. The first qualifier of 2011 was played between RCB and CSK at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on May 24. RCB posted a 175-run competitive total after 20 overs. Virat Kohli played an unbeaten 70-run knock from 44 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. CSK chased down the target in 19.4 overs, and Raina scored the match, winning 73 runs from 50 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes. For this, Knock Raina was named player of the match, and CSK entered the final. 

The second qualifying final for RCB was played against the Mumbai Indians; this time, RCB beat MI by 43 runs and entered the final. RCB, after 20 overs and 185 runs, Chris Gayle smashed 89 runs from 47 balls, including nine fours and five maximums. MI only managed to score 142 runs at the end of 20 overs; Deniel Vettori took 3 wickets. Chris Gayle was named player of the match for the qualifying final. 

RCB vs. CSK in the final, and CSK defeated RCB once again and broke the RCB trophy-lifting dream. CSK openers were given a solid start. Both batters scored half centuries, and Murli Vijay scored 95 runs from 52 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes. Michael Hussey added 63 runs from 45 balls with three fours and three sixes. In the second innings, RCB completely lost the way and only scored 147 runs, with eight wickets lost at the end of 20 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets,  Murli Vijay in his final match weaning knock  was named player of the match. 

In 2012, 2013, and 2014, RCB did not manage to get their place in the IPL playoffs; in 2015, they qualified for the playoffs by winning seven games and stand in the 3rd spot after the league stage. The eliminator was between RCB and RR; RCB put up a good total of 180 runs after the first inning. AB de Villiers scored 68 runs from 34 balls and smashed four fours and four sixes. Mandeep Singh also contributed with a half century and added 54 runs from 34 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. RCB bowlers took 10 wickets from RR batters in 19 overs and won the eliminator by 71 runs. The Player of the Match award goes to AB de Villiers due to his high-class knock.

RCB entered Qualifier 2 of the 2015 IPL season, but once again, CSK put a break in RCB’s finals dream. The CSK left-arm fast bowler Aasish Nehra took 3 wickets in the first innings of the match and restricted RCB to just 139/8 after 20 overs. CSK chased down the target with three balls remaining and entered the final of the 2015 Indian Premier League. Michael Hussey was the highest scorer for CSK; he scored 56 from 46 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. For his remarkable performance, Ashish Nehra was nominated as the player of the match.

The 2016 IPL season was a dream season for the RCB franchise. RCB won 8 games out of 14 in the league stage and stood at number 2 in the points table. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, RCB played Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Lions, registered a comprehensive win, and threw to the final. RCB restricted GL to 158 runs after 20 overs, Shane Watson took 4 wickets for RCB. RCB chased down the target in 18.2 overs, and once again, AB de Villiers performed in the crucial match and played a fabulous knock of unbeaten 79 runs from 47 balls, including 5 fours and 5 maximums. Dhaval Kulkarni took four wickets for GL, but GL was not able to stop AB de Villiers, and RCB won the qualifier and entered the final.

Once again a heartbreak for the RCB franchise in the final, against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru RCB lost the final by 8 runs. SRH put up a big total of 208 runs, Warner scored 69 runs, and Ben Cutting scored a quickfire 39 runs. In the chase, Chris Gayle scored 76 and captain Kohli added 54 runs, but that’s not enough, and RCB lost the close encounter. Ben Cutting took two wickets, and for his all-rounder show, he got the player of the match award in the final.

After a 3-year gap, RCB once again qualified for the playoffs. In 2020, with 14 points at the league stage, RCB placed 4th  in the points table. SRH once again eliminated RCB in the playoffs; the SRH bowlers brilliant show helped them, and they restricted RCB to 131/7 after 20 overs. Jason Holder took three wickets, and T Natarajan took two wickets in that match. SRH won the match in the 20th over. Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten half century for SRH and also won the player of the match trophy.

RCB won nine matches after the 14 league matches were completed and stands at number 3 in the points table. In 2019, RCB played the eliminator against KKR, and back to back in two years RCB lost the eliminator. KKR restricted RCB to 138/7 after 20 overs. Sunil Narine dismissed 4 RCB batters, and in the second inning, Narine scored 26 runs, and KKR defeated RCB by 4 wickets and 2 balls remaining. KKR marquee player Sunil Narine also contributed with bat and scored 26 including 3 sixes. For this all-rounder show, Narine gets the player of the match award. 

Continuously in 3 seasons, RCB qualified for the toughest T20 playoffs, once again in the number 3 position in the points table by winning 9 matches in the league phase. In the eliminator RCB played against the Lucknow Super Giants, RCB put up a massive total of 207 runs, losing 4 wickets in innings. Rajat Patidar scored his maiden IPL hundred and played an unbeaten knock of 112 runs from 54 balls, including 12 fours and 7 sixes. LSG did not cross the RCB target and lost the match by 14 runs. Josh Hazelwood took 3 wickets for the RCB. For the sensational hundred, Patidar received the well-deserved player of the match.

In Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals, Jos Buttler knocked out RCB from the final race. RR bowlers restricted RCB batters from scoring a big total, and RCB ended the innings by scoring 157/8. Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten hundred in the chase. Buttler made an unbeaten 106 from 60 balls with 10 fours and 6 sixes. Buttler was selected for the player of the match award for his brilliant inning. 

In 2024, RCB has a chance to take revenge on the same ground, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on May 22. It will be interesting to see that can RCB continue their winning streak and win the title by registering nine continuous wins.