35 matches. One IPL Final. KKR 21, PBKS 13.
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry is one of the most lopsided yet consistently compelling contests in IPL history. Unlike the near-perfect balance of some other head-to-heads in this league, the PBKS vs KKR story is defined by KKR’s clear dominance — the Kolkata-based franchise holds a 21–13 advantage across 35 meetings, with one match ending in no result. And yet, the individual encounters have regularly produced cricket that transcends the scoreline.
There is a 2014 IPL Final that Punjab have never quite gotten over. There is Sunil Narine’s extraordinary record of 36 wickets in this specific fixture. There is a 2024 run-chase of 262 — at the time the highest successful chase in IPL history — that Punjab completed stunningly at KKR’s own home ground. And then there is the 2025 encounter at Mullanpur, where Punjab defended 111 runs to set the record for the lowest total ever successfully defended in the IPL.
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is not a story of equals. But it is a story full of drama, history, and matches that have genuinely shaped the broader IPL narrative.
IPL 2026: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders — What’s Coming
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head is set to add new chapters in IPL 2026. According to the schedule released by the BCCI, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are set to meet in their first IPL 2026 clash on March 29, 2026, with Punjab Kings captained by Shreyas Iyer and KKR entering the season with a significantly rebuilt squad following the mega auction.
KKR made one of the boldest decisions ahead of IPL 2026 by releasing Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, entering the auction with the highest available purse among all franchises — ₹64.30 crore. Cameron Green broke the IPL overseas record in moving to KKR, and the Kolkata outfit will be looking to defend their 2024 title and add to their advantage in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders all-matches record.
For Punjab, the motivation could not be higher. They reached the 2025 IPL Final under Iyer and Ricky Ponting, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by just 6 runs — their second runners-up finish in IPL history, after 2014. IPL 2026 begins as their most credible title challenge since the golden season of 2014, and the PBKS vs KKR opener will immediately test where both franchises stand in the early weeks of the campaign.
IPL 2025: The Year Punjab Made IPL History Twice in This Fixture
Match 1 — Punjab Kings Defend 111: The Lowest Successful Defence in IPL History
April 15, 2025 | New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur | PBKS won by 16 runs
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders fixture on April 15, 2025, produced a record that may never be broken. It started all wrong for Punjab — Harshit Rana struck three times in the powerplay, and Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine systematically dismantled Punjab’s middle order. Punjab were bowled out for just 111 in 15.3 overs. The dressing room atmosphere, reportedly, was as grim as the scoreboard.
What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. Yuzvendra Chahal — brought in specifically for conditions like these — removed KKR’s top order with clinical precision. His four-wicket burst triggered a collapse that saw KKR lose 6 wickets for 17 runs in 31 balls. Andre Russell then launched a furious 16 off Chahal’s final over to keep KKR alive, but Marco Jansen took 3 wickets, and Arshdeep Singh defended the final overs with precision. Russell was cleaned up by Jansen in the penultimate over. With 17 needed off the last few balls and one wicket remaining, the math became impossible.
KKR were bowled out for 95. Punjab won by 16 runs.
111 defended. The lowest total ever successfully defended in IPL history. The record it broke was also held by the Punjab Kings — against this same opponent, years earlier. After this game, Punjab held both IPL records: the highest successful chase (262, against KKR in 2024) and the lowest successful defence (111, against KKR in 2025). That is a statistical anomaly that cricket may never see again.
Match 2 — No Result at Eden Gardens
April 26, 2025 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | No Result
Punjab had made a strong start, posting 201/4 in their first innings. KKR had faced just one over — scoring 7/0 — when rain swept across Eden Gardens and did not relent. The match was abandoned without a result, the second time in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head that a game has been unable to produce a winner.
2025 Season Result: PBKS won 1, KKR won 0, 1 No Result
IPL 2024: Punjab Kings Chase 262 — The Record That Redefined This Rivalry
The Greatest Chase in KKR vs PBKS History
April 26, 2024 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | PBKS won by 8 wickets
Before the 2025 defence of 111 redrew the record books, the 2024 Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders encounter at Eden Gardens had already produced one of the defining moments in this rivalry’s entire timeline.
KKR batted first and produced something extraordinary. Phil Salt and Sunil Narine tore into Punjab’s bowling in the power play. The middle order didn’t relent — Venkatesh Iyer contributed, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh pushed the total even higher. KKR finished on 261/6 — a total that looked more like a mistake than a target.
Punjab Kings needed 262 to win. Most analysts were already writing their defeat.
Then Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh walked out to open. Bairstow immediately attacked, playing with the kind of authority that made the 262 target look not just achievable but inevitable. He reached his century — 108 off just 58 balls* — in an innings that has since been described as one of the great powerplay performances in IPL history. Prabhsimran Singh contributed 54 at the top, Shashank Singh came in lower and blasted 71 in the middle order.
Punjab reached 262 with 8 wickets to spare. At the time, it was the highest successful chase in the history of the entire IPL — not just in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head, but across all 16+ seasons. The record has since been surpassed, but the performance itself remains one of the most remarkable batting displays this fixture has ever produced.
2024 Season Result: PBKS won 1, KKR won 0
IPL 2023: Russell Does It Again
KKR won by 5 wickets | KKR 182/5 chased PBKS 179/7
The 2023 Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders fixture was a tight, quality contest. Punjab posted 179/7 — a score that felt competitive given the pitch conditions. Shikhar Dhawan made 57 off 47 balls, providing solidity at the top for Punjab before the middle order tried to accelerate.
KKR’s chase was tense throughout. Jason Roy made 38 off 24 balls to give them momentum at the top. Nitish Rana’s 51 off 38 balls kept the chase on track. But it was, unsurprisingly, Andre Russell who sealed it. Coming in with the game still in the balance, Russell produced the kind of cameo that makes him one of the most feared finishers in T20 history. KKR crossed the line with 5 wickets down.
Varun Chakravarthy took 3/26 in what was a fine bowling effort from KKR’s spinner, keeping Punjab’s late-innings scoring in check.
2023 Season Result: KKR won 1 (only one scheduled fixture that season between the two sides)
IPL 2022: Both Teams in Contrasting Directions
2022 saw KKR and Punjab in very different places. KKR reached the playoffs that season under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy — ironically the same Iyer who would later join Punjab. Punjab endured another inconsistent campaign.
Their head-to-head encounters in 2022 saw KKR win both games, further extending their lead in the overall Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head record. The gap between the two sides was at its most significant during this period — KKR’s spin attack, led by Narine, consistently troubled Punjab’s batting order.
2022 Season Result: KKR won both encounters
IPL 2021: The Narine Effect
By the time the 2021 season arrived, Sunil Narine had long established himself as the most significant individual bowler in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry. His ability to both deceive Punjab’s top order with his mystery spin and contribute rapid runs at the top of KKR’s batting order gave the Kolkata side a structural advantage in this fixture that went beyond team selection.
Both teams were rebuilding squads — Punjab had just rebranded from Kings XI Punjab to Punjab Kings, while KKR were under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy. The results in their 2021 encounters continued to favour KKR.
2021 Season Result: KKR advantage
IPL 2020: Lockdown Cricket in UAE
The 2020 season, held entirely in the UAE due to COVID-19, brought unique conditions that neither side was fully prepared for. Both the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders encounters that year were played in neutral territory, with empty stadiums and unfamiliar pitches.
KKR’s spin-heavy attack continued to be effective, though Punjab had moments of brilliance too. KL Rahul was at the peak of his IPL powers, scoring consistently across the tournament, though not always enough to overcome KKR’s balanced unit in their head-to-head meetings.
2020 Season Result: KKR won one encounter
IPL 2019 and the Late Rebuilding Phase (2015–2019)
The period from 2015 to 2019 was defined by both franchises searching for consistency they couldn’t quite find. Punjab recorded their worst-ever IPL season in 2015 — winning just 3 games — in the immediate aftermath of their 2014 final appearance. KKR maintained their competitive structure better through this period, and their dominance in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head during these years widened the overall gap significantly.
Delhi Daredevils became Delhi Capitals in 2019. Punjab, meanwhile, changed its overseas combinations repeatedly in search of a winning formula. Their head-to-head encounters through these five years were rarely competitive, with KKR winning more often than not. It was this phase that established KKR’s substantial 21–13 overall advantage in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders all-matches record.
2015–2019 Season Results: KKR dominant across multiple seasons
The 2014 IPL Final: The Most Significant Punjab Kings vs KKR Match Ever Played
No discussion of the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline can pass over 2014 without pausing at length. This was not just a head-to-head encounter — it was the IPL Final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on June 1, 2014. It remains the only time Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have met in a title-deciding match, and it shaped both franchises’ histories in ways that are still felt more than a decade later.
Punjab, under George Bailey, had been the tournament’s best team throughout 2014. Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary season as Player of the Tournament — smashing run after run in the middle order — had taken them to the top of the points table. Hashim Amla was brilliant at the top. They posted 199/4 in the final — a total that felt more than enough on a big-match Kolkata pitch.
KKR chased it. Manish Pandey scored a measured 94 at the death to keep the chase alive when it looked finished. Piyush Chawla bowled beautifully for KKR in the Punjab innings. And then, wicket by wicket, KKR navigated to 200/7 — winning by 3 wickets with 2 balls remaining.
Punjab had scored 199. They lost the IPL Final by 3 wickets. It remains the closest any Punjab franchise has come to winning the IPL title — until 2025, when they reached the final again under Shreyas Iyer, losing to RCB by 6 runs.
The 2014 final is why the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry carries a weight that goes beyond head-to-head statistics.
The Early Years — Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2008–2013)
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline began in the inaugural IPL season of 2008. In those early years, the franchise was known as Kings XI Punjab, and the rivalry was contested without the historic baggage that would accumulate later.
KKR in those early seasons were a franchise defined by star power without structural coherence. Despite having Sourav Ganguly as captain — a Kolkata icon returning to lead his city’s team — and later players like Brendon McCullum, they struggled. Their early head-to-head encounters with Punjab were genuinely competitive, with results going both ways.
The picture shifted from around 2011 onwards. Gautam Gambhir took over KKR’s captaincy and completely transformed the franchise. Under Gambhir, KKR won their first IPL title in 2012, then again in 2014 — the season they beat Punjab in the final. Gambhir’s personal run-scoring record against Punjab is the highest of any player in this fixture — 492 runs across all his PBKS vs KKR matches, and those numbers reflect just how central he was to KKR’s dominance in this specific head-to-head during their golden period.
Punjab, through most of 2009–2013, cycled through overseas combinations and batting orders without finding the settled squad identity that KKR increasingly possessed. The head-to-head record diverged sharply during these years, establishing the structural gap that still shows in the 21–13 overall scoreline.
2008–2013 Season Results: KKR built their substantial head-to-head lead across this foundational period
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Complete Head-to-Head Stats & Records
Overall Head-to-Head Record (2008–2025)
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total matches played | 35 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders win | 21 |
| Punjab Kings win | 13 |
| No result / abandoned | 1 |
| KKR win percentage | ~61.8% |
| First match | IPL 2008 |
| Most recent completed result | PBKS won by 16 runs (Mullanpur, April 15, 2025) |
Season-by-Season Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Results
| Season | PBKS Wins | KKR Wins | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2008 | Contested | Contested | First-ever meeting between the franchises |
| IPL 2009 | — | — | KKR’s advantage in the South Africa season |
| IPL 2010 | — | — | Competitive contests; KKR building under Gambhir |
| IPL 2011 | — | — | KKR on their way to first title; dominance growing |
| IPL 2012 | — | — | KKR win IPL title; strong in head-to-head too |
| IPL 2013 | — | — | KKR retain head-to-head edge |
| IPL 2014 | — | — | KKR beat PBKS in IPL Final — 3 wickets, 199 target |
| IPL 2015 | — | — | Punjab’s worst-ever season (3 wins) |
| IPL 2016 | — | — | Narine is increasingly dominant in head-to-head |
| IPL 2017 | — | — | KKR competitive; Punjab rebuilding |
| IPL 2018 | — | — | Competitive season; KKR edge ahead |
| IPL 2019 | — | — | Both sides are inconsistent; KKR win more often |
| IPL 2020 | — | — | UAE season; KKR continue head-to-head advantage |
| IPL 2021 | — | — | KKR more settled; Punjab rebuilding after rebrand |
| IPL 2022 | 0 | 2 | KKR sweep both encounters; Narine is effective |
| IPL 2023 | 0 | 1 | Russell’s cameo seals 5-wicket win for KKR |
| IPL 2024 | 1 | 0 | PBKS chase 262 at Eden Gardens — IPL record at the time |
| IPL 2025 | 1 | 0 (NR: 1) | PBKS defend 111 — IPL’s lowest successful defence ever |
| IPL 2026 | TBD | TBD | First match scheduled March 29, 2026 |
Records in Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Matches
| Record | Player / Team | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Most runs in PBKS vs KKR matches | Gautam Gambhir (KKR) | 492 runs |
| Second-highest run-scorer | Andre Russell (KKR) | 449 runs |
| Third-highest run-scorer | Robin Uthappa (KKR) | 438 runs |
| Most wickets in PBKS vs KKR matches | Sunil Narine (KKR) | 36 wickets |
| Highest individual innings | Jonny Bairstow (PBKS) | 108* off 58 balls (2024) |
| Highest team total | KKR | 261/6 (Eden Gardens, 2024) |
| Highest successful chase | PBKS | 262 (Eden Gardens, 2024) |
| Lowest successful defence | PBKS | 111 (Mullanpur, 2025) |
| Lowest team total (defeated) | KKR | 95 (Mullanpur, 2025) |
| Only the IPL Final between the two | KKR won | IPL 2014 Final — KKR won by 3 wickets |
Punjab Kings vs KKR Venue Breakdown
| Venue | Matches | PBKS Wins | KKR Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 13+ | 3 | 9+ |
| IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| IPL Final (Eden Gardens) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Neutral venues (UAE, etc.) | ~5 | ~2 | ~3 |
Top Players in Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders History
Batting Leaders in PBKS vs KKR Head-to-Head
The batting chart in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head is dominated by KKR players, reflecting their overall advantage. Gautam Gambhir leads with 492 runs — a total built across multiple seasons during KKR’s dominant phase from 2011 to 2014. His run-scoring in this specific fixture was central to KKR’s ability to set and chase competitive totals against Punjab.
Andre Russell follows with 449 runs — but his contribution was not just with the bat. Russell’s hitting at the death regularly changed the course of these fixtures, particularly in pressure chases. Robin Uthappa, who batted at the top for KKR across several seasons, accumulated 438 runs in PBKS vs KKR matches.
From Punjab’s perspective, Jonny Bairstow’s century (108* off 58 balls in 2024) is the stand-out individual batting performance in the rivalry’s history. Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh’s contributions in the same 2024 game make that specific PBKS innings the best collective batting display Punjab have ever produced against KKR.
Bowling Leaders in Punjab Kings vs KKR Head-to-Head
Sunil Narine’s record of 36 wickets in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head is one of the most remarkable individual bowling statistics in any IPL head-to-head fixture. Narine has taken more wickets against Punjab than any bowler has taken against any single opponent in IPL history. His mystery spin, difficult to pick even after years of study, has consistently dismantled Punjab’s batting lineup across multiple seasons and multiple captaincies.
The impact of those 36 wickets extends beyond the number itself — Narine regularly dismissed Punjab’s best batters at crucial moments, denying them partnerships and momentum shifts that could have changed the head-to-head record. His effectiveness against Punjab is the single biggest reason KKR have maintained their 21–13 advantage in this rivalry.
From Punjab’s side, Yuzvendra Chahal’s four-wicket burst in the 2025 Mullanpur encounter stands as the single most impactful bowling performance for PBKS in recent PBKS vs KKR head-to-head history. Arshdeep Singh’s death-overs bowling has also been increasingly effective in recent seasons.
Why KKR Dominate the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Rivalry
The 21–13 gap in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head is not an accident. Three structural factors have consistently favoured KKR across this rivalry.
- Sunil Narine’s dominance is the single biggest factor. 36 wickets against Punjab across all their meetings represents a level of individual impact that no other bowler has against any single opponent in IPL head-to-head cricket. Narine turns the ball both ways, bowls at a good pace, and has shown Punjab’s batters few comfortable options over more than a decade. When you have a bowler who takes wickets reliably against a specific opponent in nearly every season, your structural advantage is built in.
- KKR’s title wins (2012, 2014, 2024) coincided with their most productive periods against Punjab. Champion sides tend to dominate their head-to-heads across the seasons they win titles, and KKR is no exception. Their three IPL triumphs were all built on consistent squad quality that Punjab could not match during the same periods.
- Eden Gardens is a fortress that Punjab have rarely conquered. In 13+ meetings at Kolkata’s home ground, KKR hold a 9–3 or better advantage. The pitch conditions, the crowd pressure, and KKR’s familiarity with their home venue consistently work against travelling teams. Punjab’s 2024 chase of 262 at Eden Gardens was as much a statement about Punjab’s capability as it was an anomaly in this longstanding pattern.
The recent trajectory, however, tells a different story. Since 2024, PBKS are 1–0 in completed head-to-head meetings with 1 No Result. The 2024 record chase and the 2025 record defence both came in Punjab’s favour. Under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting’s leadership structure, the power dynamic in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry may genuinely be shifting.
The 2025 IPL Context: Punjab Finally Broke Through
One of the most significant pieces of context for understanding the current Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is what happened in IPL 2025 beyond their head-to-head fixtures.
Punjab Kings finished first in the league stage, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and made it all the way to the IPL Final. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by just 6 runs — a devastating near-miss that mirrors the agonising 3-wicket loss to KKR in the 2014 final. Ricky Ponting said after the final: “We will be back bigger and stronger next season.”
For the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry, this context matters enormously. Punjab are no longer the struggling mid-table side that KKR routinely defeated through the 2015–2022 period. They are a legitimate title contender with a settled captain, an experienced coach, and a squad with the depth to chase 262 and defend 111 in the same rivalry. KKR, meanwhile, have released Russell and entered the 2026 auction with the highest purse but the most uncertainty about their new combination.
The head-to-head record still reads 21–13 in KKR’s favour. But the gap is narrowing, and IPL 2026 feels like a season where the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry could add another historic chapter.
FAQs: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Who leads the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head record?
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the overall Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head 21–13, with 1 match ending without a result, as of the end of IPL 2025. KKR’s win percentage in this fixture is approximately 61.8%.
Have Punjab Kings and KKR ever met in an IPL Final?
Yes — exactly once. The IPL 2014 Final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on June 1, 2014. KKR won by 3 wickets, chasing Punjab’s total of 199. Manish Pandey’s 94 was the defining innings of the match, and KKR won their second IPL title. It remains the only final between these two franchises.
What is the highest total ever scored in a Punjab Kings vs KKR match?
KKR scored 261/6 at Eden Gardens in April 2024 — the highest total in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head history. Punjab then chased it successfully (262) with 8 wickets to spare in the same match, making it also the highest successful chase in the rivalry.
Who has the most wickets in Punjab Kings vs KKR matches?
Sunil Narine leads by a massive margin with 36 wickets in all Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head matches — the most by any bowler against any single opponent in IPL history.
Who has the most runs in Punjab Kings vs KKR matches?
Gautam Gambhir leads the run-scoring chart with 492 runs for KKR in all Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders matches, followed by Andre Russell (449) and Robin Uthappa (438).
What is the record for the lowest total defended in IPL history, and how does it involve this rivalry?
The lowest total ever successfully defended in IPL history — 111 — was set on April 15, 2025, when Punjab Kings bowled KKR out for 95 at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur. Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 wickets, and Marco Jansen took 3 to trigger the historic collapse.
What is unusual about Punjab Kings holding both IPL batting records in this fixture?
After their 2025 game against KKR, Punjab Kings held both ends of the batting records in the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders head-to-head: the highest successful chase (262, chased in 2024) and the lowest total successfully defended (111, in 2025). Both records came in matches against KKR, making this one of the most statistically remarkable head-to-head sequences in IPL history.
When did Kings XI Punjab become Punjab Kings?
Kings XI Punjab officially rebranded to Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2021 season. The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry, therefore, began under the Kings XI Punjab name and continues under the current Punjab Kings identity.
Have Punjab Kings ever won the IPL?
No. Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) have reached the IPL Final twice — losing to KKR in 2014 and to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025. They are yet to win an IPL title across 18 seasons of competition.
How many IPL titles have KKR won?
Kolkata Knight Riders have won three IPL titles — in 2012, 2014 (when they beat Punjab in the final), and 2024. KKR are the defending champions heading into IPL 2026.
When is the next Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match in IPL 2026?
According to the schedule announced by the BCCI, the first Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match of IPL 2026 is scheduled for March 29, 2026.