Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is a beloved team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite not winning a championship, they have a dedicated fan base.
With legends like Virat Kohli, RCB enjoys immense popularity and is a favorite for betting. Since the IPL started in 2008, they have achieved impressive records and are known for their strong batting and improved bowling. RCB has also successfully defended scores below 150 several times. Let’s look at the lowest scores they have defended in IPL history.
Top 5 Lowest Scores Defended by RCB in IPL
| No. | Runs Defended | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 126 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Chennai | 2008 |
| 2 | 126 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Lucknow | 2023 |
| 3 | 133 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Cape Town | 2009 |
| 4 | 145 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Durban | 2009 |
| 5 | 149 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Chennai | 2021 |
1. RCB Defending 126 Runs vs CSK (2008)
RCB’s lowest score defended in IPL history happened during the first season in 2008. They struggled to score runs, managing only 126 thanks to a strong performance from Rahul Dravid, who scored 47 runs.
Chennai Super Kings started strong, with their openers scoring 60 runs quickly. It looked like RCB might lose badly, but Anil Kumble turned the game around, taking 3 wickets for just 14 runs. RCB’s bowlers worked together to bring CSK down from 84/2 to 109/8. CSK ended up 14 runs short, giving RCB an unexpected victory.
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2. RCB Defending 126 Runs vs LSG (2023)
A memorable match occurred in IPL 2023 between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. It was an intense game filled with action.
After losing to LSG earlier, RCB was determined to win. Batting first, they scored 126 runs, with captain Faf du Plessis contributing 44 runs and Kohli adding 31. RCB began strong in their bowling, taking early wickets and maintaining pressure throughout the innings. They bowled LSG out for 108, winning by 18 runs, marking another joint lowest score defended by RCB.
3. RCB Defending 133 Runs vs RR (2009)
In their opening match of IPL 2009, RCB faced Rajasthan Royals. After a poor performance in the previous season, they aimed for a strong start.
Rahul Dravid scored 66 runs, supported by Kevin Pietersen with 33 runs, helping RCB set a target of 133 runs. Although the defending champions, RR, were expected to chase it down easily, Anil Kumble dominated, taking 5 wickets for just 5 runs. RCB dismissed RR for a mere 58 runs, winning the match by 75 runs.
4. RCB Defending 145 Runs vs PBKS (2009)
In another low-scoring match in 2009, RCB faced Punjab Kings. They struggled with their batting but managed to score 145 runs thanks to contributions from Jacques Kallis (27) and Roelof van der Merwe (37).
Given the high-scoring conditions in Durban, Punjab was expected to chase the target easily. Yuvraj Singh (50) gave PBKS a strong start, but RCB fought back, taking quick wickets. They restricted PBKS to 137 runs, winning by just 8 runs, with Anil Kumble, Praveen Kumar, and Roelof van der Merwe each taking two wickets.
5. RCB Defending 149 Runs vs SRH (2021)
In a thrilling match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021, RCB found themselves in a low-scoring battle. They scored only 149 runs, with Glenn Maxwell leading the way with 59 runs and Kohli adding 33.
SRH looked strong with notable performances from Wriddhiman Saha and David Warner, putting RCB under pressure. However, RCB made a remarkable comeback, led by Shahbaz Ahmed, who took three wickets and dismantled SRH’s middle order. They limited SRH to 143 runs, winning the game by 6 runs.
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