WATCH: “They have not won anything,” Gautam Gambhir reveals which team he wanted to beat the most  

Gautam Gambhir claims if he could come to play the IPL again, it would only be to beat RCB.

WATCH: “They have not won anything,” Gautam Gambhir reveals which team he wanted to beat the most  

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli argue (Images via X)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have shared one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It began in the very first match of the IPL, where KKR scored 222 in the first innings. 

Since that match, the two sides have had blockbuster matches, like RCB scoring only 49, or when Andre Russell chased down 54 in the last three overs at the Chinnaswamy. So far the two sides have met 33 times, with KKR winning 19 of them.

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Recently, Gautam Gambhir interacted with Star Sports to talk about the rivalry between the two sides. The former KKR captain and current mentor revealed that if there was a team he wanted to beat, it was RCB. He claimed he didn’t like the attitude of the side and hence wanted to beat them. 

One team I wanted to beat every time, even in my dreams, was Bangalore. The 2nd most high-profile team, flamboyant owner, and with the squad, with Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers. They have not won anything, still thought they have won everything and that attitude I can't take that.
Gautam Gambhir to Star Sports

He further added that if he could go onto the field again to play in the IPL, he would love to beat RCB. As captain, Gambhir has beaten RCB eight times in the seven years he was at KKR. 

The history of Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru rivalry

KKR and RCB were the first two teams to play in the inaugural IPL in 2008 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. KKR, then captained by Sourav Ganguly, smacked the hosts for 222 runs. Brendon McCullum scored 158*, which was the highest individual score till 2013. They clinched another victory over RCB, beating them at Eden Gardens as well. 

Gautam Gambhir
A match between KKR and RCB (Image via X)

In 2013, things got heated after Virat Kohli was sledged by Lakshmipathy Balaji, which led to a clash between Kohli and Gambhir. Four years later, RCB were humiliated by KKR in both matches they played that season.

Defending 131, KKR ended up bowling out RCB for only 49 runs. In the 2nd match, KKR openers Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn scored 100 runs in the powerplay while chasing 159. 

RCB and KKR faced each other in the 2024 IPL at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kohli’s 83 propelled RCB to 182/6, but they lost it by seven wickets.

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