Bowlers with Most Wickets Against RCB in IPL: Trouble for RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have fielded some of the most destructive batting lineups in IPL history. Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and several other attacking batters have made bowling against RCB one of the toughest assignments in the league.

Yet a small group of bowlers have repeatedly found ways to break through Bengaluru’s batting. Some attacked with swing during the Powerplay, others used spin to control the middle overs, while specialists such as Jasprit Bumrah relied on yorkers, pace changes and accuracy when RCB tried to accelerate.

Through the completed 2026 IPL season, Sandeep Sharma leads the all-time wicket list against RCB with 30 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah follows with 29, while Sunil Narine and Ravindra Jadeja have also built outstanding long-term records against Bengaluru. Sandeep’s opposition split confirms 30 wickets from 22 matches, while Bumrah has 29 wickets in 22 matches against RCB.

These records carry extra weight because RCB have traditionally played many of their home games at Bengaluru, one of the IPL’s most demanding venues for bowlers.

Bowlers with Most Wickets Against RCB in IPL

Sandeep’s current opposition record shows 30 wickets at an average of 23.60, while Bumrah’s record includes the only five-wicket haul by a bowler against RCB. Narine’s economy below seven is particularly impressive considering how often he has bowled at aggressive middle-order batters.

1. Sandeep Sharma – 30 Wickets

Sandeep Sharma has quietly become the most successful wicket-taker against RCB in IPL history.

The right-arm seamer has taken 30 wickets in 22 matches against Bengaluru, averaging 23.60 with an economy of 8.60. His best figures against them are 3/15.

Sandeep’s success is based less on raw pace and more on movement and control.

During his years with Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad, he frequently bowled with the new ball and attacked RCB’s top order. His ability to swing the ball both ways made him particularly dangerous against batters looking to dominate the Powerplay.

One of the reasons his record stands out is the quality of opposition he faced. Much of Sandeep’s career overlapped with the Kohli-Gayle-de Villiers era, when RCB’s top order could destroy an attack within a few overs.

He has also adapted as his career has progressed. Later spells for Rajasthan Royals have involved more slower balls and yorkers at the death.

Sandeep added another wicket against RCB in 2026, finishing with 1/47 when Rajasthan faced Bengaluru in Guwahati.

His overall economy is higher than some of the spinners on this list, but wickets are what separate him from the field.

2. Jasprit Bumrah – 29 Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah sits just one wicket behind Sandeep with 29 wickets in 22 matches against RCB.

His economy rate of 7.40 is exceptional considering he has regularly bowled the Powerplay and death overs, the two phases in which attacking batters take the greatest risks.

Bumrah’s record against Bengaluru includes his unforgettable 5/21 at Wankhede Stadium in 2024.

RCB were building a huge score when Bumrah broke through repeatedly. He removed Virat Kohli early and then returned later to dismantle the middle and lower order.

His five wickets made him the first bowler to take an IPL five-for against RCB.

Bumrah has troubled several generations of Bengaluru batters because there is no single phase where teams can comfortably target him.

With the new ball, he can move deliveries into right-handers. Through the middle overs, his hard length creates awkward bounce. At the death, his yorker and slower delivery make boundary-hitting extremely difficult.

Interestingly, Bumrah went wicketless in all three of his meetings with RCB across 2025 and 2026, yet still remains second on the all-time list.

3. Sunil Narine – 28 Wickets

Sunil Narine has been perhaps the hardest bowler for RCB to score against consistently.

The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner has taken 28 wickets against Bengaluru while conceding runs at an economy rate of only 6.74.

That economy is extraordinary in a rivalry that has featured some of the most powerful T20 batters of the modern era.

Narine’s mystery has always been his biggest weapon. Batters have struggled to identify the direction and degree of turn early enough, which makes attacking him across the line risky.

He has also taken more four-wicket hauls against RCB than any other bowler, with three such performances against the franchise.

His best figures against Bengaluru are 4/20.

Narine added another RCB wicket during the 2026 season when he returned 1/31 in Raipur.

Unlike many leading wicket-takers who rely heavily on Powerplay or death-over opportunities, Narine has built his record primarily in the middle overs, when established batters usually try to take control of the innings.

His ability to both restrict and dismiss makes him one of RCB’s most difficult historical matchups.

4. Ravindra Jadeja – 27 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja has taken 27 wickets against RCB, with an economy rate of 7.48 and best figures of 3/13.

Jadeja’s success comes from a very different method than Narine’s.

He rarely gives the ball excessive flight. Instead, he bowls quickly, attacks the stumps and forces batters to create their own boundary opportunities.

That strategy has worked particularly well against RCB’s right-handed-heavy batting lineups.

His most memorable spell came in 2021, when Chennai Super Kings faced Bengaluru at Wankhede. Jadeja took 3/13 from four overs after previously smashing 62* with the bat.

His victims included Washington Sundar, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers, and CSK eventually won by 69 runs.

Jadeja also produced 3/18 against RCB in 2018 and has repeatedly delivered economical spells against them. His opposition record includes four three-wicket performances.

He added another wicket against Bengaluru in 2026, taking 1/14 from two overs while representing Rajasthan Royals.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin – 26 Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin finished his IPL career with 26 wickets against RCB from 30 matches.

His economy rate of 7.12 demonstrates how effectively he controlled Bengaluru’s batting despite operating through several high-scoring IPL eras.

Ashwin’s best figures against RCB were 3/16.

His approach was built around tactical variation rather than one dominant delivery. He changed release points, bowling speeds, angles and lengths constantly, making it difficult for batters to predict where their scoring opportunities would come from.

He also bowled frequently during the Powerplay.

Using an off-spinner against batters such as Chris Gayle or Virat Kohli was a tactical gamble, but Ashwin’s control allowed captains to use him with the field restrictions still active.

One of Ashwin’s most important appearances against Bengaluru came during the 2011 IPL final. He struck early for Chennai Super Kings and helped prevent RCB’s powerful batting lineup from settling into the chase.

Even in his final IPL season in 2025, Ashwin added another wicket against Bengaluru, finishing with 1/22 from two overs for Chennai.

Best Bowling Figures Against RCB in IPL

Jasprit Bumrah owns the best bowling analysis against RCB.

His 5/21 in 2024 remains the only five-wicket haul recorded against Bengaluru in IPL history.

Nehra’s 4/10 is particularly impressive because it came against an RCB lineup containing several aggressive stroke-makers. His career best IPL figures were those 4/10 against Bengaluru.

Nabi’s 4/11 also demonstrated how vulnerable even RCB’s strongest batting units could become when spin controlled the middle overs.

Famous Bowling Spells Against RCB

Bumrah’s 5/21 at Wankhede

Bumrah’s 2024 five-for stands above every other spell against RCB.

He struck in different phases of the innings and prevented Bengaluru from converting a strong batting platform into an even bigger total.

The performance combined everything that has made Bumrah an elite IPL bowler: control with the new ball, hard lengths through the middle and accurate yorkers late.

Ashish Nehra’s 4/10

Nehra dismantled RCB with 4/10 for Chennai Super Kings in 2015.

His left-arm angle caused immediate problems, while his ability to move the new ball stopped Bengaluru from establishing the aggressive start they wanted.

The spell remains the second-best bowling analysis against RCB.

Shreyas Gopal’s 4/16

Shreyas Gopal produced one of Rajasthan Royals’ finest spells against Bengaluru in 2018.

His 4/16 helped RR secure a 30-run victory, and Rajasthan’s official head-to-head record still lists it as their best bowling performance against RCB.

Gopal’s success against RCB was particularly notable because he repeatedly troubled their star top-order batters with leg-spin.

Piyush Chawla’s 4/17

Piyush Chawla took 4/17 for Kings XI Punjab against RCB in Dharamsala in 2011.

Punjab eventually won by 111 runs, and Chawla’s spell remains one of the best bowling performances in the rivalry.

Impact of Bowling on RCB’s IPL Results

RCB’s greatest strength has historically been batting, but that also means opposition teams often design their entire plan around breaking the top order.

When Kohli, Gayle or de Villiers were dismissed cheaply, RCB sometimes struggled to replace the lost scoring power.

That explains why bowlers such as Sandeep and Bumrah have had such an impact.

A Powerplay wicket against RCB did more than remove one batter. It often forced another superstar to rebuild rather than attack immediately.

Spin has played an equally important role.

Narine, Jadeja and Ashwin have collectively taken more than 80 wickets against RCB. Their success demonstrates how controlling overs seven to fifteen can prevent Bengaluru from building toward the explosive finishes their batting lineups were designed to produce.

Venue also matters.

Bengaluru traditionally rewards aggressive batting because of its boundaries and batting-friendly conditions. Bowlers who succeed there must accept that boundaries will come and continue attacking wickets instead of becoming defensive.

The best bowlers against RCB have done exactly that.

FAQs

Which bowler has taken the most wickets against RCB in IPL history?

Sandeep Sharma leads with 30 wickets in 22 matches against Royal Challengers Bengaluru through the completed 2026 season.

How many wickets has Jasprit Bumrah taken against RCB?

Bumrah has taken 29 wickets in 22 IPL matches against Bengaluru, with best figures of 5/21.

Who has the best bowling figures against RCB?

Jasprit Bumrah holds the record with 5/21 for Mumbai Indians against RCB at Wankhede Stadium in 2024.

Which spinner has taken the most wickets against RCB?

Sunil Narine leads the spinners with 28 wickets against Bengaluru. He has conceded runs at an economy of only 6.74.

How many wickets has Ravindra Jadeja taken against RCB?

Jadeja has taken 27 wickets against RCB, with best figures of 3/13 and an economy rate of 7.48.

Which bowler has the best economy among the leading wicket-takers against RCB?

Sunil Narine has the best economy among the leading wicket-takers, conceding only 6.74 runs per over against Bengaluru.