Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo Source: IPL)
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are two franchises that have been a part of the Indian Premier League since its inaugural edition in 2008. Both have emerged as blockbuster franchises for various reasons in the cash-rich league over the last 16 years. While RCB are yet to add a silverware to their trophy cabinet, MI are considered one of the most successful franchises in league history, thanks to their record five titles.
However, despite this fact, the Bengaluru-based franchise enjoys a massive fan base that eagerly waits for their beloved Virat Kohli and Co. to win the prestigious tournament. Although MI have the upper hand against RCB in their head-to-head record, a mouth-watering contest is guaranteed whenever the two meet. Another chapter of their fierce rivalry will unfold when the 17th edition of IPL begins from March 22.
Apart from the title win, RCB holds numerous other team and individual records in the league. However, MI have set some records over the years which RCB might not be able to break this season. Without further ado, let’s dive into five such records.
Here are the top five records of MI that RCB might not be able to break in IPL 2024:
5. Most matches played and won in IPL history
Participating in the IPL since 2008, Mumbai Indians holds the record for the most number of matches played in the history of the league. Including their 20 appearances in the playoffs, MI have played a total of 247 matches. Additionally, they hold the record for most wins in IPL history.
The holder of five coveted titles have won 138 matches since the inaugural season. Chennai Super Kings are second in this list with 131 wins followed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – 119 wins. Royal Challengers Bangalore are at the fourth position with 114 wins and it is impossible for them to break MI’s record in this category.
4. Head-to-Head record
The two teams have met each other 34 times in IPL history, with MI dominating the rivalry, winning 20 and losing 14. RCB defeated MI by five wickets in their first ever IPL encounter on 20 April 2008. Meanwhile, in their latest meeting on May 9, 2023, the Men in Blue won by 6 wickets thanks to match-winning contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Nehal Wadhera in a high-scoring thriller at the Wankhede Stadium.
MI already have a six-win lead over RCB and the latter is unlikely to break this record even if both enter the playoffs of the 2024 season. The maximum meetings between the two acan happen four times – two in the league stage and two in the knockouts.
Also Check: MI vs RCB Head to Head Records
3. Most wins in Playoffs since 2017
MI have entered the IPL playoffs record 20 times and they have enjoyed success in 13 of them. They last played in the knockout stage in the 2023 season, in which they defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator and lost to Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2.
This was MI’s eighth playoff appearance since the 2017 IPL, a record tied with five-time champions CSK. However, with their win over LSG in the 2023 Eliminator, Rohit Sharma and Co. have registered the record for most wins in the playoffs since 2017, overtaking MS Dhoni’s CSK who won six times.
Also Check: Most wins in IPL history
2. Two Fair Play Awards
The world’s biggest franchise cricket tournament offers high-intensity battles every year. However, at the same time, emphasis is placed on the smooth running of the tournament and each match. For healthy competition and fair play by the players, the best team is honoured with the “Fair Play Award” at the end of every season.
CSK became the first team to win this award in the 2008 season and have also won the most titles (6) in the category. While MI have won the Fair Play Award twice (2018 and 2020), RCB have never won it.
Also Check: Fair Play Awards in IPL History
1. Most IPL trophies
For some teams like RCB, winning at least one trophy seems out of their reach, but MI have breached this milestone five times. The franchise had a shaky run in the initial years, but the team’s fortunes turned when Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy in the 2013 IPL, winning the tournament in every alternate season.
As mentioned in the introduction, RCB are yet to win a title, so this massive feat of MI will remain impossible for Faf du Plessis and Co. to break. RCB have made it to the playoffs only thrice and their dream season came in 2016 when the duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were in their absolute best.