The Indian Premier League (IPL) has had a variety of rivalries throughout the years; however, the rivalry between Punjab Kings (then named Kings XI Punjab) and Kolkata Knight Riders remains one of the most intense and interesting ones. Both teams have had their highs and lows in the league, and games between the two have often fluctuated from one team to the next, providing a timeline filled with action, excitement, and some memorable moments.
The Early Years: 2008 to 2010
It all began in the first season of the IPL in 2008. The Punjab Kings started off their rivalry well, managing to defeat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 9 runs in Mohali. However, Kolkata fought back in the same season on their home ground, Eden Gardens, in a nail biting low scoring game, winning by 3 wickets.
In 2009, the tournament moved to South Africa and the two teams met a second time. This time the Kolkata Knight Riders won the first game in Durban by 11 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method. In retaliation, Punjab Kings won their next meeting, in Port Elizabeth, comprehensively by six wickets.
The 2010 season continued the alternating win pattern: Kolkata won the first match in Mohali by 39 runs, and then Punjab won on their home soil in Kolkata by 8 wickets. The ebb and flow of these matches would be a recurring event in the years to come.
A New Wave of Rivalry: 2011 to 2014
In the following seasons, this back-and-forth matchup continued. In 2011, Kolkata easily clinched a victory against Punjab by 8 wickets. In 2012, Punjab managed a nail-biting 2-run victory in Eden Gardens, only for Kolkata starting the backlash with a victory of their own in Mohali by 8 wickets.
The same section of 2013 saw both teams capture a win in their respective matches. However, 2014 epitomized the fervor of rivalry between the two teams. There was three meetings in the regular season and one meeting in the playoffs, including the championship final.
The Punjab outfit, in their first meeting in Abu Dhabi emerged victorious by 23 runs. However, Kolkata had other intentions. In Cuttack, Kolkata bounced back and knocked out Punjab in every sense of the phrase, winning by 9 wickets. The teams met again in the first Qualifier in Eden Gardens and Kolkata produced a finely tuned performance to beat Punjab by 28 runs. In the final in Bengaluru, Kolkata defeated Punjab by 3 wickets in an exhilarating high-scoring encounter, denying Punjab their first IPL title. It was a disappointing experience for the Punjab Kings and a significant event in the ongoing rivalry.
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Kolkata Takes Control 2015-2017
In the subsequent seasons, we saw the dominance of the Kolkata Knight Riders fixture grow stronger. In 2015, Kolkata once again won both matches, the first in Pune by 4 wickets and the second by 1 wicket at Kolkata. In 2016, they recorded a double again with victories of 7 wickets in Mohali, followed by 7 runs in Eden.
In 2017, the trend continued to grow. Another dominating performance at home and an easy chase down of Punjab’s total. There was some redemption for Punjab later that season with a 14-run victory in Mohali.
Competitive Balance: Between 2018 to 2020
From 2018 onwards, the fixtures started to become more evenly matched again. In 2018, Punjab won the first game via the DLS method in Kolkata, but lost the return leg in Indore as Kolkata scored runs and won the game by 31 runs. The 2019 season was one of Kolkata’s most dominant seasons against Punjab, as the Knight Riders defeated the Kings in both the league matches, first at Eden Gardens by 28 runs and then in Mohali by 7 wickets. The 2020 season saw Punjab look composed again. Although Kolkata had narrowly managed a 2-run victory from the initial game in Abu Dhabi, Punjab came back strong in the second match held in Sharjah, chasing down the target with 8 wickets to spare.
Shift in Momentum: 2021 to 2023
In 2021, Kolkata and Punjab split the matches again. The Knight Riders won the initial game by 5 wickets in Ahmedabad, while Punjab achieved a 5-wicket win from their meeting in Dubai. The results from these fixtures are suggestive of a gradual shift in momentum.
The 2022 season saw Kolkata once again defeating Punjab in Mumbai with a win by 6 wickets. In 2023, the Punjab Kings started to flex a little more muscle. In the first match of the season which was held in Mohali, they were victorious by 7 runs under the DLS method. However, in the return match, Kolkata was able to pull out a victory by 5 wickets at Eden Gardens, clearly showing how evenly matched these two teams still are.
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Current Battles: 2024 and 2025
The 2024 and 2025 seasons are stranger chapters in this ever-changing rivalry. In the 2024 match at Eden Gardens, Punjab Kings shocked the home crowd by claiming victory with an 8-wicket chase for the target. With this victory, it was safe to say that Punjab had reached a new point of strength as a team that was no longer going to be bullied by their counterparts from Kolkata.
In 2025, the two teams met again two times. In the first match at the new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings were overly confident and recorded 16 runs to emerge victorious over Kolkata. The second match in Eden Gardens ended without an outcome because of rain.
A Rivalry Based on Drama and Balance
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline have played against each other 35 times in the IPL as of April 2025. Their record is fairly balanced, and while Kolkata slightly leads in overall wins, Punjab’s recent resurgence has provided some new flavor to the rivalry.
What is unique about their meetings is the unpredictability. As opposed to the other franchises like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians who have been defined by consistent success, Punjab-Kolkata has always been about the close games, exciting chases, and last-over drama. Whether it’s 2014 and a final that went down to the last ball, or 4-5 runs separating the two sides, matches between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders always go to the end.
Evolution of Teams
Over the years, each franchise has gone through a number of rebuilds. Kolkata Knight Riders have been viewed as a more stable franchise with a strong core and two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and a better record overall; Punjab Kings have had glimpses of quality but have consistently lacked stability.
However, the recent seasons have provided the narrative that it is changing. Punjab has structured a more balanced squad with depth in batting and bowling. The victory in away games, and in specific grounds like Eden Gardens, suggests their mentality is transforming. Kolkata, on the other hand, is not to be considered a laid-back team with a tradition of great performances when under pressure.
The Future
There are new grounds in the IPL like Mullanpur coming into play that will add a different dynamic as well as a raft of fresh talent is added to both teams every season. The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline saga has plenty more to be written, and will continue to be one of the most interesting subplots within the IPL universe. Each match adds another chapter to this story – a tale of significant momentum shifts, redemption arcs, and fierce competition.
As the IPL expands, so does this rivalry. A loyal Punjab team follower or a staunch Kolkata supporter – when these two teams play there will be fireworks.
