Key Takeaways:
- RCB defeated the Gujarat Titans by five wickets to win their second straight IPL title.
- Virat Kohli anchored the 156-run chase with an unbeaten 75 to win Player of the Match.
- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the MVP, Orange Cap, and Emerging Player awards.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their second consecutive Indian Premier League title late Sunday, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at Narendra Modi Stadium. Led by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75, RCB chased down a target of 156 with two overs remaining after restricting Gujarat to 155 for eight.
RCB Bowlers Set Up Championship Victory
After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar elected to field first, a decision that quickly paid off. Gujarat Titans lost key wickets early as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood struck in the powerplay, removing Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.
Gujarat struggled to build momentum throughout the innings. Despite resistance from the middle order, the Titans managed only 155 for eight in their 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar led the attack, while Krunal Pandya delivered a crucial spell that included the wicket of Jos Buttler.
“We needed to get the top three in the power play,” Patidar said after the match. “The way Bhuvi, Hazlewood and the entire bowling unit performed was outstanding.”
Titans captain Gill acknowledged that his side fell short of a competitive total.
“If we got close to 180 or 190, it would have been a good match,” Gill said. “We lost momentum with early wickets and never fully recovered.”
Kohli Anchors Comfortable Chase
Chasing 156, RCB started aggressively. Venkatesh Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal provided early momentum before Kohli took control of the innings.
The veteran batter reached his fastest IPL half-century, scoring 50 off 25 balls. Even after Gujarat spinner Rashid Khan dismissed Patidar and Krunal Pandya in quick succession, Kohli remained composed and kept the chase on track.
Tim David contributed a valuable 24 before departing, leaving Kohli to finish the job. The former India captain sealed the victory with a boundary and a six, ending unbeaten on 75.
Kohli was named Player of the Match for his match-winning innings.
“It’s stuff that you dream of,” Kohli said during the presentation ceremony. “I had confidence in the team. Even if I got out, I believed we had a champion side that could finish the game.”
The victory marked another milestone in Virat Kohli’s long association with the Bengaluru franchise and capped a dominant season in which RCB finished atop the league standings.
RCB Eye More Success After Historic Repeat
The triumph made RCB only the latest franchise to successfully defend an RCB IPL 2026 Title, underscoring the team’s consistency over the past two seasons.
Patidar credited the squad’s mindset and experience for the achievement.
“Last year, there was a lot of pressure. This year, we were confident and focused on staying in the moment,” he said.
The final also highlighted the emergence of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who won the Emerging Player of the Year award, Most Valuable Player honors, and the Orange Cap as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Meanwhile, Kagiso Rabada finished the season as the highest wicket-taker and claimed the Purple Cap.
RCB IPL 2026 Title celebrated on the field as fireworks lit up the stadium and supporters marked the franchise’s second title in as many years. The team will enter the 2027 season seeking an unprecedented third consecutive championship.
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