Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their Indian Premier League title after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
RCB’s victory was built on a disciplined bowling performance that restricted Gujarat Titans to 155/8 before Virat Kohli produced an unbeaten 75 to guide the defending champions home with two overs to spare.
After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar elected to field first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Gujarat Titans lost captain Shubman Gill early when Josh Hazlewood dismissed him for 10 in the third over.
© instagram.com/gujarat_titans/Sai Sudharsan also failed to make an impact, falling for 12 after attempting to attack Bhuvneshwar Kumar. By the end of the Powerplay, Gujarat were struggling at 45/2.
Jos Buttler and Nishant Sindhu attempted to rebuild, but RCB maintained pressure through disciplined bowling. Krunal Pandya delivered a tight spell and Gujarat’s scoring rate continued to suffer. Sindhu was dismissed for 20 off 18 balls, becoming Rasikh Salam Dar’s first wicket of the evening.
The Titans reached only 73/3 after 12 overs before Krunal removed Buttler for 19 from 23 deliveries. Gujarat slipped further into trouble at 83/4.
Arshad Khan briefly provided momentum with a quick 15 from six balls, but Hazlewood struck again to halt the recovery. At 105/5 after 15 overs, Gujarat needed a strong finish but continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Rahul Tewatia managed only seven runs before Rasikh Salam Dar claimed his second wicket. Washington Sundar and Jason Holder pushed the score forward with a useful partnership, but Bhuvneshwar dismissed Holder for seven in the 19th over.
Rashid Khan briefly threatened with a six in the final over but fell on the next delivery to Rasikh Salam Dar. Sundar completed a fighting half-century from 37 balls, finishing unbeaten on 50 as Gujarat closed on 155/8 from their 20 overs.
Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of the RCB bowlers with figures of 3/27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 2/29 and Josh Hazlewood finished with 2/37. Krunal Pandya also chipped in with a wicket.
Chasing 156 for victory, RCB made a positive start through a 62-run opening partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli. Iyer struck 32 from just 16 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and two sixes before departing.
Despite the strong start, Gujarat fought back and reduced RCB to 132/5, creating some tension in the chase. However, Kohli remained composed throughout the innings and ensured the target never drifted out of reach.
© x.com/RCBTweetsThe veteran batter finished unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls, striking nine fours and three sixes. He sealed the victory in style with a boundary followed by a six.
The innings further enhanced Kohli’s remarkable record in T20 tournament finals. Across nine T20 final appearances, he has now accumulated 419 runs at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 132.59, including four half-centuries. He remains the only Indian batter to record four scores of fifty or more in T20 tournament finals.
Kohli also concluded the IPL 2026 season as the tournament’s fourth-highest run-scorer with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84. His season included one century and five half-centuries, with a highest score of 105 not out.
© x.com/RCBTweetsThe triumph marked RCB’s second IPL title and their fourth major franchise cricket trophy overall, adding to the two Women’s Premier League titles won by the franchise.
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