RCB Retain IPL Crown as Kohli’s Masterclass Seals Back-to-Back Titles

Mangalore Today News Network

Ahmedabad, June 1, 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. A match-winning unbeaten 75 off 42 balls from Virat Kohli guided RCB to their second consecutive championship and etched another memorable chapter in the franchise’s history.

Chasing a target of 156, Kohli anchored the innings from start to finish, overcoming an injury scare to register the fastest half-century of his IPL career. The veteran batter remained unbeaten as RCB crossed the finish line comfortably, sparking jubilant celebrations among players and fans alike.

With the triumph, RCB became only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back titles. Captain Rajat Patidar was the first to lift the trophy, while an emotional Kohli celebrated the achievement with trademark passion.

"It feels superb. When we came here there were a lot of memories of last year. I don’t have words to express it, but I’m feeling very good. It was clear planning. When we won the toss, it was easier to chase. Ee Saala Cup Namdu!" Patidar said after the victory.

Earlier, RCB’s bowlers laid the foundation for the win by restricting Gujarat Titans to 155 for 8 after Patidar elected to field. The decision paid immediate dividends as GT captain Shubman Gill and opening partner Sai Sudharsan fell during the powerplay, putting the Titans under pressure.

Washington Sundar provided resistance with a fighting half-century after receiving an early reprieve, but RCB’s disciplined bowling attack kept the scoring in check. Rasikh Salam Dar emerged as the standout performer with three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two wickets each.

Kohli’s heroics earned him the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on the victory, he said, "It was a dream of mine to hit the winning runs in an IPL final, and today it came true."

The RCB stalwart finished IPL 2026 with 675 runs in 16 matches, including one century. Remarkably, it marked the fourth consecutive season in which he crossed the 600-run milestone, underlining his enduring consistency at the highest level.

Despite falling short in the final, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill praised his team’s campaign. "If we had got close to 180 or 190, it would have been a good match. There was movement for the fast bowlers early on and we lost momentum after losing a couple of wickets. We couldn’t get over the line, but there are always areas to improve," Gill said.

The season’s individual honours were also announced following the final. Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada claimed the Purple Cap with 29 wickets, finishing one ahead of RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar. It was Rabada’s second Purple Cap after first winning the award in 2020.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the standout performer of the season, winning both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The 15-year-old amassed 776 runs in 15 matches and accumulated 436.5 MVP points, the second-highest tally in IPL history.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Manish Pandey received the Best Catch of the Season award for his spectacular one-handed diving catch at backward point to dismiss Tim David. Mohammed Siraj won the Green Dot Balls award for bowling the most dot balls during the season, while Sooryavanshi also secured the Super Sixes award for hitting the most sixes.

Punjab Kings were honoured with the Fair Play Award, capping off another memorable IPL season.