Once again, RCB veteran, Virat Kohli was the key player for his team in the run for their victory in the tournament, taking Royal Challengers Bengaluru to another consecutive Indian Premier League title through his unbeaten performance in the IPL 2026 Final match. In their quest of reaching a target of 156 against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Kohli delivered an experienced and aggressive performance of 75 not out runs off 42 deliveries. His effort helped RCB complete the chase with two overs to spare and secure back-to-back championships. The veteran batter combined experience with intent, accelerated when needed, and remained unbeaten until the winning shot.

Speaking after the victory, Kohli said, “I said to a few of the boys that it doesn’t feel like the same pressure as last year. We topped the league stage; there’s a reason why we got here first. We just said one thing: if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition. The composure of the guys has shown through again tonight and it was a really good performance. We had to wait for so long for the first title. I’m so happy to play in a group that has balance and strength, and an all-round strong team.”

The final followed a clear pattern from the start. After restricting Gujarat Titans to 155/8, RCB attacked early in the chase. Venkatesh Iyer provided momentum with a quick 32 from 16 balls, adding 62 runs with Kohli in just 4.3 overs. Gujarat managed to take wickets in the middle overs, but Kohli remained calm. He reached his fastest IPL fifty off 25 balls and later found support from Tim David. The experienced opener then finished the chase with authority to seal another title for Bengaluru.

The Winning Formula Behind RCB's Title Defence

RCB bowlers set up the title win

RCB’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar said, “The season went well, there was a lot of planning ahead of it. If you take wickets, the confidence is up. Coming into a big game, past wins give you confidence. We were at our best and that’s what we needed.”

The foundation of the victory came from Bengaluru’s disciplined bowling display. Gujarat never managed to build sustained partnerships after losing captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan inside the first four overs. Rasikh Salam led the attack with figures of 27 for 3 and removed key middle-order batters. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 29 for 2, while Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets of his own. Krunal Pandya kept the scoring rate under control with 23 for 1 from four overs. Together, they prevented Gujarat from gaining momentum and limited them to a below-par total.

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Gujarat struggle after early setbacks

The Gujarat Titans had a good batting lineup, but they could not get into their groove. Gill got only 10 runs, whereas Sudharsan could score just 12 runs before getting out. While Nishant Sindhu added 20 runs to the scoreboard, there was no big partnership during that innings. Jos Buttler also had a tough time at the crease and could score only 19 runs from 23 balls. Washington Sundar played a lone hand for his side and could score 50 runs from 37 balls. Brief cameos from Arshad Khan and others helped Gujarat cross 150, but the total proved insufficient in a final.

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Rashid kept Gujarat in the contest

Rashid Khan was the one bowler who briefly raised hopes for Gujarat. The leg-spinner struck twice in a crucial spell, dismissing Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya. He finished with 25 for 2 from four overs and slowed Bengaluru’s progress during the middle phase of the chase. His wickets reduced RCB to 91/4 and momentarily opened the door for a comeback. However, Kohli’s composure and Tim David’s support ensured Gujarat could not turn the pressure into a decisive breakthrough as Bengaluru completed another successful title run.