Ahmedabad: In the first 17 editions of the IPL, Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) failed to lay their hands on the glittering trophy despite making the final thrice.
Now, they have won it twice in as many years.
On a hot and humid evening, in front of a crowd in excess of 110,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, RCB overcame home team Gujarat Giants by 5 wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) did more than half the job, sending back the dangerous opening duo of Sai Sudharshan (12) and Shubman Gill (10) within 4 overs. Rasikh Dar, the young pacer from Jammu & Kashmir, backed up Bhuvi and Hazlewood with 3 wickets to stop Gujarat Giants on a modest 155/8 in 20 overs.
In the chase, it was that man Kohli again, expertly guiding RCB to the target quite comfortably despite losing skipper Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in one Rashid Khan over. Like in last year’s final, Kohli was again the top-scorer for his team on Sunday.
‘Chasemaster’ Kohli sealed victory with a straight field 6 off Arshad Khan to remain not out on 75 (42 balls, 9×4, 3×6) as RCB romped home with 2 full overs to spare.
Finishing off in style 🥳
And it’s none other than King Kohli 😎👑
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/FZNGQ26gBs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
RCB thus joined the two most successful franchises – Chennai Super Kinga and Mumbai Indians – in winning back-to-back titles.
BRIEF SCORES
Gujarat Titans 155/8 in 20 overs (Washington Sundar 50*; Rasikh Salam 3/27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/29, Josh Hazlewood 2/37).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 161/5 in 18 overs (Virat Kohli 75*, Venkatesh Iyer 32; Rashid Khan 2/25).
Result: RCB won by 5 wickets