Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed their second straight Indian Premier League title on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 helped his team to a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
RCB chased down the target of 156 in 12 balls remaining. This victory makes RCB only the third team in history to win back-to-back IPL championships.
GT vs RCB Match Highlights
| Date | May 31, 2026 |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Match | IPL 2026 Final |
| Toss | RCB won the toss and decided to bowl |
| GT Total | 155/8 (20) |
| RCB Total | 161/5 (18) |
| Result | RCB won by 5 wickets (12 balls left) |
| Player of the Match | Virat Kohli |
| Player of the Tournament | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
Kohli Masterclass Secures Victory in Ahmedabad
Virat Kohli produced a match-winning performance on the biggest night of the season. His innings of 75 runs came from just 42 balls and included nine fours and three sixes. Consequently, he earned the Player of the Match award for his efforts. Kohli finished the game in style by hitting a six off Arshad Khan over long-on.
King Kohli scored his half-century in 25 balls. This was the fastest fifty of his entire IPL career. Kohli appeared calm throughout the chase, even when wickets fell at the other end. He stayed at the crease until the very end to ensure his team defended their crown.
Explosive Start for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB began their chase with great energy. Kohli and opening partner Venkatesh Iyer added 62 runs for the first wicket in just 4.3 overs. Iyer played an aggressive role, smashing 32 runs off only 16 balls. This early partnership immediately put the Gujarat Titans on the back foot.
However, the Titans tried to fight back during the middle overs. Spinner Rashid Khan dismissed both Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the same over to create some tension. Despite this pressure, Kohli shared a 41-run partnership with Tim David.
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RCB Bowling Restricts Gujarat Titans
Earlier in the evening, RCB’s bowlers performed exceptionally after skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to field. Gujarat Titans were restricted to 155 for 8. The pitch had bounce and carry, and the RCB pace attack made the most of it.
Young pacer Rasikh Salam was the standout performer with the ball. He took three wickets for 27 runs in his four overs. Salam dismissed important batsmen like Nishant Sindhu and Rahul Tewatia. Meanwhile, experienced bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood gave excellent support.
Two wickets each for Hazlewood and Kumar. In the Powerplay, they got Gujarat’s star openers, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, out. This early damage prevented the Titans from making a big score. Washington Sundar was the only Gujarat batter to make 50 not out as his side finished on 155.
Rajat Patidar Joins Elite List of Captains
Rajat Patidar has captained RCB for two straight titles since 2025. With this win, he joins an elite club of IPL captains. Only MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma had previously won back-to-back IPL trophies as captains. Patidar celebrated the victory on his 33rd birthday.
Under Patidar’s leadership, RCB has become a very consistent team. They finished at the top of the 10-team league table before the playoffs began. Patidar described his captaincy style as calm and aware of game situations. He said he was proud of how his team handled themselves during the tournament.
A Historic Night in Ahmedabad
The final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket ground. Official figures show an attendance of over 90,000 spectators. Kohli’s iconic number 18 jersey was worn by the fans who filled the stadium.
The atmosphere was electric with fans cheering every run scored by RCB. As Kohli hit the winning six, his teammates ran on to the field to celebrate. Kohli said hitting the winning run in a final was something he had dreamed about many times.
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