Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Jun 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their crown and clinched the IPL 2026 title after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The victory marked RCB’s second consecutive IPL championship, making them only the third franchise in tournament history to achieve the feat.
Chasing a target of 156, RCB rode on a brilliant unbeaten 75 off 42 balls from Virat Kohli, who anchored the innings and guided his side home with 12 balls to spare. Kohli’s knock, which included his fastest IPL half-century, earned him the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum after losing key wickets at regular intervals and finished at 155 for 8 in their 20 overs. A fighting unbeaten fifty from Washington Sundar helped GT post a competitive total, but disciplined spells from RCB bowlers, led by Rasikh Salam Dar, kept the scoring in check.
Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, RCB displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season. Kohli once again emerged as the batting mainstay, while the bowling unit, featuring experienced campaigners such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, played a crucial role in the title-winning campaign.
The triumph sparked celebrations among RCB supporters across the country, with players and team management hailing the victory as the result of collective effort, strategic planning and strong team spirit.
With the 2026 title, RCB further strengthened their place among the IPL’s elite teams and capped off another memorable season in style.