IPL 2026: RCB crowned champions again as Kohli, Rasikh sink GT in one-sided final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defended their Indian Premier League (IPL) crown, beating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 final on Sunday, May 31, at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After being put in to bat first, GT were restricted to 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Rasikh Salam Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29, 4 overs) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37, 4 overs) running through their batting lineup.

Only Washington Sundar showed some fight, scoring an unbeaten half-century (50* off 37) as the rest of the GT batters capitulated under pressure. In reply, RCB chased down the target in 18 overs to win their second successive title. 

Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16) came out all guns blazing, adding 62 runs for the first wicket off just 27 balls. After Siraj got Iyer holed out to mid-on, Kohli continued to hold one end and stitched partnerships with Rajat Patidar (15 off 13) and Tim David (24 off 17).

Kohli brought up his fastest half-century in IPL off 25 balls and remained at the crease till the end, taking RCB home with a colossal six. As a result, RCB became the third team in IPL history to successfully defend their title after Chennai Super Kings (2010, 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019, 2020).

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Virat Kohli was adjudged Player of the Match for his breathtaking innings of 75* (42), studded with nine fours and three sixes. It was the second half-century for Kohli in an IPL final and his first in a winning cause.

Turning Point

Gujarat Titans (GT) were heavily dependent on their opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan to get them off to a terrific start, as the duo had done the bulk of the scoring for their team heading into the fixture. However, they were dismissed in back-to-back overs, falling prey to Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, respectively, to leave GT reeling at 26/2 in 3.4 overs. From then on, the innings only went downhill for Gujarat as they were restricted to 155/8 in their 20 overs.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): 

It feels superb. When we came here there was a lot of memories of last year. I don't have words to express but feeling very good. It was clear planning. When we win the toss, it was easy to chase. The way Bhuvi, Hazlewood, Rasikh, KP Suyash and Shepherd, they bowled really well throughout the tournament. I never dreamt of becoming the captain of RCB and lifting the trophy. I think it was written. Grateful for that. We were slightly more confident than last year. Everywhere it felt like a home ground for us with the fans coming in. The pre tournament prep was very good for me. I tried to analyze which shots are good for me. I got so many inputs from DK, which were helpful for me. He (Virat Kohli) is always there for the team. This one is for you again, RCB fans. Ee Sala nu Cup Namdu.

Losing Captain, Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans):

I think if we would have gotten close to 180, 190, it would have been a good match. (on whether the surface was slow or two-paced) Honestly, not that much. You know, maybe a little bit. We have seen whenever we are playing, in the first three or four overs there is a little bit of movement for the fast bowlers. We lost a couple of early wickets and then we kind of lost the momentum in the middle, you know, couldn’t really get going. But then we knew we are playing the finals.  150, 160, if we get a couple of early wickets in the powerplay, we are always in the game. (on not getting wickets early enough in the chase) Yeah, I think 15-20 runs too many in the powerplay. Had we restricted them around 50-55 runs, we still had a chance. But I think they got away a little bit in the powerplay. (on the team’s improvement this season) I mean, I think we were one of the best bowling sides in the tournament. The way, after losing the first couple of games, the way that we came back in the tournament and we kept talking, we kept pushing ourselves, kept challenging us in different areas, kept improving those 5 percent factors. (on the overall campaign despite the final loss) Yeah, definitely, you know, very happy. We couldn’t get over the line, but, you know, there are always things that you could improve on. And even if you would have won the trophy, there were still things that we felt as a group that we needed to work on.