Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defended their Indian Premier League title, defeating Gujarat by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday to clinch a second consecutive championship.
Chasing a target of 157, RCB rode on a commanding unbeaten knock from Virat Kohli to seal victory with two overs to spare and etch their name in the record books.
Earlier, Gujarat posted a competitive 156 in their allotted overs after being put in to bat. Washington Sundar led the fightback with a gritty half-century, helping his side recover from early setbacks and set a challenging target.
RCB got off to a flying start through openers Venkatesh Iyer and Kohli. Battling an injury concern, Venkatesh played a fearless cameo, smashing 32 off just 16 balls with four boundaries and two sixes to provide early momentum.
Kohli then took charge of the chase, playing an aggressive innings from the outset. The veteran batter raced to a half-century in just 25 deliveries, registering the fastest fifty of his IPL career.
He remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls, an innings studded with nine fours and three sixes, anchoring the chase with authority and ensuring there were no late hiccups.
Tim David chipped in with a valuable 24 off 17 balls in the middle order, sharing a crucial partnership with Kohli that kept RCB firmly on course.
RCB eventually reached the target in 18 overs, losing five wickets in the process, sparking celebrations among thousands of travelling fans and millions watching across the country.
With the victory, RCB became one of the few teams in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, underlining their dominance in recent seasons and cementing their status as the team to beat in the tournament.
