RCB crowned as IPL 2026 champions
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their second consecutive IPL title with a triumphant win against Gujarat Titans as Ahmedabad stayed witnessed to an extraordinary spectacle. A thoroughly dominant bowling performance left the Red and Gold Brigade reeling against Gujarat. After controlling the game with the ball, RCB got off to a rocking start and concluded things on a high despite a few bumps along the way.
Winning the toss, RCB opted to bowl first. They went in with an unchanged XI from the Qualifier. Gujarat got a decent start in the first couple of overs before Josh Hazlewood drew first blood for RCB. He sent Shubman Gill (10) packing while Bhuvneshwar Kumar added to the Titans' woes with another strike that dismissed Sai Sudharsan (12).
With the scoring rate stuck, GT needed to accelerate. In trying to accelerate, Nishant Sindhu (20) holed out to Devdutt Padikkal as Rasikh Salam Dar struck his first of the night. Things kept getting worse for Gujarat. Jos Buttler’s uncomfortable stay at the crease was cut short by Krunal Pandya as the Englishman departed for 19 from just 23 balls.
Arshad Khan’s short stay in the center, which included two sixes, ended when Josh Hazlewood sent him packing for 15. From there, it was a formality for the RCB bowlers as they restricted GT to 155/8. Washington Sundar stood out and eventually scored an unbeaten half-century.
Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/27 from his four overs. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided support, with the duo plundering four wickets between them. RCB needed 156 to secure their second consecutive IPL title.
With the target not formidable, Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli came out firing on all cylinders. The duo added 62 runs from just 27 balls with both the batters operating in the fifth gear. Iyer smashed 32 off 16 while Kohli continued with conviction as Gujarat felt the game slipping away.
Just when it felt like RCB would simply run away with the game, two quick blows forced the Red and Gold Brigade to rethink their plans. Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal (1) fell in a span of four balls, making things intriguing. Rajat Patidar walked in and played the situation, scoring 15 off 13 as RCB steadied the ship.
Again, just when it felt like things were going smoothly, Gujarat struck another double whammy as Rashid Khan removed Patidar and Krunal Pandya (1) in the same over. Reduced to 91/4, RCB felt the heat for the first time. However, two things favored the Royal Challengers: the Chasemaster was still at the crease, and the early fiery start helped them regulate the required rate without much fuss.
Kohli and an incoming Tim David (24) took things at a steady rate and eventually added 41 runs for the fifth wicket, taking the sting out of the chase. Despite David's fall, with Kohli still at the crease, RCB knew they had things under control. In what was a poetic finish to the game, Virat Kohli concluded the game with a maximum.
As RCB clinched a five-wicket win, securing their second consecutive title, all emotions broke free. Kohli had a very special celebration to mark the grand ascension while the others joined in an unbridled show of exhilaration. Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his sizzling performance while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the Player of the Series award for an incredible season with the bat.
