Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing 156 runs, RCB reached the target with 12 balls to spare. The victory secured the franchise’s second consecutive IPL title and marked another historic achievement.
After ending their long wait for a trophy in 2025, RCB have now won back-to-back IPL championships. The team became only the third franchise in IPL history to achieve this milestone after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The win further strengthened their place among the league’s most successful teams.
Virat Kohli once again delivered in a high-pressure final. The RCB opener remained unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls and guided the chase with confidence. His innings ensured the team stayed on course despite losing wickets during the middle phase.
Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer provided a strong start during the powerplay. Iyer played aggressively and scored 32 runs from just 16 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. Their partnership helped RCB build early momentum in the title clash.
Mohammed Siraj gave Gujarat Titans their first breakthrough when he dismissed Iyer. Devdutt Padikkal followed soon after, falling for just one run to Kagiso Rabada. Gujarat Titans used those wickets to create pressure and bring themselves back into the contest.
Rashid Khan turned the match in GT’s favour briefly with two wickets in the same over. He dismissed Rajat Patidar for 15 and then removed Krunal Pandya for one. RCB continued to lose wickets, but Kohli stayed composed and kept the chase moving forward.
Tim David added an important 24 runs before Arshad Khan ended his stay at the crease. Jitesh Sharma then joined Kohli in the middle. The pair completed the chase comfortably and ensured there were no further setbacks for RCB.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans struggled after being asked to bat first. Captain Shubman Gill scored 10 runs, Sai Sudharsan managed 12, and Jos Buttler added 19. The top order failed to make a significant impact, leaving the team under pressure from the beginning.
GT continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and could not build a substantial partnership. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 50 and emerged as the side’s highest scorer. Nishant Sandhu contributed 20 runs, while Arshad Khan added 15 valuable runs.
Gujarat Titans finished with 155/8 from their 20 overs. RCB’s bowlers played a decisive role throughout the innings and kept the scoring under control. Their disciplined effort prevented GT from posting a challenging total in the final.
Rasikh Salam was the standout performer with three wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets each, while Krunal Pandya picked up one wicket. The combined bowling effort ensured Gujarat Titans remained below a competitive score.
RCB’s title-winning campaign was built on contributions from several players across the season. Different match-winners stepped up when required and delivered in crucial moments. Under Rajat Patidar’s leadership, the franchise secured consecutive IPL titles in 2025 and 2026 and joined an exclusive group of back-to-back champions.
