Home
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) once again scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL), successfully defending their crown in 2026 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. By defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining the elite company of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
The triumph capped off a remarkable campaign that saw RCB establish themselves as the most dominant team of the season while overcoming several significant challenges away from the field.
RCB dominated the tournament despite facing multiple hurdles
RCB’s campaign was built on consistency and authority from the very first match. They announced their title credentials with a commanding chase of 201 runs in just 15.4 overs and never looked back for the remainder of the season.
However, the road to glory was far from smooth.
One of the earliest challenges concerned uncertainty about matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Once that issue was resolved, the franchise was forced to shift a couple of home fixtures to Raipur. Later, another major obstacle emerged when the IPL final, traditionally hosted at the defending champions’ home venue, was moved away from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad.
Injuries also threatened to derail their campaign. Star opener Phil Salt suffered a finger injury while fielding and was restricted to only six appearances after the setback. Captain Rajat Patidar also endured an injury scare and missed a match, with Jitesh Sharma stepping in as the stand-in captain. RCB, however, managed to win that fixture as well, highlighting the squad’s depth and resilience.
From league-stage dominance to playoff perfection
RCB remained one of the strongest teams throughout IPL 2026. They were the first franchise to secure playoff qualification and eventually finished at the top of the points table.
Apart from a close encounter against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Raipur and a heavy loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their final league-stage encounter, RCB largely produced convincing victories. Their biggest statement came in the playoffs, where they dismantled the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 before repeating the feat in the final.
Also Read: Why RCB won't hold victory parade despite winning IPL 2026 title? Here's all you need to know
GT enjoyed an impressive campaign of their own and recovered strongly after a slow start to finish inside the top two. Shubman Gill’s side even survived a tense Qualifier 2 battle against Rajasthan Royals to set up a home final in Ahmedabad.
Yet when it mattered most, RCB delivered their best cricket of the season. Their all-around dominance, tactical clarity, and ability to handle adversity ultimately transformed IPL 2026 into another memorable chapter in the franchise’s history.
ADVERTISEMENT
