Virat Kohli's chasing masterclass helps RCB defend IPL title with emphatic five-wicket win over GT in final

Virat Kohli-inspired Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defended their title after crushing Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League 2026 final at the Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi stadium on May 31. With this RCB became only the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back IPL titles. 

After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar elected to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely as a cohesive bowling performance silenced the home crowd early on. The Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum, managing only a modest total of 155 runs in their allotted 20 overs. This sluggish output was primarily due to a disastrous Powerplay that saw the cheap departures of both skipper Shubman Gill and the in-form Sai Sudharsan.

In reply, RCB launched a fierce assault on the target, powered by a blistering opening partnership between Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer that sliced the required runs in half before the Powerplay even concluded. Although a sudden flurry of middle-order wickets threatened to derail the innings, Kohli shifted gears seamlessly to anchor the chase. Displaying incredible urgency despite the falling wickets around him, Kohli smashed his fastest-ever IPL half-century off just 25 balls, eventually finishing the game in style with a towering six to remain unbeaten on 75 as RCB crossed the line with two overs to spare.

This monumental victory etched Rajat Patidar's name into the history books, making him only the third captain in IPL history to secure back-to-back titles, joining the elite company of MS Dhoni (2010 and 2011) and Rohit Sharma (2019 and 2020). The triumph also firmly establishes Royal Challengers Bengaluru alongside Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders as the fourth franchise to capture multiple IPL trophies.

Reflecting on the league's history, the inaugural IPL title back in 2008 was lifted by the Rajasthan Royals after a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings, followed by the now-defunct Deccan Chargers securing the 2009 crown against RCB. For Bengaluru, this consecutive victory cements a golden era, coming exactly one year after they edged out the Punjab Kings by six runs in Ahmedabad to lift their long-awaited maiden title.