The final of the Indian Premiere League concluded yesterday as the RCB faced GT in a contest which leant more towards the RCB for most of its part. Although GT tried hard but it was RCB’s day yesterday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru became only the third team in history to successfully defend the Indian Premier League title as they beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Only two teams – MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020) – had successfully defended the IPL title before this.
RCB put on a disciplined bowling effort, spearheaded by Rasikh Salam and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to restrict Gujarat Titans to just 155/8.
Despite some turbulence, Virat Kohli scored a fantastic 75 off 42 balls to guide RCB past the total in 18 overs.
Sent in to bat first, GT had an early scare after the umpire deemed Sai Sudharsan caught behind in the very first over but the decision was overturned following a DRS review.
However, the respite was only fleeting as Gujarat lost both their openers inside the powerplay.
Captain Shubman Gill was caught by his opposition number Rajat Patidar off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling in the third over while Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for Sudharsan in the next.
Nishant Sindhu, promoted up the order, and Jos Buttler looked to steady the ship but struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The pressure kept mounting before Sindhu (20 off 18) was sent back by Rasikh Salam and Buttler was stumped brilliantly by Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya’s bowling, leaving the 2022 IPL champions at 73/4 after 12.1 overs.
Arshad Khan tried to mount a counterattack but it was short-lived as he departed after scoring a brisk 15 off just six balls as Hazlewood chipped in with his second scalp of the finale.
With his team looking down the barrel, Washington Sundar scored a mature 37-ball 50 as wickets tumbled at the other end to get GT past the 150-mark. Rasikh Salam picked up 3/27 for RCB while Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood finished with two wickets each.
RCB openers Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer got the defending champions off to a brisk start as the duo went after Kagiso Rabada, the frontrunner for the Purple Cap in IPL 2026, and took the Protea pacer for 37 runs in his first two overs.
Mohammed Siraj finally broke the partnership in the fifth over by sending Iyer back following a 16-ball 32. Rabada sent back Devdutt Padikkal in the very next over as RCB ended poweplay on 70/2.
Rashid Khan handed GT a lifeline as he dealt RCB a double blow in the ninth over, sending back Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya within a span of four balls to reduce RCB to 91/4.
Kohli, however, used his experience well to anchor the chase. The Indian ace brought about his fifty in 25 balls – his fastest half-century ever in IPL – and with Tim David at the other end, ensured the runs counter kept ticking.
A 41-run stand between the two before Ashad Khan dismissed David drove RCB closer to the title.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls and wrapped up the chase with a six over long-on on the final ball of the 18th over.
