RCB Beat Gujarat Titans by 5 Wickets in IPL 2026 Final to Win Back to Back Titles

New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru became only the third team in IPL history to successfully defend the title as they defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 off 42 balls anchored the chase as RCB successfully overhauled a target of 156 with 12 balls. With this victory,RCB joined Chennai Super Kings (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20) as only the third team to successfully defend an IPL title. Skipper Rajat Patidar received the winners’ cheque of Rs 20 crore.

Chasing 156, RCB lost wickets at regular intervals but Kohli remained unshakeable at the crease. Venkatesh Iyer provided a brisk start with a quickfire 32 off 16 balls, but it was Kohli who dictated proceedings. The former India captain brought up his fifty off just 25 balls – his fastest in IPL history – and held the innings together even as Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and Krunal Pandya fell cheaply, leaving RCB at 91 for 4.

A crucial 41-run partnership with Tim David (24 off 17) took the game away from Gujarat Titans. Kohli remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls, smashing 9 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 178. RCB reached the target in 18 overs and Kohli won the Player of the Match.

While Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum with the bat earlier in the evening. Openers Shubman Gill (10) and Sai Sudharsan (12) departed early, while Jos Buttler could only manage 19 off 23 balls, resulting in a sluggish run rate during the middle overs.

Washington Sundar was the standout performer, top-scoring with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, displaying the application that was missing from most of his teammates. Late cameos from Mohd Arshad Khan (15 off 6) and Rashid Khan (7 off 3) helped push the total to 155 for 8, but it always looked below par on a good batting surface.

Rasikh Salam was the pick of the RCB bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 27 in 4 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets each, while the bowling unit maintained excellent discipline, conceding just 39 dot balls in the innings.

With this victory, RCB joined Chennai Super Kings (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20) as only the third team to successfully defend an IPL title. Having ended a 17-year title drought in 2025, the Bengaluru franchise has now won back-to-back championships and looks poised to build a dynasty.

Rajat Patidar collected the winners’ cheque of Rs 20 crore, while a visibly disappointed Shubman Gill received the runners-up prize of Rs 12.5 crore on behalf of Gujarat Titans.

While the final belonged to RCB, the awards ceremony was dominated by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young Rajasthan batter had a dream IPL 2026 season and swept multiple individual honours.

Sooryavanshi claimed the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs – the highest tally this season. He was also named Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season (strike rate of 237.3), and Super Sixes of the Season award winner for smashing a record 72 sixes. In total, the 17-year-old walked away with five major awards, receiving a standing ovation as he left the field.

Other Award Winners

Purple Cap: Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – 29 wickets

Most Fours: Sai Sudharsan – 75 boundaries

Most Dot Balls: Mohammed Siraj – 172 dots

Catch of the Season: Manish Pandey (for a stunning diving effort to dismiss Tim David)

Fair Play Award: Punjab Kings

A Franchise Transformed

Two years ago, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were still remembered as the perennial underachievers of the IPL. On Sunday night, they stood as back-to-back champions. As Virat Kohli lifted the trophy amid fireworks and deafening cheers at the Narendra Modi Stadium, it marked the fulfilment of a long-awaited dream for millions of RCB fans who had waited through years of heartbreak.