Royal Challengers Bangalore won ipl 2026 Won the title with a comfortable five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May.
After being invited to bat, GT struggled for pace and finished at 155/8, with Washington Sundar being the top scorer with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls. For RCB, Rasikh Salam Dar bowled brilliantly and took 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets each.
In reply, Virat Kohli played a match-winning inning of unbeaten 75 runs with the help of nine fours and three sixes in 42 balls and gave RCB an easy win. Rashid Khan returned figures of 2/25 for GT, but Kohli's brilliance ensured that RCB won the trophy in style.
talking points:
GT opener failed to fire
Asked to bat first, Gujarat Titans faced a tough start as their top order struggled to find rhythm against RCB's disciplined pace attack. Josh Hazlewood provided the initial blow by dismissing captain Shubman Gill, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar put the Titans on the backfoot by dismissing Sai Sudarshan. Early wickets ensured that RCB maintained control throughout the powerplay.
RCB was successful in chasing the target
Chasing a modest target of 156 runs, RCB easily completed the target in 18 overs. Virat Kohli played a brilliant unbeaten 75 while the rest of the batting unit played valuable supporting roles. The chase never looked in danger, with Kohli opening the innings and ensuring there were no obstacles along the way.
RCB successfully defend their crown
With this win, RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history to successfully defend their title, joining the elite company of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Building on the confidence and momentum from their win last season, RCB once again demonstrated their quality and consistency to retain the trophy in emphatic fashion.
who said what?
Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans (losing captain)
Definitely. If we had reached closer to 180-190, it would have been a good match. There was some movement for the fast bowlers in the first three-four overs and after losing some early wickets we lost the momentum. We gave away 15-20 runs in the powerplay. I think we were one of the best bowling teams in the tournament. We came back after losing the first few games. Very happy. We could not reach the winning limit, but there will always be areas for improvement even if we win the trophy.
Rajat Patidar, Royal Challengers Bangalore (winning captain)
it feels great. When we came here, a lot of memories of last year were refreshed. I have no words to express but I feel great. This was a clear plan. It is easy to chase the target when we win the toss. The way Bhuvi, Hazlewood, Rasikh, KP Suyash and Shepherd bowled very well throughout the tournament. I never dreamed of becoming the captain of RCB and lifting the trophy. I think it was written. Grateful for that. We were a little more confident than last year. With fans coming everywhere, it felt like it was our home ground. The preparation before the tournament was very good for me. I tried to analyze which shots are good for me. I got a lot of inputs from DK, which were helpful to me. He is always there for the team. This one is for you once again, RCB fans. E sala nu kap namdu.
Virat Kohli, Player of the Match
This is the thing you dream about. Thought many times about this moment to win the IPL and stand here. The kind of team you are, gives you the confidence to deal with any kind of situation. This is the demand of the game today. You have these young players who are pushing you hard and asking you to be better. You have to score 20-30 extra runs. To get those runs, I had to change my mindset, not just my game. The goal was to top the table. Many people asked who we would like to play in the play. But we didn't care about the jersey in front. We are a professional group. They probably wanted to get me out early but I was confident that even if I got out, there was enough depth in the team that I would be able to get them out. There was complete clarity and we both wanted to strike. We had small goals in mind. Credit to Venkatesh also. Stepped in and did a beautiful job. I always say we don't just have 7 home games, we have 14. GT is the home team here but probably 90% are RCB fans.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Player of the Series
It feels good but I am feeling a little pressure because of giving the interview. Sir, I am not drinking milk these days. HOW TO PLAY EACH GAME You can't play every game the same way. If I want to remain injury free I have to work on my fitness. Everyone is very supportive. All the senior players, support staff, everyone supports me and it's a good environment.
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