Ahmedabad, May 31, 2026 — In a fitting conclusion to a dominant campaign, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been crowned IPL 2026 champions, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. RCB won by 5 wickets with 12 balls remaining , sealing a legendary back-to-back title triumph.
A Kohli Masterclass on the Biggest Stage
The final was defined by one man: Virat Kohli. RCB restricted Gujarat Titans to a sub-par total of 155 for 8 after opting to bowl first, and then Kohli set about the chase with intent from the very first over.Venkatesh Iyer came in as an impact substitute and blazed 32 off just 15 deliveries to give RCB a fiery start.
Even as wickets fell — Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, and Krunal Pandya gave RCB a mini hiccup — Kohli completed his fastest IPL half-century off just 25 balls and steered his team to the brink of glory. Kohli fittingly finished it off in signature style, launching the final ball for a six to seal the championship as the cameras rolled and celebrations erupted.
The Road to Glory
RCB’s 2026 campaign was nothing short of dominant. Under captain Rajat Patidar, RCB transformed into the most consistent side of IPL 2026, finishing at the top of the league-stage standings with nine wins from 14 matches. They stormed into the final with a crushing 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.
The season opener set the tone — RCB chased down SRH’s 201/9 comfortably in the 16th over, with Kohli anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls.That aggressive, fearless batting approach defined their entire campaign.
History Made — Again
RCB are only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back titles. The achievement is made sweeter by the long road that preceded it. For Virat Kohli, who spent nearly two decades carrying the hopes of the franchise, last season’s title ended years of heartbreak — but rather than slowing down, RCB returned this season looking even stronger, calmer and more complete.
RCB had won their first IPL title in 2025, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in a dramatic final. Twelve months later, they’ve proven that triumph was no fluke.
Patidar’s Remarkable Journey
The story of captain Rajat Patidar is the stuff of cricket folklore. It was at this very ground in Ahmedabad where Patidar was dropped from RCB in 2021 and went unsold the following year — and now he has won back-to-back IPL titles at that same ground. His transformation from fringe player to champion captain is one of sport’s most compelling turnaround stories.
The Dynasty is Born
With two titles in consecutive years, a settled squad, and Virat Kohli still performing at the highest level at 37, RCB look every bit a team built for sustained success. Playing as defending champions for the first time in their history, RCB embraced the pressure brilliantly.
The wait of 18 years is well and truly over. Bengaluru is celebrating, and the Red Army has never had it so good. Ee Sala Cup Namde — two years running.
