Virat Kohli’s explosive performance led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans, securing their second consecutive Indian Premier League title.
AHMEDABAD, India — Cricket icon Virat Kohli delivered a stellar performance, hitting the winning six as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans on Sunday.
After winning the toss, Bengaluru opted to field first, successfully restricting Gujarat to 155 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. RCB then chased down the target, scoring 161 runs for the loss of five wickets in just 18 overs.
Kohli played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring an impressive 75 not out off 42 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes. This marked his sixth fifty-plus score of the season. Alongside Venkatesh Iyer, who contributed a brisk 32 runs off 16 balls, Kohli helped Bengaluru achieve the target with relative ease.
“It is the stuff you dream of. I have thought of this moment many times, to win the IPL and stand here (unbeaten in the chase),” Kohli said after the match. “The kind of team we have gives you confidence to face any situation. There is enough depth in our side. We had clarity – Venkatesh and I wanted to finish off the chase in the powerplay itself.”
With this victory, Bengaluru became only the third team in IPL history to win consecutive titles, following the Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and the Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020). They previously secured their first title in 2025.
Kohli concluded the season with a remarkable total of 675 runs across 16 matches, while teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar was instrumental with the ball, taking 28 wickets throughout the tournament. On Sunday, Kumar claimed two wickets for 29 runs, sharing the bowling spotlight with Josh Hazlewood, who also took two wickets for 37 runs, effectively limiting Gujarat’s scoring potential at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Gujarat’s innings was characterized by a lack of momentum, with the team struggling to build partnerships. They found themselves in a precarious position at 99 for 5 at the start of the 15th over. Openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill fell cheaply, scoring just 12 and 10 runs, respectively. Krunal Pandya played a key role in the middle overs, stumping Jos Buttler for 19 runs. Despite Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 runs off 37 balls, no other Gujarat batter managed to score more than 20 runs. Rasikh Salam Dar was the standout bowler for RCB, taking three wickets for 27 runs in his four overs.
Gujarat’s Kagiso Rabada finished the season as the highest wicket-taker, with 29 wickets in 17 matches. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryanshi emerged as the highest run-scorer of the season, accumulating 776 runs in 16 innings at an impressive strike rate of 237.
RCB’s bowlers set the tone early, making it difficult for Gujarat to establish any rhythm. Kohli and Iyer’s partnership was crucial, as they added 62 runs off just 27 balls for the opening wicket. Kohli reached his half-century in a mere 25 balls, marking his fastest fifty in IPL history. He capped off the match in style, hitting a six off Arshad Khan, reminiscent of Bengaluru’s title-winning moment at the same venue just a year prior.
The final served as a rematch of the first playoff, where Bengaluru had previously defeated Gujarat by 92 runs in Dharamsala. Gujarat Titans, who won the IPL title in 2022, were unable to reclaim their championship status this season.
According to The Associated Press, Kohli’s leadership and performance were instrumental in securing RCB’s place in IPL history.