Royal Challengers Bengaluru are IPL 2026 champions. For the second successive year, the men in red and black have lifted the trophy — and fittingly, it was Virat Kohli who delivered the defining innings on the biggest stage of all. His scintillating 50 off 25 balls guided RCB to a composed 5-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, chasing down 156 with 12 balls to spare.
It was a night of high drama, remarkable individual performances, and ultimately a clinical display of championship cricket from RCB. Washington Sundar's fighting 50 gave GT something to defend, but once Kohli got going, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Series — a stunning recognition for the teenage Rajasthan Royals sensation whose batting lit up IPL 2026 from start to finish, even though his side fell short in the knockout rounds.
Note: The Final was shifted to Ahmedabad from Bengaluru, with RCB playing as the designated home team.
Gujarat Titans Innings: 155/8 in 20.0 Overs
Gujarat Titans' title hopes were dealt an immediate blow in the very first over. A wicket review in over 0.4 against Sai Sudharsan was upheld — Sudharsan gone for almost nothing — and with it, GT's most reliable run-scorer and the man who had lit up the Qualifier 2 chase alongside Gill was back in the pavilion without contributing. It was the worst possible start for a team needing a fast, confident total.
GT's powerplay produced just 45 runs for 2 wickets in 6 overs — a difficult foundation on a surface where runs were gettable. They crossed 50 in 6.5 overs (41 balls), and at the first strategic timeout (9 overs) the scoreboard read a concerning 59/3, with Jos Buttler on 12 and Washington Sundar on 2. The big guns had been silenced early.
GT crossed 100 in 14.2 overs (86 balls) — a painstaking grind that reflected the damage done in the powerplay. RCB brought in Venkatesh Iyer as an impact player substitute for Jacob Duffy in over 13.6, freshening up their bowling attack and maintaining pressure.
At this point, with GT in deep trouble at multiple wickets down, Washington Sundar produced the innings of a guardian. Calm, composed and technically sound, he refused to panic as wickets fell around him. RCB challenged a wide against Sundar in over 17.4 (struck down), and GT crossed 150 in 19.1 overs (115 balls).
At the innings break, GT posted 155/8 — Washington Sundar unbeaten on 50 off 37 balls (5 fours), a lone-hand innings of genuine quality that at least gave GT bowlers something to defend. Kagiso Rabada was on 3 at the other end. It was a total that would require an extraordinary bowling display to defend.
GT Impact Player Subs used: Prasidh Krishna (in for Rahul Tewatia, GT innings over 19.6), Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Sai Kishore.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings: 161/5 in 18.0 Overs (Target: 156)
RCB's chase began at a blistering pace. The powerplay produced 70 runs for 2 wickets in 6 overs, with Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli racing out of the blocks in a stunning opening stand. The first-wicket partnership put on 50 in just 21 balls (Iyer 26, Kohli 23, extras 1), and RCB crossed 50 in 3.3 overs (21 balls) — already ahead of where they needed to be.
Two early wickets added brief tension, but at the first strategic timeout (8 overs), RCB were well placed at 88/2 — Kohli on 38 and Rajat Patidar on 15, both in rhythm and with the target firmly in sight.
RCB crossed 100 in 9.5 overs (59 balls), and then came the moment the Ahmedabad crowd — and millions watching across the country — had waited for. Virat Kohli reached his fifty off just 25 balls — 7 fours and 2 sixes — a masterclass of timing, authority, and pure class from a batter who always seems to save his best for when it matters most. In a final. On the biggest stage. King Kohli.
At the second strategic timeout (13 overs), RCB stood at 126/4, Kohli on 56 and Tim David on 19. GT struck back with an upheld wicket review against David in over 13.6, keeping themselves in the contest, but the required rate was already barely above 4 an over.
RCB crossed 150 in 17.2 overs (104 balls), and despite the cluster of late wickets, saw out the chase with calm authority, finishing at 161/5 in 18 overs — winning by 5 wickets with 12 balls remaining to claim the IPL 2026 title.
RCB Impact Player Subs used: Venkatesh Iyer (in for Jacob Duffy, GT innings over 13.6), Kanishk Chohan, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox.
Key Performances at a Glance
| Player | Team | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli ? | RCB | 56+ off 25 balls (7×4, 2×6) — Player of the Match |
| Venkatesh Iyer | RCB | 26, explosive opening stand of 50 in 21 balls |
| Washington Sundar | GT | 50 off 37 balls (5×4), fighting innings in a collapsing innings |
| Rajat Patidar | RCB | 15+, continued his superb playoff form |
| Tim David | RCB | 19, before GT's upheld review |
IPL 2026 Awards
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| ???? IPL 2026 Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | — |
| ???? Player of the Match (Final) | Virat Kohli | RCB |
| ????? Player of the Series | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR |
Result
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 5 wickets (with 12 balls remaining)
Chasing 156, RCB finished at 161/5 in 18 overs. Virat Kohli's 50 off 25 was the decisive blow — a Player of the Match innings that encapsulated everything that makes him the greatest batter of his generation. For Gujarat Titans, Washington Sundar's extraordinary 50 off 37 in a broken innings was a performance of real heart, but the early top-order collapse on the biggest night of their season proved too much to overcome.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Back-to-back IPL champions. The Red and Black dynasty continues. ????????????