Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second IPL title as the defending champions cantered to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Kohli struck a 25-ball half-century – his 68th and fastest in the IPL – en route to an unbeaten 75, sharing crucial partnerships of 62 and 41 with Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David as RCB reached their target of 156 with 12 balls to spare.
The foundations for Kohli’s heroics and RCB’s victory were laid by their bowling attack, as Rasikh Salam (3-27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-29) and Josh Hazlewood (2-37) kept GT under constant pressure from the moment they were inserted.
Openers Shubman Gill (10) and Sai Sudharsan (12) were removed inside four overs, while Jos Buttler – the final member of Gujarat Titans’ famed ‘big three’ – was stumped after adding just 19.
Washington Sundar mounted some resistance, his unbeaten 50 off 37 balls helping GT to a respectable 155-8 from their 20 overs.
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Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru make a rapid start in their battle for the Indian Premier League title against Gujarat Titans, taking out Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan in the second and third overs.
But it fell well short of a competitive total, despite the efforts of spinner Rashid Khan, who removed Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the ninth over to briefly revive GT’s hopes of derailing RCB’s chase.
However, Kohli – the king of chases – steered the innings home with nine fours and three sixes, as RCB joined Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as only the third team in history to successfully retain the IPL title.
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RCB take the ‘huge wicket’ of Jos Buttler for 19 as Krunal Pandya topples the last of GT’s big three.
Kohli: We knew we are the best team!
Virat Kohli, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket:
“I said to a few of the boys that it doesn’t feel like the same pressure as last year. We knew what kind of ability we have in the group.
“We topped the table and there’s a reason why we got here first. We said if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition.
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Virat Kohli smashes 18 runs from four consecutive balls to put RCB in control.
“There’s a reason why we have done well so far. We ended up topping the league stage and the skillsets we have, the maturity and the composure of the guys has shown through again tonight.
“It was a clinical performance right throughout the tournament.”
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Virat Kohli wraps up IPL final win in style with six to seal back-to-back titles for RCB.
Watch India’s white-ball tour of England, from July 1-19, live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Stream cricket and more with NOW.
India tour of England 2026
All times UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports
- First T20I (Wednesday July 1) – Chester-le-Street, Durham (5.30pm)
- Second T20I (Saturday July 4) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
- Third T20I (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
- Fourth T20I (Thursday July 9) – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
- Fifth T20I (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
- First ODI (Tuesday July 14) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
- Second ODI (Thursday July 16) – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)
- Third ODI (Sunday July 19) – Lord’s, London (11am)
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