Ahmedabad, May 31: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defended their Indian Premier League title after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
With the win, RCB joined an elite group of teams that have managed to retain the IPL trophy in consecutive seasons, highlighting their consistency and dominance in the competition.
Batting first, Gujarat Titans posted 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a fighting unbeaten half-century from Washington Sundar, Gujarat struggled to build momentum as RCB’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings.
Rasikh Salam emerged as the standout performer with the ball, claiming three crucial wickets. Experienced pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with two wickets each to restrict the Titans to a below-par total.
In reply, RCB made a brisk start during the powerplay. However, Gujarat fought back with a few timely wickets to keep the contest alive. The turning point came through Virat Kohli, who anchored the chase with a composed and attacking innings.
The veteran batter remained unbeaten on 75 from 42 deliveries, guiding his side through the tense moments of the chase. His knock ensured that RCB reached the target comfortably in the 18th over to seal another memorable IPL triumph.
The victory capped off a remarkable campaign for Bengaluru, with the team once again proving its ability to perform under pressure on the biggest stage.
