The IPL 2026 season ended with a memorable night in Ahmedabad as Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the Indian Premier League trophy after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

For RCB supporters, it was a moment they had been waiting years to celebrate. For cricket fans across India, it was a fitting conclusion to a thrilling IPL season. Led by a magnificent unbeaten knock from Virat Kohli, Bengaluru chased down Gujarat Titans’ total of 155 and secured one of the biggest victories in franchise history.

The final featured disciplined bowling, pressure-filled moments, and a classic match-winning innings from one of the greatest players in IPL history.

The Trophy Finally Arrives in Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the IPL 2026 Final carrying the hopes of millions of supporters.

Despite reaching previous finals, the title had always remained out of reach. This season, however, felt different from the very beginning.

RCB built their campaign on consistency, teamwork, and strong performances across all departments. Instead of relying on individual brilliance alone, multiple players contributed throughout the tournament.

That team-first approach eventually delivered the ultimate reward as Bengaluru became IPL champions for the first time.

Gujarat Titans Struggle After Early Setbacks

After winning the toss and batting first, Gujarat Titans hoped to post a challenging total on a batting-friendly Ahmedabad surface.

However, RCB’s bowling attack had other plans.

Shubman Gill departed early for 10 runs after being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood. Soon after, Sai Sudharsan also returned to the pavilion, leaving Gujarat under pressure during the powerplay.

The Titans struggled to build momentum as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

At one stage, Gujarat found themselves searching for stability rather than acceleration.

Gujarat Titans Top Performers

Batter	Runs
Washington Sundar	50*
Nishant Sindhu	20
Jos Buttler	19
Arshad Khan	15

Washington Sundar provided much-needed resistance with an unbeaten half-century. His innings helped Gujarat recover from a difficult position and reach 155/8 after 20 overs.

Without Sundar’s contribution, the Titans could have been restricted to a considerably lower score.

RCB Bowlers Set Up the Final

While Washington Sundar fought hard for Gujarat, Bengaluru’s bowlers controlled most phases of the innings.

Every bowler contributed by maintaining pressure and preventing partnerships from developing.

Best Bowling Figures

Bowler	Figures
Rasikh Salam Dar	3/27
Josh Hazlewood	2/37
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	2/29
Krunal Pandya	1/23

The biggest surprise performer was Rasikh Salam Dar.

His three wickets came at crucial moments and prevented Gujarat Titans from building any late momentum.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood once again demonstrated why they formed one of the most effective pace combinations of IPL 2026.

A Chase Built Around Virat Kohli

When RCB began their pursuit of 156 runs, the pressure was still significant.

Finals often create unexpected twists, and early wickets can quickly change the momentum of a chase.

Fortunately for Bengaluru, Virat Kohli produced another masterclass.

The former captain looked in complete control from the beginning and paced his innings perfectly.

Rather than chasing quick runs, Kohli focused on building partnerships and ensuring that the required rate remained under control.

His unbeaten 75 became the defining innings of the IPL 2026 Final.

Virat Kohli’s Match-Winning Knock

Runs: 75*
Balls: 42
Fours: 9
Sixes: 3
Strike Rate: 178.57

The innings combined aggression, experience, and composure.

Whenever Gujarat Titans attempted to build pressure, Kohli responded with boundaries that shifted momentum back toward RCB.

It was the type of innings that championship matches often require.

Venkatesh Iyer Provides the Perfect Start

Before Kohli took control of the chase, Venkatesh Iyer played a crucial role during the powerplay.

His aggressive approach immediately placed Gujarat’s bowlers under pressure.

Iyer scored 32 runs from only 16 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.

His quick scoring ensured that Bengaluru gained early momentum and never allowed Gujarat to settle.

The opening partnership laid the foundation for the successful chase.

Important Partnerships During the Chase

Championship matches are often decided by partnerships rather than individual performances.

RCB’s batting lineup understood this perfectly.

Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer

Their opening stand provided momentum and confidence.

Kohli and Tim David

This partnership helped Bengaluru recover after a couple of quick wickets.

Kohli and Jitesh Sharma

The final partnership guided RCB safely across the finish line.

By continuously rotating strike and finding boundaries at key moments, Bengaluru ensured the required run rate remained manageable.

Gujarat Titans Bowlers Could Not Build Pressure

Gujarat entered the final with one of the strongest bowling attacks in IPL 2026.

However, their bowlers struggled to maintain consistent pressure against Bengaluru’s batting lineup.

Gujarat Bowling Figures

Bowler	Figures
Rashid Khan	2/25
Mohammed Siraj	1/36
Kagiso Rabada	1/44
Arshad Khan	1/32

Rashid Khan once again delivered a quality performance and briefly gave Gujarat hope with two wickets.

Unfortunately for GT, the remaining bowlers were unable to create enough breakthroughs to stop Kohli’s progress.

Defining Moments of the Final

Several key moments helped shape the outcome of the championship match.

Early Dismissal of Shubman Gill

Removing Gujarat’s captain during the opening overs immediately placed pressure on the Titans.

Rasikh Salam Dar’s Spell

His three wickets prevented Gujarat from building a competitive total.

Washington Sundar’s Half-Century

The unbeaten fifty ensured GT reached a respectable score.

Kohli’s Dominant Chase

The chase never truly looked out of control while Kohli remained at the crease.

These moments ultimately decided the destination of the IPL trophy.

Why RCB Deserved the IPL 2026 Title

Champions are rarely defined by one match alone.

RCB’s success was built throughout the season.

Their strengths included:

Consistent top-order batting
Reliable pace bowling
Effective leadership
Strong team balance
Contributions from multiple players

Every department performed when required.

The final simply reflected the consistency Bengaluru had displayed throughout IPL 2026.

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The IPL 2026 Final will be remembered as the night Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally achieved their dream.

After years of near misses and heartbreak, RCB delivered a complete performance when it mattered most. Their bowlers restricted Gujarat Titans to 155, and Virat Kohli ensured the chase was completed with confidence.

For many supporters, the image of Kohli standing unbeaten on 75 while RCB celebrated their first IPL title will become one of the defining memories of the tournament.

The IPL 2026 season produced countless memorable moments, but the final belonged to Royal Challengers Bengaluru—a team that finally transformed years of hope into championship glory.