Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made an emphatic start to their chase in the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans (GT), with Virat Kohli once again proving why he remains one of the greatest chasers in T20 cricket. Alongside Venkatesh Iyer, Kohli ensured RCB seized early momentum in a high-pressure run chase at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The defending champions entered the final with a golden opportunity to create history.
Having ended their long wait for an IPL trophy in 2025, RCB now stand on the verge of becoming only the third franchise in tournament history to successfully defend their title. Unsurprisingly, the responsibility of leading the chase fell on the shoulders of their most experienced campaigner. Before the match, Kagiso Rabada was widely regarded as the Gujarat Titans’ biggest weapon with the new ball.
The South African speedster has enjoyed an outstanding IPL 2026 season, particularly during the powerplay, where his ability to strike early has consistently put opposition batting line-ups under pressure. Entering the final, Rabada had already crossed the 20-wicket mark in the first six overs of an innings this season.
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The former RCB captain looked positive from the outset and refused to allow Rabada to dictate terms. In what turned out to be a defining passage of play, Kohli launched a calculated assault on the South African pacer during his second over. Two boundaries and a towering six shifted the pressure firmly onto the Gujarat Titans and gave Bengaluru the fast start they were looking for.
Kohli’s dominance against GT has been a recurring theme throughout IPL 2026. Time and again, he has provided strong starts against the Titans, and the final was no different. His fearless approach against one of the world’s premier fast bowlers underlined both his confidence and his exceptional form this season.
Kohli vs Rabada
3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4pic.twitter.com/Z04JRIYSYk— sourav (@Purplepatch22) May 31, 2026
Virat Kohli belted Kagiso Rabada to all parts of the Ahmedabad.👊pic.twitter.com/MI7BVSLXYn
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) May 31, 2026
To Rabada’s credit, he continued attacking despite conceding runs. The GT pacer returned for another spell and eventually dismissed Devdutt Padikkal, a breakthrough that helped him climb to the top of the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with 29 wickets. The dismissal also highlighted why Rabada remains one of the most dangerous bowlers in franchise cricket.
Yet Kohli continued to dominate the contest, finishing Rabada’s over with another commanding six that further energised the RCB camp.
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At 37, Kohli continues to defy expectations. Although he has stepped away from T20 internationals, his performances in the IPL remain as impactful as ever. The RCB icon has once again crossed the 600-run mark this season and remains the franchise’s leading run-scorer. With captain Rajat Patidar also contributing over 500 runs, Bengaluru’s batting unit has thrived, but on the biggest stage of all, Kohli once again showed why he remains the heartbeat of RCB’s title ambitions.
