Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted another historic chapter in their IPL journey by successfully defending their crown and winning the IPL 2026 title under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. With their five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, RCB joined an elite club alongside the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as only the third franchise to win back-to-back IPL championships.
Just a year after ending their long wait for a maiden IPL trophy, Bengaluru proved that their 2025 triumph was no one-off success. The defending champions once again delivered on the biggest stage, showcasing the consistency and depth that defined their campaign throughout the season.
As expected, Virat Kohli played a central role in RCB’s title-winning performance. The veteran batter anchored the chase with a fluent half-century and ensured Bengaluru remained in control of the pursuit. Fittingly, it was Kohli who sealed the victory, launching the winning six that sparked wild celebrations among players, support staff, and thousands of RCB fans.
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The moment the ball cleared the boundary, the entire Bengaluru squad stormed onto the field to celebrate their second consecutive IPL title. Kohli, who has been the face of the franchise since the league’s inception, was visibly emotional as he soaked in another memorable triumph.
Finishing off in style 🥳
And it’s none other than King Kohli 😎👑
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/FZNGQ26gBs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Adding to the emotional scenes was the presence of actor and Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, in the stands. She had already delighted fans earlier in the innings by blowing a flying kiss after Kohli reached his half-century. When RCB completed the chase, Anushka erupted in celebration alongside presenter and long-time Bengaluru supporter Danish Sait.
How many times have we seen this 🤩
Virat Kohli in his element 🔥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/dE3LEi8NQT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
One of the standout moments after the victory came when Kohli looked towards the stands and returned the gesture with a flying kiss of his own. The heartwarming exchange quickly went viral across social media, becoming one of the defining images of the IPL 2026 final.
Earlier in the evening, Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum after being put in to bat. They managed 155/8 in their 20 overs, with Washington Sundar emerging as the lone bright spot. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 50 off 37 deliveries, striking five boundaries in a fighting knock. Nishant Sindhu was the only other GT batter to cross the 20-run mark.
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RCB’s bowlers laid the foundation for victory with a disciplined performance. Rasikh Salam Dar starred with figures of 3/27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets each to keep Gujarat’s batting lineup under constant pressure. Their collective effort ensured Bengaluru entered the chase with a significant advantage and ultimately lifted the IPL trophy for the second straight season.
