Royal Challengers Bengaluru Retain IPL Title with Clinical Five-Wicket Win Over Gujarat Titans

Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their Indian Premier League crown after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final, producing a dominant display in front of a packed crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

After being asked to bat first, Gujarat Titans struggled to find momentum against Bengaluru’s disciplined bowling attack and finished with 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The Titans suffered an early setback when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for 10, while Sai Sudharsan managed only 12. The middle order also failed to build substantial partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Washington Sundar emerged as Gujarat’s top performer with an unbeaten 50 off 37 deliveries. His composed knock helped the Titans recover from a difficult position and push their total beyond the 150-run mark. Rahul Tewatia added a valuable 24 runs late in the innings, but Bengaluru’s bowlers maintained control throughout the contest.

Rasikh Salam starred with the ball for RCB, picking up 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 2/29 and Josh Hazlewood returned figures of 2/37. Their collective effort ensured Gujarat could not accelerate during the crucial final overs.

Chasing 156, Royal Challengers Bengaluru began confidently and kept the required run rate under control. The foundation of the chase was laid by Virat Kohli, who delivered a match-winning innings of 75 not out from just 42 balls. His knock included nine boundaries and three sixes, and he brought up his half-century in only 25 deliveries.

Venkatesh Iyer provided strong support at the top with a brisk 32, helping Bengaluru gain early momentum. Although Gujarat Titans managed to pick up a few wickets during the chase, RCB never looked under serious pressure. Rashid Khan was the most successful bowler for Gujarat with figures of 2/25.

Bengaluru eventually reached 161/5 in 18 overs, securing victory with two overs remaining. Kohli sealed the win with a six, sparking celebrations among players and fans as RCB lifted their second consecutive IPL trophy.

The triumph makes Royal Challengers Bengaluru one of the few franchises in IPL history to successfully defend the title, further cementing their place among the tournament’s elite teams.