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The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have successfully defended their Indian Premier League title after beating the Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It was Virat Kohli who got his team over the line. With the target within reach the former RCB captain hit a six off Arshad Khan to win his side another title. His jubilant teammates poured out of the dugout as the ball flew into the stands and as the ground cheered.

Thousands of RCB fans cheered wildly and celebrated as they saw their team lift the IPL trophy for a second successive season. Fans had traveled from every corner of the nation to support their beloved team and he did not disappoint the millions watching on from all over the world.

Kohli continued his incredible form with the bat and, if nothing else, this match served as a reminder to all of his ability to get a team over the line when he is needed most. He was unbeaten on 75 off just 42 balls.

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The chase for the target was set at 156 but despite losing five wickets RCB seemed in complete control of the game throughout with Kohli orchestrating proceedings. The Gujarat Titans simply did not have the bowlers to cope with RCB's star batter who controlled the run rate throughout.

The former India captain began aggressively and attacked the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj in the opening overs of the powerplay. Instead of playing himself in he set off straight away smashing his way to 35 runs off his first 12 deliveries.

Kohli smashed his half century in just 25 balls a new personal IPL best for the former Indian captain and even more special given it came in a final. He then struggled slightly with cramp as he tried to race back for a second but after some treatment carried on with no problems. His final score of 75 was the best he has ever managed in an IPL final and the first time he's been not out to lead his team to a title.

As firecrackers lit up the Ahmedabad skyline, loud chants of "Kohli, Kohli" reverberated around the arena as RCB began their title-winning celebrations.

Prior to Kohli's dominant performance with the bat, it was the RCB bowlers who set up their impressive victory.

Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar the RCB bowlers executed a masterful plan involving the short ball, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dhar all hitting hard lengths that prevented the Gujarat Titans batters from settling.

The tactic proved very successful and numerous key GT batters such as Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder and Rashid Khan all perished attempting to score off their attacking bowlers. Hazlewood and Kumar chipped away at the top of the order while Rasikh was always on hand to end potential partnerships. Krunal Pandya kept it tight during the middle overs. In the end 155 was never likely to be enough to win a high pressure final.

The win completed yet another incredible season for RCB and meant that only the third team in IPL history would have ever won back to-back titles.