Virat Kohli struck the winning runs as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets on Sunday to retain the Indian Premier League title and claim their second championship in franchise history.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes, as Bengaluru successfully chased Gujarat’s total of 155 for 8 with 12 balls to spare in the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
The 37-year-old sealed the victory with a six before pointing toward the stands as teammates rushed onto the field to celebrate. He was named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance.
“This is the kind of moment you dream about,” Kohli said after the match. “I had imagined many times what it would be like to hit the winning runs.”
Bengaluru, captained by Rajat Patidar, entered the final after finishing at the top of the 10-team league table and continued the strong form that has defined the team since winning its first IPL title last year.
Chasing a modest target, Bengaluru got off to a fast start through Kohli and opening partner Venkatesh Iyer, who scored 32 off 16 deliveries. The pair added 62 runs for the first wicket before Mohammed Siraj dismissed Iyer.
Gujarat briefly fought back when Rashid Khan claimed two wickets in a single over, removing Patidar and Krunal Pandya and raising hopes of a turnaround. However, Kohli steadied the innings alongside Tim David before guiding Bengaluru to victory with support from Jitesh Sharma.
Earlier, Bengaluru’s bowlers restricted Gujarat Titans to 155 for 8, laying the foundation for the successful chase.
The victory earned Bengaluru prize money of 200 million Indian rupees (about $2.3 million), while runners-up Gujarat Titans received 130 million rupees.
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the total prize pool for the 2026 IPL season exceeded 465 million rupees. Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who finished third and fourth respectively, also received prize money based on their final standings.
The win further cemented Kohli’s legacy as one of the IPL’s most influential players. His No. 18 jersey dominated the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue, which drew an official attendance of more than 90,000 spectators for the final.
