Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans, Final Match Summary

The end of the road in 2026 - As with all good things in life, even an IPL season comes to an end every year. After 70 league matches, 3 playoff matches, and then one Grand Final, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru who reign supreme again in 2026. Probably two of the biggest spectator sports in the World - Football and Cricket, have seen the pinnacle of their respective club finals being played on consecutive days, and in both finals, the defending champion has gone on to defend its title, which is a much more difficult feat than it sounds. It was Paris Saint-Germain yesterday in the Champions League Final, and now it's Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Final. With that, we also bid you adieu, and what a ride it has been. The festival of cricket lasted for over two months, but just like that, it will be missed until next year. We hope that you enjoyed our coverage as much as we did, bringing all the action to you. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

The Royal Double!  Just one more thing left to do now. Rajat Patidar steps up to the podium and collects that coveted IPL Trophy, hoisting it high in the air for a second time running. Patidar then joins his teammates, and the RCB players rejoice, before posing for a team photo. The confetti and the fireworks go off, and the players' friends and families can be seen with big smiles on their faces.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rajat Patidar says the feeling is incredible, especially returning to the venue with memories of last year's triumph. At the same time, the focus is on staying present and enjoying the moment, admitting that words are hard to find to describe what the victory means. Speaking about the team's body language, he says the players were clear about their plans from the outset. Having decided to chase if they won the toss, the aim was to remove GT's top three batters inside the Powerplay and put them under pressure. He credits the bowling unit for executing those plans perfectly, praising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament. Patidar admits that captaining RCB to the title was never something he had even dreamt about, saying he never imagined himself lifting the trophy as skipper. He feels it was simply meant to be and is grateful for the opportunity and the outcome. Reflecting on the season, he says there was far less pressure compared to last year, when the team was still finding its feet under a new setup. This season, the squad carried much greater confidence thanks to the way they performed throughout the tournament, with players consistently in a positive frame of mind. He also expresses his appreciation for the incredible support from the fans, noting that wherever RCB played, the crowd turned up in huge numbers and made it feel like a home game. Rajat credits his strong season to the work he put in before the tournament. He spent time analysing his batting and identifying areas for improvement, with a particular focus on facing fast bowlers more effectively. He also highlights the guidance he received during the season from Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli and others within the setup, which played a key role in his development. Speaking about Virat Kohli, he says there is never any need to keep someone like him motivated. Whether on or off the field, Kohli is always there for the team and the players. He particularly praises the way Kohli makes an effort to connect with newcomers, helping them settle in and feel comfortable within the group. The skipper also has a special message for the fans, dedicating the title to the RCB faithful and thanking them for their unwavering support throughout the season, signing off with the chant - 'Ee Sala Nu Cup Namdu.'

Time for the winners' award and RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, will collect the mementos on behalf of the entire team of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The skipper, Rajat Patidar, then collects the winners' cheque.

Let's now hear from the GT skipper - Shubman Gill admits that the Gujarat Titans were probably 20-30 runs short, feeling that a total in the region of 180-190 would have made for a much more competitive contest. He notes that there was a bit of movement on offer for the quicks early on, but Gujarat lost early wickets and were never able to build momentum through the middle overs. Shubman believes that even a score of 150-160 could have been defendable had they picked up a couple of early wickets, but concedes that RCB got away in the Powerplay and feels GT gave away 15-20 runs too many in that phase. Gill feels that they were one of the best bowling sides in the tournament and highlights the resilience the group showed after losing their opening couple of games. According to him, the team kept challenging themselves, worked relentlessly on the finer details and grew stronger as the season progressed. Shubman says they fell short on the night and adds that even if they had gone on to lift the trophy, there would still have been lessons to take away and aspects of their game they could have refined further.

GT's director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, collects the runners-up medals on behalf of Gujarat Titans, after which GT's skipper, Shubman Gill, collects the runners-up cheque and joins the broadcasters for a chat.

Next up, the match officials - the match referee and all four umpires receive their mementos.

The Pitch and ground award  (for hosting 5 or more matches) goes to the Cricket Association of Bengal. The Pitch and ground award (for hosting 4 or fewer matches) goes to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

The MVP of the season - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 IPL season for scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and taking the Rajasthan Royals deep into the playoffs. The youngster is in some elite company, and let's now hear from him. He says it feels good, although jokingly admits he is feeling some pressure while doing the interview. At the same time, he is determined to keep working hard and improve his performance next season. Speaking about his batting approach, he says he always backs his game and if the first ball is in his area, he looks to attack and play positively. He adds that one of his biggest learnings this season has been how to handle pressure games. According to him, a player cannot bat in the same manner in every situation and must adapt to what the team and the match require. He credits the playoff matches for teaching him that lesson. Looking ahead, he says fitness is a major focus. If he wants to play for a long time, he knows he must stay injury-free and plans to work hard on that aspect. On the support he receives from the Rajasthan Royals, he says everyone in the setup backs him. The senior players, coaches and support staff have been very supportive, creating a positive environment where he is constantly learning and improving.

Top of the leaderboards - Kagiso Rabada wins the Purple Cap Award (given for the leading wicket-taker of the season), as he finishes the season with 29 wickets. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wins the Orange Cap Award (given for the leading run-scorer of the season) in his first full season as he topped the batting charts with 776 runs to his name.

The Fairplay Award goes to Punjab Kings.

Emerging Player of the Season - Vaibhav Sooryvanshi wins the accolade for a record-breaking season, in which the 15-year-old scored 776 runs.

POTM - Virat Kohli is the Player of the Match in the Final for his match-winning knock of 75 unbeaten off 42 balls. He also finished with 675 runs throughout the whole season. Kohli says this is the kind of moment you dream about as a cricketer. He reveals that he had imagined scoring the winning runs in an IPL final many times and is delighted to have experienced it for real. Adds that he felt relaxed and confident coming into the game, crediting the quality and character of the group for giving everyone the belief that they could handle any situation thrown at them. Reflecting on his evolution as a T20 batter, Kohli says such is the demand of modern cricket that you cannot stand still. With young players constantly pushing the boundaries and forcing others to adapt, he found himself in an exciting situation where he had to change his mindset and become more proactive against the bowlers. He takes great pride in continuing to improve and evolve his game. Virat says that he is delighted to have contributed to the team's cause and shares that the first objective at the start of the season was to finish in the top two. Once RCB achieved that, he says it did not really matter who they faced in the playoffs because the focus was always on themselves rather than the opposition. Kohli credits the maturity and experience within the squad, believing those qualities invariably come to the fore in high-pressure situations. Admits that he was very confident, even if he had gotten out early, because he trusted the batters to come and felt they had the quality to finish the chase with overs to spare. He is also full of praise for the management, crediting them for the way they assembled the squad and the belief they instilled within the group. Adds that RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, spoke after last season's triumph about ensuring it was not the end of the road and challenging the team to go back-to-back. On the chase, Kohli says the conversation with Venkatesh Iyer was to kill the game in the Powerplay. He reserves special praise for Iyer, saying his intent has been the difference-maker for RCB over the last three or four games. VK also reflects on the extraordinary support RCB receive around the country. He jokes that the team does not really have 7 home games but 14 because of the way fans turn up everywhere and calls their support priceless.

Time for the post-Final presentation ceremony...

Taking a look back - Well, a lot has happened over the last half an hour or so, but it all began much earlier in the day. Rajat Patidar won the toss and had no hesitation in putting the Gujarat Titans into bat. Shubman Gill did mention that he didn't mind batting first, but GT's irreplacable openers both fell inside the first four overs. The likes of Nishant Sindhu and Jos Buttler got starts, but it was Washington Sundar who made a gritty 50, taking GT over the 150-run mark and giving them an outside chance in the game. As for RCB's bowling, their frontline pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam came good yet again as they picked up 7 wickets amongst themselves, with Rasikh standing out with a three-fer. Krunal Pandya also got a wicket and remained economical. The bowlers set things up brilliantly and Virat Kohli and co then got the job done without much of a fuss. There's a lot more to come, plenty of awards to give away, and the trophy lift as well. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony.

Let's now hear from GT's batting coach - Reflecting on the defeat, Matthew Hayden says it is difficult to pinpoint a single reason after such a successful two-month campaign. He feels the early wickets in the Powerplay hurt GT, while also crediting RCB for an outstanding all-round bowling display. He reserves special praise for Krunal Pandya, describing his spell as one of the finest he has seen, especially in a final. Looking ahead, he remains confident about the future of the squad, highlighting the quality of players such as Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. He stresses that the franchise believes in backing its core group and does not make rushed decisions. He also points to the calm environment created by the management, noting that while Ashish Nehra may appear animated on the sidelines, he is remarkably composed behind the scenes. According to him, the strong family culture within the setup is a major reason why GT have become such a consistent force. On his first season as a coach, he admits the experience surpassed his expectations and says watching Virat Kohli play another title-winning knock was a special moment.

Now the stylish southpaw - Devdutt Padikkal says it has been incredible to be part of this RCB group, adding that being surrounded by so much quality naturally lifts your own standards. He feels that has certainly been the case for him this season. Padikkal is full of praise for the bowling unit, describing them as unbelievable. He reveals that he has sat in on a few of their meetings and has been struck by how meticulous the planning has been. More importantly, he says, the bowlers have gone out and executed those plans to perfection time and again. Reflecting on the chase, Devdutt says that there was never any panic in the dressing room with Virat Kohli at the crease. He also heaps praise on Kohli, noting that despite everything he has achieved in the game, he has never stood still. Padikkal says Kohli has continued to evolve his game year after year and that his hunger for success remains as strong as ever. Looking back to the end of last season, Padikkal shares that one of the key conversations within the squad was about the possibility of going back-to-back. Adds that the message was to hold on to the feeling of winning a trophy and use it as motivation to chase that experience all over again.

RCB's stalwart pacers - Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar now chime in. On the titles he's won so far, Hazlewood says that it's right up there. He adds that they were more relaxed, getting the monkey off their backs last year. Mentions that everyone chipped in well, and people stepped up in different situations, and they had like 10 man of the match award winners. Reflecting on the season, he describes it as a fantastic campaign for the team and says sharing the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a special experience. He praises Bhuvneshwar's consistency, noting that the veteran rarely concedes more than 35 runs in a match and calling his performances at this stage of his career remarkable. He adds that having someone of Bhuvneshwar's quality at the other end helps ease the pressure on the rest of the attack, allowing the bowlers to stay relaxed and execute their plans with confidence. On finishing second in the Purple Cap race, Bhuvi says the team's title triumph means far more than any individual accolade and that he would happily trade personal honours for the trophy every time. He adds that, on a personal level, it has been a successful season, with the planning and preparation put in before the tournament paying off on the field. Speaking about his confidence, he explains that taking wickets naturally boosts self-belief, while previous success also helps in handling pressure situations. However, he is quick to credit the entire bowling unit, highlighting the support and depth within the attack. He notes that whenever one bowler had an off day, someone else stepped up, pointing to the collective effort that has been a hallmark of RCB's successful campaign.

RCB's man with the gloves - Jitesh Sharma says it feels incredible to win the title. He reveals that RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, had delivered a simple but powerful message before the season that the team was not here to defend a title, but to win another one. Jitesh feels that the mindset shift made a significant difference to the way the squad approached the campaign. He also credits the management for the environment they have created, saying the players were backed and nurtured throughout the season. According to Jitesh, if players give everything they can to the team, the team, in turn, gives them the confidence and value needed to succeed. Jitesh adds that the squad always knew it had the quality to go all the way, but stresses that they never looked too far ahead. Instead, the focus remained firmly on taking it one game at a time.

The King himself - Speaking after the win, Virat Kohli says the pressure felt different from last year, pointing out that there is a reason RCB finished at the top of the table and reached the final as the best side in the competition. He credits the team's skill set and composure, describing the performance as clinical and emphasising that sticking to their plans has been the key to their success. Reflecting on the campaign, he admits there were a few challenging moments after the mid-season break, including a defeat and a narrow win against the Mumbai Indians. However, he believes that victory over MI sparked the belief within the squad, with subsequent wins helping them build momentum and ultimately finish atop the standings. Kohli also highlights the strength and depth of the squad, noting that players no longer feel they have to carry the team on their own. He praises the world-class bowling attack featuring Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Duffy, while also singling out Krunal Pandya's reliability and Rasikh Salam's outstanding season. According to him, RCB's all-round strength across departments is the foundation of the confidence the team carries into big matches.

First up, it's the five-time champion - Krunal Pandya says every IPL title is special because nothing comes easy in this competition. Reflecting on his journey, he notes that winning five trophies in 11 years of IPL cricket is something he is immensely proud of. Krunal is quick to credit the support staff, praising the work done behind the scenes right from the auction. He says the coaches and management laid the foundation, and once the season got underway, it was up to the players to execute on the field. He is delighted to have gone back-to-back with RCB.

Let's now get a few reactions from RCB's players...

The Titans gave it their all - Gujarat Titans simply didn't have enough runs on the board, and even with the ball, they conceded the first 50 runs injust 3.3 overs. Still, they continued to fight and started to pull things back little by little. Mohammed Siraj got the first wicket and Kagiso Rabada too picked one, but it was Rashid Khan who seemed to be bowling a very solid spell. In the end, all the opposition needed were a few boundaries and GT were handed a tought defeat in the Final.

No stopping the King - Virat Kohli finishes the game unbeaten on 75 off just 42 balls, as he continues to show his prowess, no matter the format. With 156 needed for the win, Venkatesh Iyer gave RCB the start of dreams and even Kohli didn't hold back one bit. Things started to bog down a bit in the middle overs, and RCB lost a few wickets as well, but Kohli stood tall and sealed the deal in iconic fashion.

RCB go back-to-back - The man, the myth, the legend - Virat Kohli seals the second title with a biggie, and the players of Royal Challengers Bengaluru storm the field of play as the fireworks also go off. Royal Challengers Bengaluru write their name in the history books as they become just the third team, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to successfully defend their title. RCB had to wait for 18 seasons to get their hands on the trophy for the first time, but a year later, they have two titles to their name. Spare a thought for Shubman Gill and the Gujarat Titans, who fought tooth and nail in a bid to pick up their second title as well, but fell short in the Final. They will hold their heads up high, as they have had a stellar season and have only been bested by the best team in the IPL over the course of the last two seasons.

SIX! Virat Kohli finishes things off in style! A slower one from Arshad Khan, full and on middle, in the slot as well. Kohli clears his front leg and launches it over the long on fence for a biggie. A maiden IPL title was years in the making, but a second has followed immediately. RCB ARE CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN. Virat points to the stands, and the celebrations begin in the Bengaluru camp. They beat GT by 5 wickets.

FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Arshad Khan bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Virat Kohli backs away, gets on top of the bounce and swats it wide of mid on for a boundary.

Hits the deck hard and on off, angling away, Jitesh Sharma plays it late and steers it past the keeper, towards third man for another run.

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Jitesh Sharma steps across but only manages to dig it out towards mid on.

Back of a length and around off, Virat Kohli guides it away to deep third for a run. RCB are one big hit away from the win now.