Royal Challengers Bengaluru retain IPL crown with five-wicket final win over Gujarat Titans
RCB complete Royal Double in IPL 2026 final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are IPL champions again. After 70 league matches, three playoff games and one Grand Final, RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the 2026 final to defend their title on the same weekend Paris Saint-Germain defended the Champions League.
Captain Rajat Patidar stepped up to the podium to collect the coveted IPL Trophy, hoisting it high for a second successive year. The celebrations spilled into a team huddle, confetti and fireworks as players’ friends and families watched with big smiles.
Patidar on the title
"The feeling is incredible, especially returning to the venue with memories of last year’s triumph," Patidar said. "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."
The skipper said the side was clear on 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.
"I credit the bowling unit for executing those plans perfectly," Patidar said, praising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
Patidar admitted captaining RCB to the title was never something he had dreamt about. "I never imagined myself lifting the trophy as skipper. I feel it was simply meant to be and I am grateful for the opportunity and the outcome."
Reflecting on the season, he noted there was far less pressure compared to last year. The squad carried much greater confidence thanks to consistent performances, with players in a positive frame of mind throughout. He thanked the fans for turning up in huge numbers wherever RCB played, making it feel like a home game, and signed off with the chant "Ee Sala Nu Cup Namdu."
Patidar credited pre-tournament preparation and in-season guidance from Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli and others for his strong season, with a focus on improving against fast bowlers. On Kohli he said: "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 makes an effort to connect with newcomers."
Gujarat Titans reaction
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill felt the side were probably 20-30 runs short. "A total in the region of 180-190 would have made for a much more competitive contest," he said.
Gill noted there was a bit of movement for the quicks early on, but Gujarat lost early wickets and were never able to build momentum through the middle overs. "Even a score of 150-160 could have been defendable had we picked up a couple of early wickets, but RCB got away in the Powerplay and we gave away 15-20 runs too many in that phase."
He described Titans as one of the best bowling sides in the tournament and highlighted the resilience shown after losing the opening couple of games. "We kept challenging ourselves, worked relentlessly on the finer details and grew stronger as the season progressed. We fell short on the night and even if we had lifted the trophy, there would still have been lessons to take away."
Awards night
RCB head coach Andy Flower collected the team mementos and Patidar collected the winners’ cheque. Gujarat’s director of cricket Vikram Solanki collected the runners-up medals before Gill collected the runners-up cheque.
The Pitch and ground award for hosting five or more matches went to the Cricket Association of Bengal, while the award for hosting four or fewer matches went to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.
MVP of the season was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and took Rajasthan Royals deep into the playoffs. "It feels good, although jokingly I am feeling some pressure while doing the interview," he said. "I am determined to keep working hard and improve next season."
Sooryavanshi said he backs his game and looks to attack when the first ball is in his area. He credited the playoff matches for teaching him how to handle pressure games and adapt to what the team requires. Fitness will be a major focus going ahead, and he thanked Rajasthan Royals’ senior players, coaches and support staff for creating a positive learning environment.
Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap with 29 wickets. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the Orange Cap with 776 runs in his first full season. The Fairplay Award went to Punjab Kings and Sooryavanshi also won Emerging Player of the Season for a record-breaking campaign as a 15-year-old.
Player of the Match
Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match in the Final for a match-winning unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, finishing the season with 675 runs.
"This is the kind of moment you dream about as a cricketer," Kohli said. "I had imagined scoring the winning runs in an IPL final many times and I am delighted to have experienced it for real. I felt relaxed and confident coming into the game, crediting the quality and character of the team."