Royal Challengers Bengaluru capped off a dream season on Sunday by winning back-to-back IPL titles, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The triumph made RCB only the third franchise in IPL history to successfully defend the trophy, joining an elite club featuring Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Soon after the victory, CSK congratulated the champions with a special message on social media. The five-time champions wrote, “Winning back to back is always a special feeling. Congrats @RCBTweets and welcome to the club.”
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The post quickly resonated with fans as it welcomed RCB into one of the tournament’s most exclusive groups. CSK achieved the feat themselves under MS Dhoni, winning consecutive IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. They defeated MI in the 2010 final before successfully defending their crown the following season with a victory over RCB in the summit clash.
For much of their history, RCB carried the tag of underachievers despite boasting some of the biggest names in world cricket. That narrative changed in 2025 when they finally ended their long wait for a maiden IPL title. A year later, they have reinforced their status as one of the league’s powerhouse franchises by retaining the trophy.
The achievement was particularly significant for Virat Kohli, who once again played a key role in RCB’s successful campaign. Having represented the franchise throughout his IPL career, Kohli added another landmark moment to his legacy by helping Bengaluru secure a second successive title.
How RCB beat against Gujarat Titans
RCB delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat the Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final. After winning the toss, skipper Rajat Patidar elected to bowl first, a decision that proved decisive.
The Bengaluru bowlers kept the Titans in check throughout the innings, restricting them to 155 for eight in their 20 overs. Rasikh Salam was the standout performer with three wickets, while experienced pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with two wickets each.
Although Washington Sundar fought back with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, Gujarat struggled to build momentum and fell short of a competitive total.
Chasing 156, RCB got off to a brisk start before Virat Kohli took control of the innings. The veteran batter remained unbeaten on 75 from 42 deliveries and brought up the fastest half-century of his IPL career in just 25 balls. Kohli’s knock ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB chased down the target in 18 overs, sealing the title with 12 balls to spare.
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