NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally tasted IPL glory in 2025 after an 18-season wait, and they have not looked like a team settling for a one-off moment. In IPL 2026, under captain Rajat Patidar, RCB have evolved into the tournament’s steadiest outfit and are now just one win away from successfully defending their crown. With the final set to take place on Sunday in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru will again face Gujarat Titans — a repeat of the knockout encounter that showcased exactly why they are the form team of the season.
RCB’s title defence: calm, complete and built for pressure
For Virat Kohli, the wait finally ended last season as RCB clinched the trophy and brought relief after years of disappointment. Instead of slowing down, the franchise arrived in 2026 with a sharper, steadier identity — more composed, more rounded, and better equipped to deal with the weight of being defending champions. It is the first time in IPL history that RCB have played as reigning titleholders, and they handled the pressure with striking ease.
They finished the league stage at the summit with nine wins from 14 matches, then opened the knockout phase by booking their place in the summit clash through a dominant 92-run win over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.
RCB’s road to the final: momentum swings and big responses
Opening statement and early dominance
RCB began their campaign in Bengaluru with a six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. In an early glimpse of the high-octane style that would define the season, SRH posted 201/9, but Bengaluru chased it down comfortably in the 16th over.
Virat Kohli set the tone in the chase with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, while the aggressive intent from the outset underlined the manner in which RCB planned to play all season.
Southern Derby: batting fireworks at home
Momentum increased further in the clash against Chennai Super Kings. RCB batted first at home and racked up 250/3, with Tim David striking an unbeaten 70 from just 25 deliveries. CSK replied with 207, yet RCB still coasted to a convincing 43-run victory.
First setback: the teenage spark from Rajasthan
RCB’s first stumble came in Guwahati against Rajasthan Royals. Bengaluru made yet another 200-plus total, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — a teenage sensation — delivered an explosive 26-ball 78. That innings helped RR chase the target with two overs remaining.
Recovering quickly with back-to-back wins
That setback did not derail RCB’s rhythm. They followed with consecutive victories over Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.
- At Wankhede Stadium, RCB piled up 240/4 and then limited MI to 225/5 in a high-scoring thriller.
- Against LSG, RCB showed their bowling bite by dismissing the visitors for 146.
These results also strengthened RCB’s net run rate, which later became a deciding factor in the final league standings.
Mid-season tests: setbacks, then ruthless execution
The toughest stretch arrived soon after. RCB suffered their first home loss when Delhi Capitals edged them out in a last-over thriller in Bengaluru. Rather than losing their direction, the defending champions bounced back strongly again.
They chased down another 200-plus target against Gujarat Titans, and in the reverse fixture versus Delhi Capitals they produced one of the season’s most dominant bowling displays. Led by Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional 4/12, RCB restricted DC to only 75 in 16.3 overs and then completed the chase in 6.3 overs, a result that significantly boosted their net run rate.
After that, RCB faced another challenge: back-to-back defeats against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants briefly placed their playoff hopes under pressure. Gujarat Titans dismissed RCB for 155 in Ahmedabad and then chased the total with ease. In a rain-affected encounter against LSG, RCB could not chase down a revised 213-run target.
By that stage, RCB were on six wins from 10 matches and still required at least two more victories to be certain of a playoff spot.
Instead of letting the pressure linger, RCB turned it into fuel. They responded with a hat-trick of victories to secure their place at the top of the table. The sequence included a last-ball win against Mumbai Indians in Raipur to complete a season double, followed by a comfortable win over Kolkata Knight Riders to lock in playoff qualification. They also recorded a 23-run win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, further reinforcing their top spot.
Even a heavy 55-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league match could not stop RCB from finishing first. Their superior net run rate kept them ahead of Gujarat Titans and SRH, despite all three teams ending the league stage on 18 points.
Qualifier 1 and the final outlook: Patidar’s big knock sets the tone
In Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, RCB delivered what looked like their most complete performance of IPL 2026. Skipper Rajat Patidar played a captain’s knock, smashing 93 off just 33 balls, including nine towering sixes, to propel RCB to 254/5.
From there, the bowling unit finished the job with clinical accuracy. Gujarat Titans were bowled out for 162, giving RCB a crushing 92-run victory and ensuring they reached their fifth IPL final.
More than the margin, the performance underlined why RCB have been the standout side this season — fearless batting, disciplined bowling, and leadership that stays composed when the moments matter most. With momentum firmly on their side and confidence growing, Bengaluru head into the IPL 2026 final ready to defend their title.
Top performers from IPL 2026
Top 5 batters
- Virat Kohli: M 15 | R 600 | HS 105 | Ave. 50.00 | SR 164.38 | 100s/50s 1/4
- Rajat Patidar: M 14 | R 486 | HS 93 | Ave. 44.18 | SR 196.76 | 100s/50s 0/5
- Devdutt Padikkal: M 14 | R 463 | HS 61 | Ave. 35.62 | SR 170.84 | 100s/50s 0/3
- Tim David: M 15 | R 281 | HS 70 | Ave. 35.13 | SR 193.79 | 100s/50s 0/1
- Krunal Pandya: M 15 | R 225 | HS 73 | Ave. 45.00 | SR 147.05 | 100s/50s 0/1
Top 5 bowlers
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: M 15 | W 26 | Best 4/23 | Ave. 18.15 | Econ. 8.00
- Rasikh Dar: M 11 | W 16 | Best 4/24 | Ave. 23.62 | Econ. 9.73
- Krunal Pandya: M 15 | W 13 | Best 2/16 | Ave. 30.92 | Econ. 8.64
- Josh Hazlewood: M 12 | W 13 | Best 4/12 | Ave. 35.15 | Econ. 9.62
- Suyash Sharma: M 12 | W 9 | Best 2/47 | Ave. 41.77 | Econ. 9.20
