Royal Challengers Bengaluru stamped their authority on the IPL 2026 final with a breathtaking chase as Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer powered the side to the quickest collective fifty ever seen in an IPL final on Sunday. Chasing 156 for victory against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB stormed to 50 in just 3.3 overs, demolishing the old benchmark of four overs set by Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 showpiece at the same ground. The rapid start ensured the defending champions were in complete control after their bowlers had earlier limited Gujarat to 155 for 8.
Kohli and Iyer set the tone immediately, opening with intent and taking the fight straight to Gujarat’s bowling attack. Kohli, famed for his No. 18 on the jersey, looked every bit the aggressor in the middle as he clubbed 23 runs from only eight balls, finding boundaries with effortless timing and igniting the stands. At the other end, Venkatesh Iyer matched the tempo without hesitation, smashing 26 off 13 deliveries as the pair tore into the Titans during the powerplay. The momentum was so relentless that by the time Bengaluru crossed the fifty-run mark in the fourth over, the previous fastest mark had already been consigned to history.
That fiery opening stand underlined how determined RCB were to finish the chase after a near-flawless bowling display earlier in the evening. Rajat Patidar’s call to bowl first had immediate returns, with Bengaluru’s pace unit making early inroads into Gujarat’s top order. Josh Hazlewood struck first, removing captain Shubman Gill for 10, and the pressure didn’t ease as Bhuvneshwar Kumar followed up in the very next over by dismissing Sai Sudharsan for 12.
One of the most eye-catching performances came from Rasikh Salam, who proved his impact with figures of 3 for 27 across four overs. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar added two wickets each to keep the Titans under constant strain, while Krunal Pandya provided a vital turning point by stumping Jos Buttler for 19. Despite the damage, Washington Sundar offered the main resistance, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 50 off 37 deliveries to help Gujarat reach a competitive total of 155 for 8.
