AHMEDABAD: When the chase demanded a true finisher, Virat Kohli delivered with the kind of authority that has defined his biggest nights. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star struck the decisive runs as RCB beat the Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, successfully defending their title and lifting a second IPL crown. The moment Kohli launched the winning six into the stands, the celebrations that followed quickly became one of the defining pictures of the evening.
Kohli’s finishing touch seals RCB’s second crown
RCB’s chase was kept under tight control, and Kohli ensured it ended at the exact moment it was meant to. He struck a boundary off Arshad Khan on the fifth ball of the 18th over to bring parity to the situation, and then moved the game forward decisively on the very next delivery.
With a full ball sitting up in his arc, Kohli powered it over long-on for a towering six. The strike triggered immediate jubilation across the ground, with players and supporters celebrating as the final tightened into its last heartbeat.
Celebrations at full volume in the Narendra Modi Stadium
As soon as the ball disappeared into the stands, Kohli removed his helmet and turned toward the RCB dugout. Emotions poured out as he gestured to his teammates, then spread his arms to savour the scene unfolding around him. Holding his bat in one hand and his helmet in the other, Kohli applauded the crowd that had transformed the venue—one of the biggest cricket grounds in the world—into a sea of red.
The camera then found Anushka Sharma in the stands. The actor erupted in celebration, clenching both fists and pumping her arms as RCB players rushed onto the field to surround their talisman. Her reaction quickly turned into a viral moment on social media.
How the chase unfolded: momentum, pressure, and response
The title-clinching six capped off another standout innings from Kohli. Chasing 156, he reached his fastest half-century of the IPL career in just 25 deliveries. The knock also placed him among the quickest players to reach fifty in IPL final history.
RCB’s run chase began with a strong platform as Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer combined to set the tone. Their opening partnership helped the franchise register the fastest team fifty ever in an IPL final, giving Bengaluru early momentum.
- Target in the final chase: 156
- Kohli’s half-century: quickest of his IPL career, off 25 balls
- Kohli’s fifty: among the fastest in IPL final history
- RCB team milestone: fastest team fifty in an IPL final, built by Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer
Even with the early push, Gujarat Titans did not let the match drift away comfortably. After the opening stand of 62, the Titans struck back hard, taking four wickets for only 29 runs to briefly reopen the contest and create a pathway for a comeback.
- After the 62-run opening stand, GT staged a rapid fightback
- GT’s surge: 4 wickets for 29 runs
Despite the turbulence, Kohli stayed composed. He anchored the chase while still scoring at a brisk rate, ensuring RCB never lost control of the target. When the end finally arrived, it felt fitting that the biggest icon of Bengaluru completed the job himself—finishing with a boundary, a six, and celebrations that will stay etched in IPL memory for years to come.
