Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya brought plenty of joy to the Narendra Modi Stadium celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed an extraordinary double in the IPL, beating Gujarat Titans in the final to claim a second straight title on Sunday. The trophy celebrations featured music, dancing and a triumphant mood as RCB sealed a five-wicket win to lift their second IPL trophy.
Key takeaways
- RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final to secure consecutive championships.
- Krunal Pandya was filmed dancing with the trophy to the beat of dhols before Virat Kohli joined the celebrations.
- Bengaluru became only the third franchise—after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings—to defend their IPL crown.
- RCB extended the run of sides winning Qualifier 1 by lifting the trophy for nine successive seasons.
- Kohli played a match-winning knock of 75* off 42, striking nine fours and three sixes, and was named Player of the Match.
RCB’s celebrations and milestone of defending the title
After the final, the celebrations stayed loud and continuous as RCB’s players soaked in their historic success. In a video shared by the franchise on social media, Krunal Pandya could be seen dancing with the trophy while dhols played in the background. Moments later, Kohli joined in as well, entering the celebration in a t-shirt and shorts while the team enjoyed the win together.
RCB’s achievement is even more remarkable when viewed through franchise history. The side had already won their first IPL title in Ahmedabad in 2025, and now they have defended that crown to move into elite company. Only Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have previously managed to successfully protect an IPL title before—making Bengaluru just the third franchise to do it. The win also carried a broader pattern: Qualifier 1 winners have now gone on to lift the trophy in nine consecutive seasons.
Teams to win consecutive IPL titles
- CSK – 2010 and 2011
- MI – 2019 and 2020
- RCB – 2025 and 2026
Multiple IPL title wins
- 5 – MI
- 5 – CSK
- 3 – KKR
- 2 – RCB
Kohli’s 75* and the chase of 156
With Kohli driving the innings, RCB completed a composed chase of 156 at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium, turning pressure moments into control. Kohli struck a rapid 25-ball fifty and then carried that momentum forward, finishing unbeaten on 75 off 42 deliveries. His innings featured nine boundaries and three maximums, and it stood out as his highest score in an IPL playoff match.
The veteran batter’s consistency has been a defining theme in this title run. RCB have not suffered a defeat in 2025 or thereafter in any match where Kohli has reached a half-century, underlining how often his starts set the tone for the chase. In the final, he delivered exactly when it mattered most, remaining steady and effective from start to finish.
Player of the Match and Kohli’s reaction
Kohli was awarded Player of the Match for his decisive knock in the final. It also positioned him among the oldest players to win the award in an IPL final, listed as: Anil Kumble (RCB, 2009) at 38 years and 219 days; Kohli (RCB, 2026) at 37 years and 207 days; Faf du Plessis (CSK, 2021) at 37 years and 94 days; and Shane Watson (CSK, 2018) at 36 years and 344 days.
Speaking after the match, Kohli described the moment as something he had imagined for a long time. “Well, it’s the stuff that you dream of. I’ve thought of this moment many times, that, you know, once when we win the IPL, I should be standing there hitting the winning runs and tonight it was possible. So yeah, just a dream day for us,” he said.
He also explained how the team’s mindset helped them manage the chase. “And as I mentioned straight after the game as well, we just felt really relaxed coming to the game today and really confident about how we wanted to go about our game and what kind of team we have. And that gives you confidence to just, you know, see any kind of situation through. But yeah, in a chase, I felt really comfortable out there knowing exactly what to do,” Kohli added.
