The IPL 2026 final is set, and it carries the weight of a second title for both sides as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad—the biggest cricket ground on the planet. The tournament’s biggest name in the spotlight is once again Virat Kohli, who has been RCB’s most dependable batter in the season’s run-up.
Virat Kohli’s record versus Gujarat Titans
Few batsmen have found a better rhythm against Gujarat Titans than Virat Kohli. Across nine innings versus the franchise, the RCB star has piled up 503 runs, striking at 153.82 while maintaining an average of 71.85. His output has included four half-centuries, highlighted by a standout century during the 2023 campaign.
Kohli’s IPL innings against GT
- 1) April 30, 2022 — Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai: 58 (53). Result: GT won by 6 wickets.
- 2) May 19, 2022 — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: 73 (54). Result: RCB won by 8 wickets.
- 3) May 21, 2023 — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: 101 (61)*. Result: GT won by 6 wickets.
- 4) April 28, 2024 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: 70 (44)*. Result: RCB won by 9 wickets.
- 5) May 4, 2024 — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: 42 (27). Result: RCB won by 4 wickets.
- 6) April 2, 2025 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: 7 (6). Result: GT won by 8 wickets.
- 7) April 24, 2026 — M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: 81 (44). Result: RCB won by 7 wickets.
- 8) April 30, 2026 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: 28 (13). Result: GT won by 8 wickets.
- 9) May 26, 2026 — HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala: 43 (25). Result: RCB won by 92 runs (Qualifier 1).
Kohli’s momentum against Gujarat Titans carried straight into Qualifier 1 earlier this week, when he crossed the 500-run mark versus the Titans. In the same innings, he also etched his name into IPL history by becoming the first player to reach 600 or more runs across four consecutive seasons.
Final preview: RCB’s run-getter vs GT’s plan
Heading into the final, Kohli is RCB’s leading run-scorer of the season. He has already amassed 600 runs in 15 innings, with an average of 50 and a strike rate of 164.38. With only one match standing between RCB and back-to-back IPL titles, Kohli will be keen to keep delivering against an opponent he has repeatedly troubled over the years.
For Gujarat Titans, the challenge is clear: early breakthroughs against Kohli could decide the contest. If they can disrupt his timing and force him to play more deliveries that he can’t control, their chances of lifting the trophy rise sharply.
