Virat Kohli turned a potential turning point into a match-winning spell of certainty as Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted the IPL 2026 title. During the chase in the final, Kohli was nearly dismissed on a sensational catch attempt by Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill—only for the third umpire to overturn the decision after replays suggested the ball had brushed the turf. The controversial reprieve immediately sparked a tense exchange between Kohli and Gill, and it ultimately proved pivotal in RCB’s five-wicket win with 12 balls remaining.
The near-miss at 15.6 overs
The incident came at 15.6 overs with RCB in a commanding position during their successful chase. Kohli went for an attempted drive off Arshad Khan but struck it poorly enough to invite a high-impact moment in the field. Gill moved sharply and appeared to complete a dramatic diving catch.
However, Kohli’s reaction was swift and firm. He questioned whether the ball had carried cleanly, pushing for clarity on whether the catch had been taken without any contact with the ground. As the Gujarat Titans players began to celebrate, Kohli walked toward Gill and asked whether the dismissal was really legitimate, implying the ball may have brushed the grass during the attempt.
Third umpire overturns the dismissal
With doubt lingering over the catch, the call was referred to the third umpire. Replays indicated the ball was extremely close to the turf, and Gill’s fingers did not appear to be positioned fully underneath it as he completed the attempt. After reviewing multiple angles, third umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal ruled that the ball had made contact with the ground and overturned the decision.
- Kohli immediately looked unconvinced even as the fielders celebrated
- Replays showed the ball very close to the surface
- Gill’s fingers were not fully underneath the ball at the key moment
- Jayaraman Madanagopal confirmed the ball touched the ground and reversed the out call
Kohli and Gill exchange words as the crowd erupts
The reversal triggered contrasting emotions. Kohli punched the air in celebration and was quickly seen exchanging a few words with Gill, who looked visibly stunned that the catch had not stood. The crowd erupted as the RCB batting icon received a crucial lifeline.
What made the moment even more striking was how it echoed an earlier controversy in the first innings. Washington Sundar had also been spared after Jordan Cox’s fine-leg catch was deemed not clean enough by the third umpire—another reminder of how marginal those decisions can be in cricket’s biggest stages.
Kohli’s unbeaten 75 seals the title for RCB
With the reprieve secured, Kohli went on to make it count. He anchored RCB’s chase with a brilliant unbeaten 75 off just 42 balls. His innings featured nine fours and three sixes, and it included a major personal milestone: the fastest fifty of his IPL career, reached in only 25 deliveries.
- Kohli finished unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls
- Strike rate impact backed by 9 fours and 3 sixes
- Fastest IPL fifty of his career—up in 25 balls
RCB ultimately chased down the target with 12 balls to spare, completing a five-wicket victory. The win secured their second consecutive IPL title, with Kohli’s controversial escape at 15.6 overs transforming a close call into the kind of innings that decides finals.
RCB’s bowlers set the platform before the chase
Earlier, RCB’s bowlers had already done the groundwork for the triumph. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck in the powerplay, removing Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Later, Rasikh Salam Dar delivered the key burst, producing figures of 3 for 27 to restrict Gujarat Titans to 155 for 8, despite Washington Sundar fighting hard with a half-century.
- Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took out Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan inside the powerplay
- Rasikh Salam Dar starred with 3 for 27 to keep the chase under control
- Gujarat Titans finished on 155 for 8, with Washington Sundar contributing 50-plus
In the end, Kohli’s reprieve emerged as one of the defining moments of the IPL 2026 final: the batting icon turned an uncertain dismissal into a match-winning innings, and RCB claimed another trophy in style.
