NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru sparked scenes of celebration after sealing a second straight Indian Premier League crown, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. With the win, RCB joined only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as franchises that have successfully defended the IPL title. The Rajat Patidar-led side first held Gujarat Titans to 155/8, then chased it down with five wickets in hand and two overs remaining.
Quick facts
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL final against Gujarat Titans by five wickets.
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, on Sunday.
- RCB restricted Gujarat Titans to 155/8.
- RCB chased the target with five wickets remaining and two overs to spare.
- Rajat Patidar led the side in the final.
- Virat Kohli finished unbeaten on 75 in the title chase.
- RCB became the third franchise to defend the IPL trophy successfully (after CSK and MI).
As the final whistle brought another landmark triumph, Virat Kohli became a focus of attention off the field as well, with wife Anushka Sharma joining the celebrations. The duo were seen dancing on the ground shortly after the winning moment, taking in the joy alongside teammates and family members. For a team that has carried heavy expectations year after year, it was a rare, pure release of pressure.
Kohli also made the occasion personal with a special T-shirt worn during the festivities. The message on the back read, “One felt nice, we did it twice,” a direct nod to RCB’s successful title defence. RCB later shared a video capturing Kohli and Anushka dancing as the celebrations continued.
The former captain was also spotted celebrating with batting coach Dinesh Karthik, as the party carried on late into the night. The scenes reflected a squadwide sense of achievement rather than a one-man show, even with the pressure of delivering another championship.
Kohli’s unbeaten 75 and post-match message
On the biggest stage, Kohli played a key role in steering the chase. He stayed unbeaten on 75 as RCB’s bowlers had already set the platform for a five-wicket victory. His temperament under the lights helped the franchise turn a defendable total into a comfortable finish.
Speaking to the host broadcaster, Kohli said the team had waited a long time, then finally got a group where stepping onto the field didn’t mean one individual had to carry the burden each time. He highlighted the confidence of having teammates ready to win matches, pointing to multiple “Man of the Match” honours spread across the squad.
Kohli also praised RCB’s pace and bowling options, naming Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, and Krunal Pandya as world-class performers the side could rely on. He singled out Krunal’s form as well as the impact of Rasikh Salam Dar, describing the latter as brilliant throughout the season.
Looking back, Kohli said this year’s final felt different from last year. He told a few players that it didn’t carry the same level of pressure, adding that the team already understood the abilities within the group.
He emphasised the basis of RCB’s success: topping the table, earning their place by performance, and sticking to their cricket. Kohli said the message inside the team was straightforward—if they stuck to their plans and executed them, they would be the best side in the competition—explaining that this belief was the reason they had done so well.
On the tournament run, Kohli described how RCB finished first in the league stage and carried that maturity and composure into the night. He called it a clinical performance that was delivered across the entire tournament rather than just in the final.
RCB’s celebrations and Kohli’s words capped another chapter in IPL history, with the franchise successfully defending the title and putting themselves among the elite list of repeat champions.
