Virat Kohli delivered when it mattered most as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The former India captain stayed unbeaten on 75 to guide RCB’s chase of 156, lifting the franchise to the title in the 19th edition of the league. Kohli also earned Player of the Match for a knock that included his quickest IPL fifty—arriving off just 25 deliveries.
Quick facts
- RCB beat Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
- Chasing 156, Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 75 to seal victory.
- Kohli’s fastest IPL fifty came off 25 balls.
- Kohli was named Player of the Match.
- After the match, Kohli said he always wanted to stand up for his team in the summit clash.
- RCB’s title win came with five wickets in hand and 12 balls to spare.
After the final, Kohli gave a candid look into his mindset, saying he had long imagined being the one to drive the chase home—especially when the stakes are highest. He described how RCB felt relaxed and confident going into the game, confident in the way they planned to play. For Kohli, that clarity helped him handle every twist in the chase, because he knew what he needed to do at each stage.
The 37-year-old also highlighted the sheer timing of the milestone: it took him 19 years since the competition began in 2008 to reach his fastest fifty in IPL cricket. When the point was raised, Kohli smiled at the significance, but quickly shifted back to the bigger theme—how modern T20 has forced batters to evolve. He said young players continuously raise the tempo, pushing established names to sharpen their games and hunt for improvements.
Kohli explained that his approach wasn’t about changing his style so much as adjusting his mindset to find those extra 20–30 runs that can decide matches. He aimed to take on the top bowlers from the opposing side more often, believing that was the most direct route to impact. “Very happy” was how he summed up his contribution, linking it clearly to the team cause rather than personal milestones.
Kohli’s finishing touch
In the chase, Kohli attacked with conviction and struck Kagiso Rabada around the ground. Against the South African pacer, Kohli scored 25 runs off the six balls he faced in the final. Midway through his innings, he began to cramp, but he managed to stay at the crease and see RCB through to the finish.
Kohli also said he was never distracted by who RCB would face in the final. He claimed the team’s preparation was built for everyone, and that their focus was always on playing RCB cricket rather than reacting to an opponent’s identity. He noted that while T20 can look more “slambang” at times, the tournament still demands seasoned players to step up in the biggest moments.
He further shared the team’s priorities leading into the title match. Kohli said the first objective was to finish at the top of the table, which they achieved. When asked about preferences for the final, he explained that they didn’t care about the jersey in front of them—only about their own execution, respect for the opposition, and keeping their plans intact.
Speaking on what experience brings, Kohli said RCB have a mix of mature and seasoned players, and that in difficult situations the “big boys” must deliver. He acknowledged that excitement and explosive T20 can be everywhere, but insisted that it’s the pressure moments where experience shows. In RCB’s case, he felt that was exactly what happened.
The final also featured a decisive early pattern with the toss and bowling call. Rajat Patidar won the toss for RCB and chose to bowl first. Rasikh Salam Dar struck three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each took two as RCB restricted the Gujarat Titans to 155/8.
RCB’s chase then began with intent. Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer put the team’s fifty on the board inside four overs, setting the platform for the run chase. Although RCB lost wickets in a cluster, Kohli ensured they crossed the line comfortably, finishing with five wickets in hand and 12 balls remaining.
Venky in the dressing room
Kohli credited a simple, direct conversation with Venkatesh Iyer in the change room for clarifying the chase plan. He said he told Venkatesh that they needed to “kill the game” in the powerplay, and that the response gave them immediate certainty. Kohli described the partnership as being fully aligned—no doubt about the intent at any stage—because the goal was to attack and keep the pressure on the bowlers.
He added that the plan was to avoid letting the required run rate drift upward beyond the range of seven and a half to eight. With those small targets in mind, Kohli said once the score fell under them, the batting could become freer. He also praised Venkatesh for the way he stepped in at the top, saying the young batter’s intent had been a difference-maker for RCB in the last three or four games leading up to the final.
