The IPL 2026 final is finally here, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans all set to battle it out for their second IPL title at the world’s biggest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. As always, most of the spotlight will be on. Virat KohliJoe has once again been RCB’s most reliable performer this season.
Virat Kohli’s dominance against GT
Few batsmen have achieved as much success as Virat Kohli against the Gujarat Titans. In nine innings against the franchise, the RCB stalwart has scored 503 runs at an impressive average of 71.85 and a strike rate of 153.82. His record includes four fifties and a monumental century which came in the 2023 season.
| # | Date of Match | location | score (balls) | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 April 2022 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 58 (53) | GT won by 6 wickets. |
| 2 | May 19, 2022 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 73 (54) | RCB won by 8 wickets. |
| 3 | May 21, 2023 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 101 (61)* | GT won by 6 wickets. |
| 4 | April 28, 2024 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 70 (44)* | RCB won by 9 wickets. |
| 5 | May 4, 2024 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 42 (27) | RCB won by 4 wickets. |
| 6 | April 2, 2025 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7 (6) | GT won by 8 wickets. |
| 7 | April 24, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 81 (44) | RCB won by 7 wickets. |
| 8 | 30 April 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 28 (13) | GT won by 8 wickets. |
| 9 | May 26, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | 43 (25) | RCB won by 92 runs (Qualifier 1) |
Kohli’s love affair with GT continued in Qualifier 1 earlier this week, where he crossed the 500-run mark against the Titans. During the same innings, he also became the first player in IPL history to score 600 or more runs in four consecutive seasons.Kohli entered the final as RCB’s highest run-scorer this season, having already scored 600 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 164.38. With one final match separating RCB from back-to-back IPL titles, Kohli will be eager to maintain his dominance against a team he has consistently punished over the years. For Gujarat Titans, stopping Kohli early could be the key to lifting the trophy.
