Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL crown by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final of IPL 2026 at the same Ahmedabad venue where they clinched their maiden title a year ago. Fittingly, it was Virat Kohli Who sealed the victory with the game-winning six to cap off another memorable night in franchise history.Kohli once again cemented his status as one of the IPL’s all-time greats with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls. His knock earned him the Player of the Match award, making him the second oldest player to win the award in an IPL final.Oldest Player to Win Player of the Match in IPL Final:
- Anil Kumble (RCB, 2009) – 38 years, 219 days
- Virat Kohli (RCB, 2026) – 37 years, 207 days
- Faf du Plessis (CSK, 2021) – 37 years, 94 days
- Shane Watson (CSK, 2018) – 36 years, 344 days
The award also helped Kohli achieve another important milestone. He overtook Rohit Sharma to become the Indian player with the most player of the match awards in IPL history. After being tied with Rohit on 21 awards, Kohli’s performance in the final took him to 22, level with Chris Gayle in the overall standings.Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL History:
- AB de Villiers – 25
- Chris Gayle – 22
- Virat Kohli – 22
- Rohit Sharma – 21
- MS Dhoni – 1 8
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru maintained their dominance and won back-to-back IPL titles after defeating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.GT made 155/8 in their 20 overs, but RCB’s disciplined bowling attack kept a dangerous batting line-up in check. Despite a few late boundaries, Gujarat were never able to build a substantial partnership and finished with a minimal total. In reply, RCB comfortably chased down the target to reach 161/5 in just 18 overs. Virat Kohli led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, anchoring the innings and ensuring there were no hiccups late on. His knock proved decisive as RCB crossed the finish line with two overs to spare and claimed their second consecutive IPL crown.
