Virat Kohli Shines in IPL Final, Leading RCB to Victory Over Gujarat Titans

In a gripping IPL final, Virat Kohli's unbeaten 75 runs guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a thrilling victory over Gujarat Titans. Kohli's performance not only secured the win but also highlighted his exceptional record in T20 finals. With RCB chasing 156 runs, Kohli's innings proved crucial as he led the team to their second IPL title. This article delves into the match highlights, Kohli's impressive statistics, and the overall performance of both teams during the final.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 1, 2026, 03:04 IST

RCB Triumphs in IPL Final with Kohli's Stellar Performance

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 1: In a thrilling conclusion to the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the legendary Virat Kohli showcased an impressive display, with Kohli scoring an unbeaten 75 runs against the Gujarat Titans (GT).

During a challenging chase for 156 runs, Kohli's remarkable 42-ball innings included a flurry of boundaries, finishing the match with a four and a six, despite wickets tumbling at the other end.

In his nine appearances in T20 finals, Kohli has amassed 419 runs, boasting an impressive average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 132.59, which includes four half-centuries and a top score of 77. He stands out as the only Indian player to have achieved four fifty-plus scores in T20 finals and holds the highest batting average among players with over 300 runs in these matches.

Concluding the tournament, Kohli ranked as the fourth-highest run-scorer, accumulating 675 runs across 16 innings, averaging 56.25 with a strike rate of 165.84, featuring one century and five fifties, with a personal best of 105 not out.

Batting first, GT managed to score 155 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs, with Washington Sundar (50* off 37 balls, including five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 off 18 balls, with three fours) being the only players to surpass the 20-run mark. RCB's bowlers, Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29), and Josh Hazlewood (2/37), consistently took wickets.

RCB began their innings strongly, with a partnership of 62 runs between Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16 balls, featuring four boundaries and two sixes) and Kohli. Although GT fought back, reducing RCB to 132/5 at one stage, Kohli's unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes, propelled RCB to victory with two overs remaining.

This victory marks RCB's second IPL title and their fourth overall in Indian franchise cricket, which includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) championships.