IPL 2026: RCB Triumphs Again, Minister Applauds League's Impact
Celebrating IPL 2026 Success
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] - June 1: Ashish Shelar, a minister from Maharashtra, expressed his admiration for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, noting its remarkable achievements both on the field and beyond. He emphasized the league's role in providing opportunities for players, creating numerous jobs, and generating substantial returns for franchise owners.
Shelar also praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL governing body for orchestrating a tournament that captivated cricket fans worldwide. He extended his congratulations to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for their impressive title-winning performance.
“This IPL season, like its predecessors, was filled with excitement. Our players had the chance to display their skills, and the league fostered significant job creation. Franchise owners saw a return on their investments, while cricket lovers around the globe enjoyed a top-tier league. I sincerely thank the BCCI and the IPL Committee for their efforts. Congratulations to RCB for their remarkable victory,” Shelar stated during a press conference.
RCB clinched their second consecutive IPL title by defeating the Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the final held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
With this victory, RCB joined the ranks of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as the only teams to successfully defend their IPL title. After limiting GT to a score of 155/8 in the first innings, RCB chased down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.
GT, batting first, managed to score only 155 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Washington Sundar (50* off 37 balls, including five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 off 18 balls, with three fours) were the only players to surpass the 20-run mark.
RCB's bowlers, including Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29), and Josh Hazlewood (2/37), consistently took wickets. RCB began their innings strongly with a 62-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Virat Kohli. Although GT fought back, reducing RCB to 132/5 at one stage, Virat (75* off 42 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) led RCB to victory with two overs remaining.
This marks RCB's second IPL title and their fourth overall in Indian franchise cricket, which includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles.