RCB Clinches Second IPL Title with Victory Over Gujarat Titans
RCB Triumphs in IPL 2026 Final
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 1: Rajat Patidar, the captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed his joy after leading his team to a remarkable second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) title. RCB secured the championship by defeating the Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets during the final match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
With this victory, RCB joins 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 their innings, RCB chased down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.
In his post-match comments, Patidar described the win as 'superb' and attributed the success to effective planning, noting that winning the toss and opting to chase was advantageous for the team.
He commended the bowling unit's consistent performances throughout the season, highlighting key players such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, and Romario Shepherd.
RCB's bowling attack has been pivotal in their triumph during the 2026 IPL season, with Bhuvneshwar finishing with 28 wickets, Rasikh taking 19, and Hazlewood contributing 15 wickets. Krunal Pandya also played a significant role with 14 wickets.
Patidar reflected on his journey as captain, stating that lifting the trophy was a dream come true. He credited his confidence from the previous season, the unwavering support from fans, and valuable guidance from batting coach Dinesh Karthik. He also acknowledged Virat Kohli's constant presence as a source of motivation for the team.
'It feels superb. Coming here brought back many memories from last year. I can't find the words to express my feelings, but I'm very happy. Our planning was clear. Winning the toss made chasing easier. The way Bhuvi, Hazlewood, Rasikh, KP, Suyash, and Shepherd bowled was exceptional throughout the tournament,' Patidar stated during the post-match presentation.
'I never imagined I would captain RCB and lift the trophy. It feels like it was meant to be. We were more confident than last year, and it felt like a home ground with the fans supporting us. My preparation before the tournament was thorough, and I received many helpful insights from DK. Virat is always there for the team. This victory is dedicated to our fans. Ee Sala nu Cup Namdu,' he added.
In the final match, GT batted first and managed to score only 155/8 in their 20 overs. Washington Sundar was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 50 runs off 37 balls, while Nishant Sindhu contributed 20 runs. 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 partnership of 62 runs between Venkatesh Iyer (32 runs off 16 balls) and Virat Kohli. Although GT fought back and reduced RCB to 132/5 at one stage, Virat Kohli's unbeaten 75 runs off 42 balls guided RCB to victory with two overs remaining. This marks RCB's second IPL title and their fourth overall in Indian franchise cricket, including two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.