2 min readUpdated: May 31, 2026 11:53 PM IST
Virat Kohli was the star of the show yet again in a chase when his 75-run unbeaten innings helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru navigate a tricky chase and defeat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets to clinch back to back Indian Premier League titles at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
“I said to a few of the boys that there doesn’t seem to be the same kind of pressure that was there last year. Composure of the guys shone through tonight. After the break we had a couple of losses but we wanted to finish top. The win against MI gave us a lot of confidence. Just to have a group of guys where you don’t feel that you are the only guy who has step up for the team is amazing,” Kohli said after the match.
Kohli anchored the chase as Royal Challengers Bengaluru proved their class in all departments to clinch a second consecutive title victory, with a 5-wicket win over Gujarat Titans.
Kohli scored 75 not out off 42 balls with nine fours and three sixes as he hit his fastest IPL fifty (25 balls) as RCB chased down an under-par 156-run target, reaching 161 for five in 18 overs.
Rasikh Salam Dar claimed 3/27 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets apiece as a top-heavy Titans were restricted to 155 for eight in the first half.
RCB then rode on a 62-run opening stand between Venkatesh Iyer (32) and Kohli, who stood tall in the end with a match-winning six.
Earlier, the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a superb all-round bowling performance to restrict Gujarat Titans to 155/8.
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A top-heavy GT lost their in-form batters inside the powerplay and questionable rejigging of the batting line-up saw the 2022 winners losing the plot completely.
Washington Sundar top-scored with for the Titans with 50 not out but none of their batters could impose themselves on the game.
