A year ago, plenty of people wondered whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited title was a once-in-a-generation moment. Twelve months later, they have their answer. By lifting the trophy again, RCB showed that last season’s success was no lucky break. The IPL 2026 winner was the same team that triumphed in 2025, and they earned it the hard way. Anyone looking through the IPL 2026 final highlights from the RCB vs GT showdown will see a side that looked calm, organised and completely in control when it mattered most.
IPL 2026 Final Highlights
RCB vs GT final began with Rajat Patidar winning the toss and choosing to bowl on a surface that offered just enough assistance for the seamers. RCB’s bowlers immediately recognised what was available and adjusted accordingly. Josh Hazlewood set the tone in the opening overs by removing Shubman Gill, whose dismissal was a significant early breakthrough. Not long after, Bhuvneshwar Kumar outfoxed B Sai Sudharsan with a well-directed short ball, leaving Gujarat Titans struggling at 26 for 2. Considering Gill and Sudharsan had both enjoyed outstanding seasons, those wickets changed the shape of the match almost immediately.
2️⃣ massive wickets. 1️⃣ dream start! 💥
What a start for #RCB in Ahmedabad 🔥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/loIvgOBVc4
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Squeezing the Middle Overs
Krunal Pandya abandoned the fancy variations and focused on disciplined lengths, while Rasikh Salam repeatedly hit awkward areas that prevented the batters from settling. Jos Buttler never looked entirely comfortable and eventually fell after a sharp piece of wicketkeeping from Jitesh Sharma. Gujarat went more than six overs without finding a boundary, a remarkable statistic in a modern T20 final. Every time GT appeared ready to launch, another wicket arrived. By the closing overs, Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar and Salam had combined to ensure momentum never truly shifted. Washington Sundar fought admirably with an unbeaten fifty, but Gujarat’s total of 155 for 8 felt slightly below par given the occasion.
How many times have we seen this 🤩
Virat Kohli in his element 🔥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/dE3LEi8NQT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Kohli Takes Charge
If the bowling display was the foundation, Virat Kohli’s innings was the finishing touch. The chase began briskly thanks to Venkatesh Iyer, who blasted 32 from only 16 deliveries despite appearing uncomfortable after an early knock to the leg. Kohli then took centre stage. One of the defining moments among the IPL 2026 final highlights came when he attacked Kagiso Rabada, collecting boundaries that immediately brought the required rate under control. Rather than playing a cautious final innings, Kohli looked intent on settling matters quickly.
It’s all happening in Ahmedabad 👀
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/gczM8fnZMe
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Even when Rashid Khan briefly revived Gujarat’s hopes with two wickets in an over, Kohli remained unfazed. He reached a rapid half-century, his quickest in an IPL playoff match, and expertly guided the chase. His unbeaten 75 ensured RCB vs GT match never became the tense finish some neutrals were hoping for.
Back-to-Back Champions
When Kohli struck the winning runs and RCB reached 161 for 5, the result confirmed more than just another title. The IPL 2026 winner had joined a very exclusive club.
| Gujarat Titans | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 155/8 | 161/5 |
Before this season, only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians had successfully defended an IPL crown. Now RCB sit alongside those giants. What took eighteen years to achieve for the first time required only another twelve months to repeat. The IPL 2026 winner was no longer a sentimental story built around potential and loyal supporters; it was a proven champion capable of sustaining excellence.
A Trophy for the Fans
Perhaps the most moving moment came after the celebrations began. Captain Rajat Patidar dedicated the victory to the supporters who lost their lives during the tragic crowd crush that followed RCB’s maiden title celebrations in Bengaluru last year. Throughout the season, the franchise had taken steps to honour those fans, and Patidar made it clear they remained at the heart of the team’s journey. It added an emotional layer to an already memorable evening.
Name: Royal Challengers Bengaluru ❤️
Titles: 2025 & 2026 🏆
Status: Permanently engraved in #TATAIPL history ✒️#Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/7Xcf2UuhKx— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
For anyone revisiting the RCB vs GT’s IPL 2026 final highlights, one thing stands out above everything else: RCB didn’t merely defend a trophy. They confirmed their place among the IPL’s modern powerhouses, and the IPL 2026 winner did so with authority.
