RCB vs GT Highlights, IPL 2026 Final: Virat Kohli leads Bengaluru to glory RCB wins back-to-back title
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jun 01, 2026, 15:35:00 IST
Comments
Share

RCB vs GT Highlights, IPL 2026 Final: Virat Kohli leads Bengaluru to glory RCB wins back-to-back title

RCB vs GT Live Score, IPL 2026 Final: : A half-century from star batter Virat Kohli helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) make history, successfully defending their Indian Premier League (IPL) title, getting their overall second title, beating a valiant Gujarat Titans by five wickets at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Put to bat first by RCB, GT scored just 155/8 in 20 overs, with Washington Sundar (50* in 37 balls, with five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 in 18 balls, with three fours) being the only one to cross the 20-run mark. Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) took wickets regularly.

RCB started off well with a 62-run stand between Venkatesh Iyer (32 in 16 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Virat Kohli. GT showed some fight, reducing RCB to 132/5 at one point, but Virat (75* in 42 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) guided RCB to a win with two overs left.

This is RCB's second IPL title win and overall their fourth Indian franchise cricket trophy, including two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.
16:00 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Royal Challengers Bengaluru's road to the final
Under Rajat Patidar's leadership, the defending champions finished atop the points table with nine wins from 14 league matches. Their campaign featured notable victories over Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, while they sealed direct qualification for the final with a crushing win over GT in Qualifier 1.

The batting unit has once again been led by Virat Kohli, who has amassed 600 runs in 15 matches. Captain Patidar has also played a crucial role, scoring 486 runs and leading from the front throughout the season.

With the ball, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has spearheaded the attack with 26 wickets, while youngster Rasikh Salam has emerged as one of the revelations of the tournament with 16 wickets from 11 matches.

Gujarat Titans, however, arrive in the final with momentum of their own. After finishing among the top two during the league stage, they bounced back from their Qualifier 1 defeat to beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 and book their place in the title clash.

While RCB carry the confidence of a dominant win over GT earlier in the playoffs, De Villiers' concern highlights the threat posed by Gujarat's bowling unit on their home turf. With two of the season's best teams set to face off, the stage is perfectly set for a thrilling IPL 2026 final.

15:55 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: AB de Villiers' big concern
Royal Challengers Bengaluru may have dominated Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, but former RCB star AB de Villiers believes the defending champions still have plenty to worry about heading into the final.

Despite RCB's commanding 92-run win over Gujarat in Qualifier 1, De Villiers admitted he is nervous about the challenge posed by Shubman Gill's side, particularly their bowling attack.

"So I'm nervous," AB de Villiers said.

"It's GTs got a lot to be confident about playing in Ahmedabad. The way they've played that win the other night, even though the Suryavanshi factor was there, they still came out on top and once again shows you that good bowling attacks tend to come out on top at the end of the day. So I'm worried about that bowling attack in the final, but I think it's going to be edge of the seat stuff and a fantastic final and hopefully a close one. And for all the fans around the world to enjoy," De Villiers said.
15:50 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: SQUAD
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra.

Gujarat Titans:

Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Shahrukh Khan, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Nishant Sindhu, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Manav Suthar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Prithvi Raj Yarra.
15:45 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: RCB start as favourites
Despite Gujarat's impressive home record and balanced squad, RCB enter the final as favourites after their dominant 92-run victory over GT in Qualifier 1.

The defending champions have consistently found ways to win throughout the season and are now one victory away from joining Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as the only teams to successfully defend an IPL title.

Gujarat Titans, though, have repeatedly shown resilience under pressure and possess enough quality to upset the odds. With two of the tournament's strongest teams set to clash, the IPL 2026 final promises to be a fitting conclusion to a memorable season.
15:40 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Siraj fitness remains a concern
One area Gujarat will monitor closely is the fitness of Mohammed Siraj.

The pacer appeared to be struggling with a shoulder issue during Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals and required treatment on the field. Although he completed his spell, GT will be hoping the injury is nothing more than a minor concern ahead of the final.
15:31 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Battle of the bowling attacks
If RCB hold the edge with the bat, Gujarat Titans can make a strong case for possessing the superior bowling attack.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has led Bengaluru's pace unit superbly with 26 wickets, while Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam and Krunal Pandya have provided excellent support. Their ability to strike in different phases of the innings has been crucial to RCB's run to the final.

However, GT's attack is equally formidable. Kagiso Rabada leads the Purple Cap race with 28 wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna and Jason Holder have formed one of the most complete bowling groups in the tournament.

Rabada and Siraj, in particular, have been exceptional at building pressure through dot balls and hard lengths, often denying batters the freedom to attack.
15:30 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Gujarat banking on top-order dominance
Gujarat Titans have adopted a very different route to the final. Their success has been built around the consistency of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler.

While several teams have looked to maximise the powerplay at all costs, GT's top order has preferred a more measured approach, building innings before accelerating later. That strategy has worked brilliantly thanks to the remarkable form of their leading trio.

Gill has accumulated 722 runs this season, Sudharsan has scored 710, while Buttler has contributed more than 500 runs. Their ability to shoulder the batting responsibility has carried Gujarat through several challenging situations.

Playing at home in Ahmedabad, where they have won five of their seven matches this season, will also provide an added boost.
15:30 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: RCB's all-out attacking approach
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have emerged as one of the most explosive batting units in the tournament. Their philosophy has been simple — attack from the outset and force opponents onto the back foot.

Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David and Venkatesh Iyer have all embraced that mindset, helping RCB post imposing totals on a regular basis. Regardless of conditions or opposition, Bengaluru have remained committed to their aggressive brand of cricket, making them one of the most dangerous batting sides in the competition.

A major factor behind their success has been Patidar's calm leadership. Unlike some of RCB's more animated captains of the past, Patidar has brought stability and clarity, allowing experienced stars and younger players to flourish in defined roles.
15:30 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Bengaluru's fearless firepower meets Gujarat's calculated consistency
The stage is set for a blockbuster IPL 2026 final as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans.

While RCB are chasing a historic second successive title, GT will be eyeing their second IPL crown after their triumph in 2022.

The final pits two teams with contrasting philosophies against each other. RCB have thrived on aggression and relentless intent throughout the season, while Gujarat Titans have relied on structure, discipline and consistency to reach the title clash.
15:29 (IST) May 31
RCB vs GT, IPL Final 2026 Live Score: Hello and welcome!
Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of IPL 2026 Final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Head-to-head, RCB hold a slight 5-4 advantage over Gujarat Titans.

In Ahmedabad, however, the rivalry is perfectly balanced at 1-1.

Interestingly, eight of their nine encounters have been won by the team batting second, with RCB's victory in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala being the only exception.
Powered by Virat Kohli’s fastest half‑century in the IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed back‑to‑back IPL title triumphs by completing a clinical chase of 156 and beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in front of their passionate fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Kohli smashed a 25‑ball fifty and remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls – laced with nine fours and three sixes, also his highest score in the IPL playoffs. He also continued his remarkable streak - RCB have not lost a game since 2025 whenever he has scored a fifty.

Supported by Venkatesh Iyer’s brisk 32, Kohli’s masterly innings ensured the defending champions never lost grip of the chase and finished the job with authority to claim successive IPL crowns. Both sides had entered the final eyeing their second IPL title and aiming to join the elite club of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders as multiple‑time champions.

RCB, who won their maiden trophy in Ahmedabad in 2025, have now become only the third team after MI and CSK to successfully defend their title, while extending the streak of Qualifier 1 winners lifting the trophy to nine seasons. The win also means Josh Hazlewood remains unbeaten in white-ball finals while Krunal Pandya has emerged victorious in every IPL final he's played in.

GT, champions in 2022 at the same venue, were undone by disciplined RCB bowling and the scheduling grind of playing their third game at a third venue in six days, having reached Ahmedabad only on Saturday night due to inclement weather.

Washington Sundar’s fighting fifty gave GT a total of 155/8, but Rasikh Salam Dar’s three‑for and early strikes from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept them in check. Kohli’s landmark knock then turned the final into a one‑sided affair, reaffirming his reputation as the man for the big occasion.

With this clinical triumph in Ahmedabad, RCB have not only defended their crown but also cemented their place among the league’s most successful franchises, apart from having the rare honour of holding both WPL and IPL titles at the same time.