Virat Kohli stars as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend IPL title with five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans

Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second IPL title as the defending champions cantered to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

Kohli struck a 25-ball half-century - his 68th and fastest in the IPL - en route to an unbeaten 75, sharing crucial partnerships of 62 and 41 with Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David as RCB reached their target of 156 with 12 balls to spare.

The foundations for Kohli's heroics and RCB's victory were laid by their bowling attack, as Rasikh Salam (3-27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-29) and Josh Hazlewood (2-37) kept GT under constant pressure from the moment they were inserted.

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Openers Shubman Gill (10) and Sai Sudharsan (12) were removed inside four overs, while Jos Buttler - the final member of Gujarat Titans' famed 'big three' - was stumped after adding just 19.

Washington Sundar mounted some resistance, his unbeaten 50 off 37 balls helping GT to a respectable 155-8 from their 20 overs.

But it fell well short of a competitive total, despite the efforts of spinner Rashid Khan, who removed Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the ninth over to briefly revive GT's hopes of derailing RCB's chase.

However, Kohli - the king of chases - steered the innings home with nine fours and three sixes, as RCB joined Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as only the third team in history to successfully retain the IPL title.

Kohli: We knew we are the best team!

Virat Kohli, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket:

"I said to a few of the boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure as last year. We knew what kind of ability we have in the group.

"We topped the table and there's a reason why we got here first. We said if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition.

"There's a reason why we have done well so far. We ended up topping the league stage and the skillsets we have, the maturity and the composure of the guys has shown through again tonight.

"It was a clinical performance right throughout the tournament."

Gill: Early wickets cost GT

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill, speaking in the trophy presentation:

"I think if we could've got to 180, it would have been a good match. We lost a couple of early wickets and then we lost the momentum in the middle, we couldn't really get going.

"But we knew that if we got a couple of early wickets in the powerplay, we are always in the game.

"Had he restricted them to 50 or 55 runs (in the powerplay) we still had a chance, but I think they got away a little bit in the powerplay."

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India tour of England 2026

All times UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports

• First T20I (Wednesday July 1) - Chester-le-Street, Durham (5.30pm)
• Second T20I (Saturday July 4) - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
• Third T20I (Tuesday July 7) - Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
• Fourth T20I (Thursday July 9) - Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
• Fifth T20I (Saturday July 11) - Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
• First ODI (Tuesday July 14) - Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
• Second ODI (Thursday July 16) - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)
• Third ODI (Sunday July 19) - Lord's, London (11am)

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Virat Kohli stars as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend IPL title with five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans