RCB Beat Gujarat Titans by 5 Wickets to Win IPL 2026 — Kohli Stars With 75

RCB ARE CHAMPIONS — AGAIN. On June 1, 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 final to lift back-to-back IPL trophies — and at the heart of it all, once again, was Virat Kohli.

RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first, and that call paid off almost immediately. Gujarat's top order was ripped apart inside the powerplay, with Shubman Gill falling in the 3rd over and Sai Sudharsan following soon after. From there, the Titans were always playing catch-up.

Only Washington Sundar (50 off 37, five fours) really got going, with Nishant Sindhu chipping in 20 and Jos Buttler grinding out a difficult 19 off 23. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals — Buttler in the 13th, Arshad Khan in the 15th, Rahul Tewatia in the 17th — and Gujarat were eventually bowled out for 155/8 in their 20 overs.

RCB's bowling unit was outstanding. Rasikh Salam Dar led the way with 3/27, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar — chasing the Purple Cap right to the final ball — were relentless with the new ball and at the death.

Chasing 156, Kohli took over. Opening the innings, he played a knock befitting the occasion: 75 off 42 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes, the bulk of his runs flowing through the leg side. He was named Player of the Match — the best batter on either side, in a final he refused to let slip.

He had useful support along the way. Venkatesh Iyer smashed 32 off 16 with 4 fours and 2 sixes to keep the tempo up, and Tim David added a quick 24 off 17 in the middle overs. Rashid Khan fought back with two wickets, but it was never going to be enough — RCB cruised home to 161/5 and a 5-wicket win.

Both finalists had finished the league stage level on 18 points (9 wins, 5 losses), so it was fitting that the top two met for the trophy. RCB now become the first side in recent memory to win back-to-back IPL titles, and conversation is already turning to whether they can make it three in a row in 2027.

For cricket communities everywhere — including right here in Belleville and the Quinte region — this was a night to celebrate. RCB's story has always been about belief, loyalty and Kohli's red-jersey passion, and that's exactly the spirit the Quinte Cricket Club and the Quinte Sports Association try to bring to the ground every weekend.

"Watching Virat lift that trophy again is special," said organisers at the Quinte Cricket Club and Quinte Sports Association. "That's the kind of energy we want at our own ground — the love for the game, the loyalty, the never-say-die attitude. It's a brilliant moment for cricket fans in our community."

With the Quinte Cricket Cup 2026 just around the corner — June 6–7 at Harmony Cricket Ground in Belleville — expect plenty of red jerseys, "Kohli" chants and a buzz in the air as local teams take inspiration from the champions. Ee Sala Cup Namde — and the next one too.

The Quinte Cricket Club and the Quinte Sports Association are proud to be supported by our community partners: Belleville General Hospital Foundation, Belleville Police Services, Belleville Senators, Belleville Chamber of Commerce, and the Glassi Time Podcast.