Chasemaster Virat Kohli saved his best for the grand finale of IPL 2026 and concluded the eventful season in a way that has defined his career – deciding the biggest night of the tournament. At the heart of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s latest triumph was Kohli, whose unbeaten 75 off 42 deliveries helped them chase down a middling target comfortably in Ahmedabad on Sunday, sealing back to back IPL titles.
The chase of 156 never drifted too far from control, even when Gujarat Titans hit back. That RCB didn’t feel the pressure was largely thanks to the presence of Kohli.
They had earlier restricted GT to 155 for 8. Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 off 37 and Nishant Sindhu’s 20 were the only notable contributions as RCB produced a fine bowling display.
Rasikh Dar Salam picked up 3 for 27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood kept the lid with two wickets each.
RCB’s chase began with intent.
Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer added 62 runs at a brisk pace, setting the tone early. Even when RCB slipped to 132 for 5, the match never felt out of Kohli’s control.
His timing, shot selection and calm presence ensured the finish came with two overs remaining.
For captain Rajat Patidar, the fourth captain after MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma to win multiple IPL trophies, Kohli’s influence runs far deeper than runs alone.
“If I speak about Virat Kohli, I don’t have words to explain him. He’s used to doing great things. He’s a great player. Everyone knows him. The way he bats. We all have the opportunity to learn from him. On the field, and off the field,” Patidar told the reporters after the match.
“We try to learn from him. Whatever he says. Regarding cricket or off the field. He’s going to the players and talking a lot about cricket. I think that is superb. I always keep watching him and what he does. In the field, off the field. In the nets. One thing I have learned a lot from him is his energy on the net. It is similar to how he is playing the match,” he added.
Across the season, Kohli finished as the fourth highest run scorer with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84. The tally included a century, five half centuries and a best of 105 not out.
