Virat Kohli delivered a captain's knock with an unbeaten 75 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets to lift their second successive IPL title on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 156, RCB crossed the finish line comfortably, reaching 161/5 in 18 overs. Kohli remained unbeaten till the end and finished the chase in style with a six.
"It's stuff that you dream of. Thought of this moment many times, to win the IPL and stand here. The kind of team you gives you the confidence to see off any kind of situation. Such is the demand of the sport today. You have these young players pushing you hard and asking you to get better. You need to get those 20-30 runs extra. I had to change my mindset, not so much by game, to get those runs. Tha target was to finish top of the table. A lot of people asked who we would prefer to play in the play. But we didn't care of the jersey in front of us. We are a professional group. They probably looked to get me out early but I had the confidence that even if I get out there is enough depth in the side to pull it off. There was total clarity and both of us wanted to strike. We had small targets in mind. Credit to Venkatesh as well. Stepped in and did a beautiful job. I always say that we don't have just 7 home games we have 14. GT are the home team," Virat Kohli said after the win.
Kohli smashes fastest IPL fifty
The star batter looked in complete control throughout the innings, scoring 75 off just 42 balls*.
His knock included:
9 fours
3 sixes
Kohli scored in just 25 balls, his fastest half-century in IPL history. Kohli anchored the chase after an aggressive start and ensured there were no late hiccups for Bengaluru.
Strong Opening Partnership Sets the Tone
RCB got off to a solid start thanks to a 62-run opening stand between:
Virat Kohli – 75*
Venkatesh Iyer – 32
The partnership laid the perfect foundation for the chase, allowing RCB to stay ahead of the required rate from the beginning.
RCB Bowlers Put Gujarat Titans Under Pressure
Before the batters took over, RCB's bowling attack did the damage by restricting Gujarat Titans to 155/8 in 20 overs.
Top Performers with the Ball
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|
| Rasikh Salam Dar | 3/27 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2 wickets |
| Josh Hazlewood | 2 wickets |
The bowlers struck early and never allowed GT's batting unit to settle.
Gujarat Titans Struggle After Early Wickets
Gujarat Titans' innings never gained momentum after losing key batters inside the powerplay. A series of batting-order changes failed to deliver results as the 2022 champions struggled to build partnerships. The Titans relied heavily on their top order, but once the early wickets fell, the innings lost direction.
Washington Sundar Fights Lone Battle
Among the GT batters, Washington Sundar was the standout performer. He remained unbeaten with 50 runs, but lacked support from the other end as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. No other Gujarat batter managed to play a significant innings, leaving the team well short of a competitive total.
RCB Continue Their Dominance
With a clinical performance in both bowling and batting, RCB once again showed why they are one of the most complete teams in the tournament.
A disciplined effort with the ball, followed by Virat Kohli's masterclass with the bat, helped Bengaluru secure a comfortable victory and successfully defend their IPL crown.
Gujarat Titans 155 for 8 in 20 overs (Washington Sundar 50 not out; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/29, Josh Hazlewood 2/37, Rasikh Salam 3/27).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 161/5 in 18 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 32, Virat Kohli 75 not out; Rashid Khan 2/25)
