Royal Challengers Bengaluru retain the IPL title as Kohli seals win
RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad, with Virat Kohli unbeaten on 75, to win back-to-back Indian Premier League titles.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the 2026 Indian Premier League on 31 May 2026, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It is the franchise's second title in a row.
Gujarat made 155/8, with Washington Sundar scoring 50. RCB replied with 161/5 in 18 overs. Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and was named Player of the Match, and Rasikh Salam took three wickets.
What it means for the title tally
RCB became the third franchise to win back-to-back IPL titles, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. With titles in 2025 and 2026 they now have two. As of 3 October 2026, after 19 seasons, the tally stands at Chennai Super Kings 5, Mumbai Indians 5, Kolkata Knight Riders 3, Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2, and Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans 1 each.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar dedicated the win to the victims of the 2025 crowd crush in Bengaluru. Earlier in 2026, the RCB women's team won the Women's Premier League, making RCB the first franchise to win both the IPL and the WPL in the same year.
The 2026 season
The 19th edition ran from 28 March to 31 May 2026 and comprised 74 matches. Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the Orange Cap with 776 runs, was named MVP and set a single-season record of 72 sixes. Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat took the most wickets, 29. Sooryavanshi was also named Player of the Tournament.
Prize money was Rs 20 crore for RCB and Rs 12.5 crore for Gujarat. At the auction on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Cameron Green went to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.2 crore, the most expensive overseas purchase.
The 2027 season, the 20th, is expected in March to May 2027, but dates have not been officially confirmed.
