King Kohli's Final Masterclass: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Retain IPL Title with Dominant Win Over Gujarat Titans
KIRTIPUR / NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have etched their name into the history books once again, clinching the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 championship title. In a high-stakes, nerve-wracking final showdown, RCB dismantled Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets to lift the coveted trophy for the second consecutive time. Remarkably, the franchise secured both of their back-to-back titles on the exact same ground, cementing their absolute supremacy.
RCB Bowlers Restrict Gujarat Titans to a Modest 155
The foundation of the victory was laid early when RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and made the aggressive call to field first. RCB’s bowling unit vindicated the decision immediately, choking the Gujarat top order.
The dangerous Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply for just 10 runs by Josh Hazlewood, while veteran swing-master Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Sai Sudharsan for 12. Middle-order batters Nishant Sindhu (20 off 18) and Jos Buttler (19 off 23) struggled to break the shackles, severely decelerating the innings. It took a fighting, rescue-act half-century from Washington Sundar, who blasted 50 off 37 balls, to push the Titans to a respectable fighting total of 155.
King Kohli Weathers the Storm, Seals Glory with a Six
Chasing a target of 156, RCB started strongly with an explosive 62-run opening partnership. Venkatesh Iyer, bravely battling through a nagging injury, contributed a crucial 32 runs. However, his dismissal triggered a sudden middle-order collapse. Devdutt Padikkal (1), skipper Rajat Patidar (15), and Krunal Pandya (1) fell in quick succession, piling immense pressure on the defending champions.
But while the wickets crumbled at one end, the legendary Virat Kohli stood like an unyielding fortress at the other. Defying the intense pressure of the final, Kohli anchored the chase magnificently, hammering an unbeaten 75 off just 42 balls, punctuated with 9 boundaries and 3 towering sixes. In a poetic ending to the season, Kohli launched a massive six into the stands to cross the finish line.
Unsurprisingly, Kohli was adjusted the Player of the Match. Speaking at the post-match presentation, a relaxed Kohli remarked, "The pressure wasn't like last year."
The Money Avalanche: 20 Crore for RCB; Vaibhav Suryavanshi Sweeps Awards Night
The historic victory brought a massive financial windfall for the franchise and its players. The champions, RCB, took home the grand cash prize of INR 20 Crore, while the runners-up, Gujarat Titans, were awarded INR 12.5 Crore.
Meanwhile, the night belonged to the young prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who practically swept the individual awards category. Alongside the prestigious Orange Cap, Suryavanshi was crowned the Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker, and the Most Sixes hitter of the season—walking away with a brand new Sierra Car and a consolidated cash bonus of INR 45 Lakhs.
IPL 2026: Complete Awards & Prize Money Distribution List
For your website readers, here is the clean, scannable breakdown of the entire rewards list:
| Award Title | Winner (Player / Team) | Prize Money / Reward |
| Champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | INR 20 Crore |
| Runners-Up | Gujarat Titans (GT) | INR 12.5 Crore |
| Most Valuable Player of the Season | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | INR 15 Lakh |
| Orange Cap (Most Runs) | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | INR 10 Lakh |
| Purple Cap (Most Wickets) | Kagiso Rabada | INR 10 Lakh |
| Emerging Player of the Season | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | INR 10 Lakh |
| Most Dot Balls Bowled | Mohammed Siraj | INR 10 Lakh |
| Super Striker of the Season | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Sierra Car |
| Most Sixes Award | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | INR 10 Lakh |
| Most Fours Award | Sai Sudharsan | INR 10 Lakh |
| Catch of the Season | Manish Pandey | INR 10 Lakh |
| Player of the Final | Virat Kohli | INR 5 Lakh |
| Pitch & Ground Award (1) | Eden Gardens (Kolkata) | INR 50 Lakh |
| Pitch & Ground Award (2) | Dharamshala | INR 25 Lakh |