RCB vs GT Final was one of the biggest clashes of IPL 2026 season. RCB vs GT Final was the title battle of the IPL season between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in a high pressure clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The final lived up to the hype as RCB put up a disciplined bowling performance before chasing Gujarat Titans’ target with two overs to spare. Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL title and won their second championship, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets. IPL 5.
RCB vs GT final: Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75, Washington Sundar’s fighting half-century and RCB’s fine bowling effort will be remembered for cricket fans
RCB vs GT Final 2026: Preview of Match
The final of IPL 2026 was played on 31 May 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision paid off handsomely as the RCB bowlers prevented the Gujarat Titans from posting a huge total.
Gujarat Titans scored 155/8 in 20 overs. GT’s best batter was Washington Sundar who scored an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls.
RCB chased down the target with confidence reaching 161/5 in 18 overs. Virat Kohli scored a brilliant unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and guided his side to another IPL title.
IPL RCB vs GT Final Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | 155/8 | 20 | Lost |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 161/5 | 18 | Won by 5 Wickets |
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli – 75 off 42 balls*
Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Final Batting Score
The Gujarat Titans had a strong batting unit coming into the final but the RCB bowling attack made it difficult for their top order to settle.
Gujarat were in a spot of bother during the powerplay when Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan fell early. Losing key wickets hindered the Titans’ ability to sustain the flow.
“RCB bowlers kept bowling short-pitched deliveries and it worked really well. The official IPL match report says that six of 8 GT wickets were to short-length deliveries. IPL
Washington Sundar fights back
For Gujarat Titans, Washington Sundar was the main hope.
He remained not out on 50 off 37 balls that helped GT post 155/8 in their quota of 20 overs. His innings offered some stability to Gujarat after the early wickets fell.
But the lack of notable partnerships meant GT missed out on the kind of score they would have wanted in a final.
A more like 180 score would probably have created much more pressure in the chase.
Royal Challengers RCB Bowling Stats
The bowling performance was one of the biggest reasons for Bengaluru’s victory.
RCB kept the pressure on Gujarat throughout their innings and didn’t allow them to score freely.
Rasikh Dar was impressive with the ball, picking up three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each. By Reuters
Such disciplined bowling did not allow Gujarat to accelerate in middle and death overs.
RCB Bowlers Key
- Rasikh Dar 3 wickets
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 2 wickets
- Josh Hazlewood – 2 wkts
The bowling unit kept the target in range of RCB.
RCB’s Chase in RCB vs GT Final
RCB were chasing 156 and needed a good start.
The Bengaluru side started quickly with 70/2 in the powerplay, putting them in a strong position in the chase. Virat Kohli played the anchor role and attacked whenever the opportunity came. Reuters
Gujarat did get a couple of wickets in the middle overs but RCB stayed in control.
Kohli kept on building the innings and finally delivered one of the most important knocks of the final.
Virat Kohli’s 75* to win the match
Undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the RCB vs GT final was Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75.
Kohli was on 75 off 42 balls, having hit nine fours and three sixes. His innings mixed experience, timing and aggression at just the right moments. BBC,
He also scored a half-century during the innings and batted through the end of the match.
Kohli finished the match with a six to give RCB a memorable ending to the final. Virat Kohli stats in the end BBC
Virat Kohli stats in the end
Virat Kohli 75 off 42 balls*
- 9 times 4
- 3 sixes.
- Unbeaten innings in a match-winning
- Man of the Match
The performance, once again, showed why he’s one of the biggest players in IPL history.
RCB Wins IPL Trophy Once More
RCB made 161/5 in 18 overs and the match was declared over.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title, winning the final by five wickets.
The victory was all the more sweeter with RCB finally ending their wait for an IPL trophy in 2025. Their victory in the title again in 2026, made them only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to successfully defend the IPL championship. IPL
This dramatically changed RCB’s recent history.
For years, the franchise has been one of the most popular teams without an IPL trophy. Now they had back-to-back championships.
Top RCB vs GT Final Moments
There were many memorable moments in the final which will stay in the mind of cricket fans for a long time.
1. Toss won by RCB
Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first.
The decision proved to be a good one as RCB bowlers immediately put pressure on Gujarat’s batting line-up. IPL
2. GT lost early wickets
The dismissal of key batters such as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan put Gujarat on the backfoot.
GT never could form the sort of partnership needed to post a big final total.
3. Washington Sundar’s Fighting Fifty
Washington Sundar played a key role with a 50 off 37 balls.*
Without his contribution, Gujarat’s overall could have been much lower.
4. Kohli’s Brilliant Knock
Once again, Virat Kohli came to the rescue of RCB.
His 75 off 42 balls* totally dominated the chase and earned him the Player of the Match award. IPL
5. RCB finishes the Chase in Style
RCB were 161 for 5 in 18 overs, winning with 12 balls to spare.
Kohli ended the innings with a memorable final shot for a six.
Why RCB Won RCB vs GT Final:
There were a number of reasons behind RCB’s victory.
RCB bowlers target Gujarat’s top order
RCB’s bowlers did not allow the openers to lay a strong foundation and targeted Gujarat’s top order.
Great use of short balls .
Some GT batters were troubled by the short-ball ploy. RCB bowlers kept exploiting this weakness and picked crucial wickets. IPL
Kohli Experience
Virat Kohli’s experience of run chases under pressure came in very handy.
Rather than taking unnecessary risks he controlled the innings and accelerated when necessary.
Enhanced Partnership Development
RCB had enough stability in their chase to keep the required run rate in check.
Even when wickets fell, the team never looked like losing their grip on the match.
Gujarat Titans’ Path to the Final
Gujarat Titans had a stellar IPL 2026 season as they reached their third IPL final in their IPL journey from 2022.
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan were their main performers. Gujarat’s official season review had Gill with 732 runs, Sudharsan with 722 runs, Rabada with 29 wickets and Rashid Khan with 21 wickets. Gujarat Titans (GT)
They ended up losing to RCB in the season but reaching another final was proof of the franchise’s strength and consistency.
RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 Ahead of the Final
Interestingly, RCB and GT had met in Qualifier 1 prior to the final.
RCB had a brilliant show in that match as they piled on a massive 254/5 and beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs.
Gujarat were dismissed for 162 with Rajat Patidar (33 balls; 93)* top-scoring. The result took RCB straight into the final. IPL
Therefore, the final marked another important meeting between the two teams in the IPL 2026 playoffs.
RCB vs GT Final: Effect on IPL History
The result added another important chapter to RCB’s IPL story.
RCB won the first championship in 2025 and defended the championship in 2026.
The back-to-back titles also put the franchise amongst the elite of IPL teams to have been able to defend the championship. IPL.
The loss was a disappointment for Gujarat Titans but their third final in just a few seasons pointed towards their consistency.
Conclusion
The RCB vs GT final was a memorable IPL championship match.
Gujarat Titans fought hard and managed 155/8 with Washington Sundar scoring a fifty not out. But RCB’s bowling was disciplined and held GT to a chaseable total.
Virat Kohli made the distinction within the chase remaining unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls. RCB scored 161/5 in 18 overs and won the ultimate by five wickets. IPL
It was Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s moment progressive IPL title and third by and large, a overwhelming show from a side that had built up itself as one of the forces of the 2026 season.
If you’re a cricket fan, trying to find the total RCB vs GT last story, the coordinate will be recollected for RCB’s restrained bowling, Washington Sundar’s battling fifty and most vitally, Virat Kohli’s brilliant match-winning innings.
This last is however another curiously chapter in present day IPL history, and a culminate illustration of how big-game involvement can make the distinction when the trophy is on the line.
