NEW DELHI: Star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Krunal Pandya were seen dancing to the beats of dhols after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured back-to-back Indian Premier League titles on Sunday. RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final to lift their second IPL trophy.
Celebrations in Full Swing
The celebrations were in full swing after the historic triumph. In a video shared by RCB on social media, Krunal was seen dancing with the trophy to the sound of dhols. He was later joined by Kohli, who arrived in a t-shirt and shorts and joined the celebrations as the team soaked in the success. Watch the video to see the jubilant scenes.
RCB Joins Elite Company
RCB, who won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad in 2025, have now become only the third franchise after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to successfully defend their crown. They also extended the streak of Qualifier 1 winners going on to lift the trophy to nine consecutive seasons.
Teams to Win Consecutive IPL Titles
- CSK – 2010 and 2011
- MI – 2019 and 2020
- RCB – 2025 and 2026
Multiple IPL Title Wins
- 5 – MI
- 5 – CSK
- 3 – KKR
- 2 – RCB
Kohli's Heroics Power RCB to Victory
Powered by Kohli's fastest IPL half-century, RCB completed a clinical chase of 156 at a packed Narendra Modi Stadium to secure back-to-back titles. Kohli smashed a 25-ball fifty and remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 deliveries, an innings studded with nine fours and three sixes. It was also his highest score in an IPL playoff match. The veteran batter continued a remarkable streak as well — RCB have not lost a match since 2025 whenever Kohli has scored a half-century.
Kohli was adjudged Player of the Match in the final.
Oldest Players to Win Player of the Match in an IPL Final
- 38y 219d – Anil Kumble (RCB, 2009)
- 37y 207d – Virat Kohli (RCB, 2026)
- 37y 94d – Faf du Plessis (CSK, 2021)
- 36y 344d – Shane Watson (CSK, 2018)
Kohli's Reaction
"Well, it’s the stuff that you dream of. I’ve thought of this moment many times, that, you know, once when we win the IPL, I should be standing there hitting the winning runs and tonight it was possible. So yeah, just a dream day for us," Kohli said after the match.
"And as I mentioned straight after the game as well, we just felt really relaxed coming to the game today and really confident about how we wanted to go about our game and what kind of team we have. And that gives you confidence to just, you know, see any kind of situation through. But yeah, in a chase, I felt really comfortable out there knowing exactly what to do," he said.
Stay updated with the IPL 2026 Final between RCB and GT on Times of India. Follow live match updates, the latest IPL news, full IPL schedule, and the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
About the Author
TOI Sports Desk: At TOI Sports Desk, reporters work around the clock to bring you comprehensive updates from the world of sports. Expect nuanced match reports, previews, and reviews, along with statistics-based technical analysis, the latest social media trends, and expert insights across cricket, football, tennis, badminton, hockey, motorsports, wrestling, boxing, shooting, athletics, and more.
