Tears, cheers and fireworks: King Kohli reigns again as RCB defend IPL crown in Ahmedabad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defended their Indian Premier League title with five-wicket win against Gujarat Titans (GT) in final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Virat Kohli anchored the chase with 75 not out as Royal Challengers Bengaluru proved their class in all departments to clinch a second consecutive Indian Premier League title victory.

The crown stays 'Royal', and so does the legacy. On a memorable night in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru added another golden chapter to their history by lifting their second IPL trophy. For a franchise that has experienced soaring highs and crushing heartbreaks, this triumph felt especially meaningful.

Backed by passionate fans who never stopped believing, RCB delivered when it mattered most. As fireworks lit up the sky and emotions poured out on the field, the victory became more than just a championship win—it was a celebration of perseverance, loyalty, and a dream fulfilled. The crown, once again, belongs to Bengaluru.

Kohli scored 75 not out off 42 balls with nine fours and three sixes as he hit his fastest IPL fifty (25 balls) as RCB chased down an under-par 156-run target, reaching 161 for five in 18 overs.

If the Titans’ innings of 155 for eight was filled with trepidation, Royal Challengers’ 161 for five in 18 overs was full of intent and confidence.

Rasikh Salam Dar claimed 3/27 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets apiece as a top-heavy Titans were restricted to 155 for eight in the first half.

RCB then rode on a 62-run opening stand between Venkatesh Iyer (32) and Kohli, who stood tall in the end with a match-winning six.

"There's no doubt about it, everything is special. It's like having kids, winning IPL titles is also hard to achieve, so everything feels special to me. A lot of credit goes to the support staff: Mo Bobat, Andy Flower, DK, Malolan. Half of the win is in the auction and we did a good job, I'm glad we went back-to-back for the trophies. 18 years of waiting, back-to-back trophies, it's special and the supporters have been behind us. Also to Virat Kohli, waited 18 years and now winning two titles on the back," said RCB's Krunal Pandya after the match.

"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," Kohli said after the match.