Key Highlights
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their crown by beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.
- RCB chased 156 runs in just 18 overs, with Virat Kohli scoring an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls.
- The victory marked RCB’s second straight IPL championship, following their 2025 triumph.
- Virat Kohli collected three on‑field awards (Player of the Match, Most Sixes, Most Fours) and Venkatesh Iyer earned Super Striker.
- Season‑long honors went largely to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who captured the Orange Cap, Purple Cap, MVP, Emerging Player, Most Sixes, Super Striker and Most Fours awards.
Detailed Insights
In the 2026 IPL final, Gujarat Titans elected to bat first, posting a modest 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs. RCB’s captain Rajat Patidar’s decision to field proved decisive, as the chase unfolded at a brisk tempo. Virat Kohli, anchoring the innings, struck 75 runs from 42 deliveries, peppering the scoring board with 10 fours and 5 sixes, and remaining not out as the side reached 161/5 in 18 overs, securing victory with two overs to spare.
Beyond the match‑day heroics, a suite of individual accolades was distributed. Kohli swept three performance‑based awards, while fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was recognised for his consistency with the Green Dot Balls award. The season‑long awards highlighted the dominance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose 776 runs earned him the Orange Cap and whose all‑round contributions (including 72 sixes and a strike‑rate of 237.30) garnered multiple trophies and cash prizes. Punjab Kings were honoured with the Fair Play award, and Eden Gardens received a venue prize for hosting five or more matches.
Key Concepts
- Orange Cap: Awarded to the player who scores the most runs in an IPL season.
- Purple Cap: Award given to the bowler with the highest wicket tally during the tournament.
- Super Striker: Recognises the batsman with the highest strike‑rate among players who have faced a minimum number of balls.
- Green Dot Balls Award: Celebrates the bowler delivering the greatest number of dot balls in a match.
- Fair Play Award: Honors the team that accumulates the most points for sportsmanship and conduct throughout the season.