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On Sunday, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back IPL titles. Rajat Patidar’s men defended their IPL crown from 2025 at the very same place where they won the title last year.
RCB registered a five-wicket win in the IPL 2026 final as they beat the Gujarat Titans at their own home ground in Ahmedabad to make it two trophies in a row.
Following the historic win, tributes and congratulations poured in from all over the world, including from global sporting icons outside cricket.
Virat Kohli brings RCB’s second title home
As with all things RCB, Virat Kohli was once again front and centre of proceedings, at least in the second innings.
Rajat Patidar’s decision to win the toss and bowl first on a surface with seam paid dividends. GT’s prolific opening pair of Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were both dismissed in the powerplay.
From there, GT never found a real way to recover from the early shock. Nishant Sindhu’s surprise promotion did not go to plan, and even Jos Buttler could not rescue the sinking ship.
Arshad Khan’s cameo was cut short, but Washington Sundar made a fifty that took the Titans to 155. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets each, while Rasikh Salam took three.
RCB went after the low target with all their guns blazing. Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli put up 62 runs in just 4-and-a-half over for their opening partnership.
By the end of the powerplay, the required run rate was down to less than 6 runs per over. And even though wickets fell at the other end, Kohli held through with an unbeaten 75 and got the defending champions their second straight IPL title.
“Played Bold” – Shubman Gill congratulates RCB
After the defeat, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill was gracious and congratulated the winners. Gill took to Instagram and posted a message for the Royal Challengers.
“Played bold, well deserved @royalchallengers.bengaluru,” Gill wrote on his Instagram story.
Shubham gill Instagram story for RCB.#RCBvsGT #iplfinal #Shubhamgill pic.twitter.com/C6MzxWnvPe
— ⓈⒶⒽⒾⓁ (@SahilSinghadiya) June 1, 2026
England and Bayern Munich football star Harry Kane joined in on the celebrations as well.
Kane has shared a friendship with Kohli over the past few years and has remained a long-time admirer of both him and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team.
Kane, too, took to his Instagram and uploaded a story congratulating the defending champions on their back-to-back IPL titles.
“What a player and what a knock @virat.kohli! Congrats @royalchallengers.bengaluru for making it back-to-back IPL titles,” Kane wrote.
Football legend Harry Kane’s Instagram story for Virat Kohli 😍
– RCB & KOHLI ARE GLOBAL BRANDS…!!!! pic.twitter.com/5qexle0ptm
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 1, 2026
Faf du Plessis congratulates RCB as well
Former RCB skipper Faf du Plessis took to his X account as well to congratulate the team. du Plessis served as RCB’s captain between 2022 and 2024.
Read his tweet here:
Wow. Called it before the IPL… back to back champions !!!
Congratulations to @imVkohli, @rrjjt_01, Mo Bobat, Andy Flower and the entire @RCBTweets team.
From day one, this looked like the most complete team in the competition. Consistent, clinical and deserving champions.…
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) May 31, 2026
Also Read: Not Virat Kohli! Rajat Patidar names the RCB captain who shaped his leadership journey
