In a thrilling finale at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans convincingly to win the 2026 IPL title.
Virat Kohli, the eternal face of the franchise, fittingly sealed the chase, sparking wild celebrations. This victory marked RCB's second successive IPL crown, completing an extraordinary three-year transformation from perennial underachievers to champions across both men's and women's T20 leagues.
RCB's Long Wait for 16 Years
For nearly two decades, RCB embodied IPL heartbreak. Boasting global superstars like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and later Glenn Maxwell, the team reached the final in 2009, 2011, and 2016 - only to fall short each time. Despite passionate fan support and frequent playoff appearances, silverware
eluded them.
The chant "Ee Sala Cup Namde (This year the cup is ours) became a symbol of hope mixed with inevitable disappointment. From 2008 to 2023, the franchise had zero major titles.
The Spark: WPL Triumph in 2024
The turnaround began in the Women's Premier League. Led by Smriti Mandhana, with explosive contributions from Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine, RCB Women defeated Delhi Capitals in the 2024 final to claim their maiden title. This historic win ignited belief across the entire RCB ecosystem - it was the first time the "RCB name stood atop a major T20 podium.
IPL Breakthrough and Sustained Dominance
Momentum flowed into the men's team. In 2025, RCB finally broke the 18-year drought, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in a nail-biting final. Kohli lifted the trophy he had chased for so long, bringing emotional release to millions of fans.
In early 2026, RCB Women defended their WPL crown, chasing a record 204 against Delhi Capitals in Vadodara for a six-wicket victory. Just months later, the men's team secured back-to-back IPL titles, defeating the Gujarat Titans in May 2026.
Virat Kohli has been a pivotal part of this journey, as the India veteran scored 600+ runs in both title-winning seasons. Apart from that, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been excellent as well, and he ended up with 28 wickets. Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood have been key parts for RCB in the last two seasons.
RCB Wins in Recent Years
- 2008-2023: 0 titles
- 2024-2026: 4 titles (WPL 2024, IPL 2025, WPL 2026, IPL 2026)
