RCB put together back-to-back IPL titles. Here's how CSK congratulated the champions

Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday ended a dream season by winning back-to-back IPL titles, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Triumph made RCB only the third franchise in IPL history to successfully defend the trophyjoining the elite club with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Soon after the win, CSK congratulated the champions with a special message on social media. The five-time champions wrote: “It’s always a special feeling to win back to back. Congratulations @RCBTweets and welcome to the club.”

IPL 2026 Final, RCB vs GT: Highlights | Scorecard

The post quickly resonated with fans as he welcomed RCB into one of the most exclusive groups of the tournament. CSK achieved this themselves under MS Dhoni when they won back-to-back IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. They beat MI in the 2010 final and successfully defended their crown the following season by defeating RCB in the top-flight.

For most of its history, RCB has been branded as unattainable despite boasting some of the biggest names in world cricket. That story changed in 2025 when they finally ended their long wait for their first IPL title. A year later, they cemented their status as one of the league’s strongest franchises by retaining the trophy.

The achievement was particularly significant for Virat Kohli, who once again played a key role in RCB’s successful campaign. Kohli, who has represented the franchise throughout his IPL career, added another momentous moment to his legacy by helping Bengaluru secure a second title in a row.

How RCB beat Gujarat Titans

RCB produced a dominant all-round performance to beat the Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final. After winning the toss, skipper Rajat Patidar chose to bowl first, which proved to be decisive.

The Bengaluru bowlers kept the Titans at bay throughout the innings and restricted them to 155 for eight in their 20 overs. Rasikh Salam was the standout performer with three wickets while veteran pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with two wickets each.

Although Washington Sundar fought back with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, Gujarat struggled to gain momentum and fell short of a competitive total.

Chasing 156, RCB got off to a flying start before Virat Kohli took control of the innings. The veteran batsman remained unbeaten on 75 off 42 deliveries and scored the fastest half-century of his IPL career in just 25 balls. Kohli’s knock ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB chased down the target in 18 overs to seal the title with 12 balls to spare.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

1 Jun 2026 08:21 IST