Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second IPL title as the defending champions cantered to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Kohli struck a 25-ball half-century – his 68th and fastest in the IPL – en route to an unbeaten 75, sharing crucial partnerships of 62 and 41 with Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David as RCB reached their target of 156 with 12 balls to spare.
The foundations for Kohli’s heroics and RCB’s victory were laid by their bowling attack, as Rasikh Salam (3-27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-29) and Josh Hazlewood (2-37) kept GT under constant pressure from the moment they were inserted.
Openers Shubman Gill (10) and Sai Sudharsan (12) were removed inside four overs, while Jos Buttler – the final member of Gujarat Titans’ famed ‘big three’ – was stumped after adding just 19.
Washington Sundar mounted some resistance, his unbeaten 50 off 37 balls helping GT to a respectable 155-8 from their 20 overs.
But it fell well short of a competitive total, despite the efforts of spinner Rashid Khan, who removed Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the ninth over to briefly revive GT’s hopes of derailing RCB’s chase.
However, Kohli – the king of chases – steered the innings home with nine fours and three sixes, as RCB joined Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as only the third team in history to successfully retain the IPL title.
More to follow.
