RCB became the 3rd franchise in IPL history to win two titles on the trot. Rajat Patidar's side overcame Shubman Gill's GT in the IPL 2026 final by five wickets with two overs to spare.
For GT, it was a 2nd loss in three finals across five seasons. For RCB, it was a 2nd win in five final appearances. The star of the final, just like throughout the tournament, was none other than Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli's Flying Kiss
Kohli's unbeaten 75 guided RCB home as they chased down their target of 156 with relative ease. But it was the moment during the celebrations that became the highlight of the day. Kohli's wife Bollywood star Anushka Sharma was cheering from the stands and 'King' responded by blowing her a flying kiss.
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A Match Made in Heaven
Anushka has always stood by Kohli in his tough times and vice versa. This kiss was a testament to the fact that she is his rock always. The duo tied the knot in late 2017 and have been blessed with two children. Kohli retired from T20Is and Tests and now plays only ODIs. He's been around for 18 years and will turn 38 this year.
Virat Kohli Is an IPL Legend
Kohli became the 1st player in IPL history to score 600 runs or more in four consecutive seasons. He has won two Orange Caps and has scored well over 9000 runs in the tournament. Not to mention nine 100s and 68 50s. The 37-year-old holds quite a few IPL records and is far from done. Along with all those records, he also has two titles.
A Campaign to Remember
RCB had a great IPL 2026 campaign in the league stage as they won nine out of 14 games and took top spot thanks to NRR. They crushed GT in Qualifier 1 by 92 runs and entered the final. They faced GT in the final again and the result was the same. After losing in 2009, 2011 and 2016, RCB now have not one but two IPL trophies. From none in 17 seasons to two in two, that is remarkable.
Will RCB Make it Three on the Trot?
Come IPL 2027, RCB have a shot at becoming the 1st franchise to win three titles in-a-row. But that is a long way away. For the moment, they can bask in the glory of retaining their crown. Kohli will next be seen in action in less than a couple of weeks when India face off vs Afghanistan in the ODI series. India's next assignment is a one-off Test vs Afghanistan in less than a week.