After waiting 18 long years for their inaugural trophy in 2025, RCB took just 12 months to secure their second. By defending their crown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB became only the third team in IPL history to successfully retain the title, joining the elite club of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Smriti Mandhana reacts to RCB’s historic win
Shortly after the final winning runs were scored on Sunday night, Smriti Mandhana shared an official champions poster on her Instagram story. The vibrant graphi featured a roaring squad framing the legendary Virat Kohli, who anchored yesterday’s chase with a flawless, unbeaten 75.
Mandhana capped off her story with four trophy emojis and the ultimate badge of RCB honor: “Ee Sala Cup Namdu”. Having broken the franchise’s initial trophy jinx by winning the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2024, Mandhana’s public salute to the men’s squad highlights a golden era where RCB simply refuses to stop winning.
Virat Kohli’s masterclass guides RCB to second title win
Speaking about the game, GT were restricted to a modest 155/8 in their 20 overs. Washington Sundar top-scored with a fighting 50*. RCB’s seam attack dismantled GT’s heavy batting lineup, with Rasikh Salam taking 3/27, while veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each.
In response, RCB chased down the target effortlessly, reaching 161/5 with 12 balls to spare. Venkatesh Iyer gave the team a blistering start with 32 off 16 balls. Virat Kohli anchored the innings with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls*, smashing his fastest-ever IPL fifty in just 25 balls to seal the championship.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli engages in heartwarming interaction with Vaibhav Suryavanshi after RCB wins IPL 2026 title
Kohli’s massive praise for fans support
Kohli highly appreciated that the team didn’t rely on just one or two individuals. He pointed out how many different Player of the Match awards were spread across the roster throughout the season. Acknowledging the massive wave of red jersey supporters in Ahmedabad, he jokingly said, “I always say we don’t have seven home games, we probably have 14.” He noted that even though they played at GT’s home ground, nearly 90% of the stadium was packed with RCB fans.
“I always say we don’t have seven home games. We probably have 14 because everywhere we go, we have fans cheering the team and, you know, really getting behind us. I mean, GT is probably the home side, but you see 90 percent of the guys are RCB fans. So that’s what we’ve earned over the years and we just continue to make them proud and try to put our best foot forward,” said Kohli at post-match chat.
Also WATCH: RCB legend Virat Kohli reacts after hitting the winning runs in IPL 2026 final against GT
