बेंगलुरु vs गुजरात, फाइनल, नरेंद्र मोदी स्टेडियम, अहमदाबाद, 31 May 2026 - कमेंट्री

Short of a length and on off, Jitesh Sharma runs it down to deep third for a single. Arshad has gone down to the ground and looks like he is suffering from cramps here.

Back of a length and around off, Virat Kohli guides it away to deep third for a run. RCB are one big hit away from the win now.

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Jitesh Sharma steps across but only manages to dig it out towards mid on.

Hits the deck hard and on off, angling away, Jitesh Sharma plays it late and steers it past the keeper, towards third man for another run.

FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Arshad Khan bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Virat Kohli backs away, gets on top of the bounce and swats it wide of mid on for a boundary. 

SIX! Virat Kohli finishes things off in style! A slower one from Arshad Khan, full and on middle, in the slot as well. Kohli clears his front leg and launches it over the long on fence for a biggie. A maiden IPL title was years in the making, but a second has followed immediately. RCB ARE CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN. Virat points to the stands, and the celebrations begin in the Bengaluru camp. They beat GT by 5 wickets.

Edgy! Rashid serves the googly, a bit too short, on middle and leg. Jitesh hops back to turn it away. He closes the bat face early and the ball pops up off a leading edge but drops well in front of cover.

Bowled flatter and the length stays short, on middle. Jitesh punches it off the back foot down to long on for one.

Floated up with a bit of air given, fuller and at the sticks. Kohli checks his drive as he plays it towards long on and crosses over.

Dragged back, on middle, Jitesh Sharma punches it down the pitch. Rashid Khan dives to his right to make a one-handed stop.

Tossed up, full and around off, Jitesh Sharma drills it towards long off for another run.

Slows it up, shortish and on off, Virat Kohli looks to cut it away but chops it down to the off side.

Good length and on off, Virat Kohli opens the bat face and steers it on the bounce to backward point.

FOUR! Put away with ease! Arshad serves the short ball but the line is a little too straight, around leg. Kohli stays inside the line and rolls his wrists to help the pull towards deep fine leg for a boundary. RCB require 13 more runs.

Touch fuller and around off, Virat Kohli drives it away to sweeper cover for a single.

Short of a length and on off, Jitesh Sharma stays back and keeps it out to the off side.

Hard length and on off, Jitesh Sharma pats it with a straight bat towards mid off for a run.

Kohli survives! Arshad Khan serves this fuller and around off, Virat Kohli looks to loft it down the ground but miscues it off the bottom half of the bat. It flies towards mid on, where Shubman Gill dives forward and grabs it with both hands. He is claiming the catch, but Kohli is not going anywhere. The third umpire is called upon to check the catch. The replay shows that when Gill's hands hit the ground, the ball just pops out, and some part of the ball is in contact with the ground. It is Not Out, and Kohli throws a punch in delight. He wants to stay till the end.

Starts with a full ball, aimed at the sticks. Kohli knocks it down towards long on and gets to the other end.

Hits the back of a length, in line with the off stump. Jitesh angles it towards backward point. A lot of noise around the bat from the GT fielders.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Prasidh goes fuller, just outside the off stump. Jitesh stays deep in the crease but shuffles a bit to get closer to the line of the ball. He extends his hands and plays a punchy drive to the right of cover for a four. 19 more needed for RCB.

Drags the length back now, on off, Jitesh steers it from the crease to backward point.

Attacking the front pad with a good-length delivery. Sharma walks inside the line and flicks it a bit uppishly through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Dug in short at 143 kph, over off. Jitesh arches back to play the upper cut but is beaten for pace.

Across the off stump, on a good length. David stays back and dabs it to the right of point for a single. Kohli jogs to the other end to complete the run.

Hits the back of a length, on off. Kohli tucks it wide of mid-wicket and sets off before being sent back by David.

Fuller in length, on off. Kohli presents the full face of the bat and eases it wide of mid off. The long on fielder gets around and tidies up. Just a single.

FOUR! In the gap! Arshad digs it in short, outside off, just above the shoulder. David hops and gets his hands high to slap it between cover and mid off for a boundary. 24 more needed for RCB.

Leaving the right-hander and this is fuller in length. Tim slices it with an open bat face but picks out the man at backward point.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! The Titans get the review right and Tim David departs with RCB needing 24 more runs. Arshad gets the ball to move away off the deck, on a good length, on off and middle. David does not move his feet at all and brings his bat out in front for the block. The ball decks away to go past the outside edge before going through to the keeper, Jos Buttler. Was there an edge? GT think so but the appeal gets turned down. There was a noise, and Shubman Gill takes the review. A spike on the UltraEdge when the ball is next to the bat and the on-field decision will have to be overturned. RCB are now 5 down for 132.

In the air...but out of reach! Leg-break by Rashid, on a good length, on off. The ball stops on Kohli, who tries to push it down the ground. He plays it uppishly and despite an acrobatic leap to his left by Rashid, the ball evades him. Single taken.

Tossed up, on off, David blocks it off.

SIX! Just over! Rashid drops it fractionally short, on off. David picks the length early and smacks it down the ground with a horizontal bat. Not from the middle of the bat but enough to clear the leaping Kagiso Rabada on the long on fence. 33 more needed for RCB.

Flatter and shorter, on middle. Tim punches it to long on and crosses over.

Around leg, on a good length. Virat clips it through square leg and limps to the other end.

Dishes out the googly, a bit shorter, on middle. David rocks back and heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

No run there. Arshad hits a hard length and bowls it on off. Kohli plays it late, nudging it down in front of point and looks for the single but David rightly sends him back.

FOUR! Just wide of the fielder and Virat Kohli notches up a blistering FIFTY in the Final. Back of a length, angled across off. Kohli smacks the pull, uppishly and wide to the left of Jason Holder at mid-wicket for a boundary. According to the on-air commentators, this is Kohli's fastest IPL half-century, what a time to do it as well.

Fuller and pushed well wide of the off stump. Kohli really reaches for it and gets an outside edge down to the right of deep third for a single..

Angled well across the off stump again, David reaches out and slices it down to deep point for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Kohli waits back and plays it late, dabbing it down to backward point.

Excellent running! Length again, in and around off, Kohli drops it with soft hands in front of cover-point and scampers through for one. 40 needed now off 48 balls.

Excellent fielding in the deep, but Tim David survives. Tossed up by Rashid, full and outside off. Virat Kohli plays a lovely cover drive but Sai Sudharsan springs to his left and gets a hand on it. The batters look for two but David is a bit sluggish to get back. Arshad Khan picks up the ball and fires in a direct hit at the bowler's end. The replays show that David did well to slide his bat inside the crease in time.

Flatter one on middle, on a dragged length. Virat rocks back and stabs it through mid-wicket for a run.

Oh, nearly! Tossed-up googly, lands it just outside off. Tim David backs away to go over covers but is nearly beaten in the flight. David manages to eke out an inside edge.

Another fine effort in the deep from Arshad. Floated up outside off, David reaches out and hits it through covers. Arshad Khan at sweeper cover, runs a long way to his right and dives in to save a couple of runs. 51 needed now off 56 balls.

Top delivery! Flatter googly on off, darts back in sharply. David backs away and jams it into the off side.

FOUR! Streaky but invaluable for Tim David. Fullish length, floated outside off. David makes room to cut again, but slices it well wide of the first slip fielder and the ball rolls away into the fence. 47 needed off 54 balls.

FOUR! Not what you want as a bowling team at this moment. On a good length, sliding down leg. Kohli walks inside the line and clips it towards deep fine leg for a boundary.

Length again, around off, Kohli looks to tap and run by placing the ball gently into the off side, but David sends him back.

Shorter in length and over middle, Kohli drags the pull flat towards deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Back of a length, Holder extracts some extra bounce as well. David hangs back and forces it down to mid off.

FOUR! That will ease the nerves for David. Dug in halfway down the pitch and outside off, no real bite on it. David hangs back, reaches out and slaps the pull wide of long on for a boundary. 100 UP FOR RCB.

A steepler from Holder this time. Banged in short over off, near head height and David lets it go.

Tossed up, full and around off. This is driven along the turf to long off for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kagiso Rabada steps close to the ropes, but does well to just jam the brakes, and Rashid Khan gets a wicket in his very first over. Nicely tossed up, on middle and this one dips a bit as well. Rajat Patidar goes down on one knee and looks to slog it away. Patidar gets it high on the bat and the ball sails down to long on, where the catch is taken. RCB are now 89/3.

Full again, on middle and leg, pushed back past the bowler and down to long on for a run.

Dragged short on leg, Kohli swivels back and hoicks the pull just to the right of deep backward square leg for a run.

OUT! LBW! Would you believe it? Rashid Khan pulls GT back into the game in a matter of just 4 balls. That's pretty plumb and Virat Kohli doesn't even bother telling Krunal Pandya to take the review. Flatter one from Rashid, bowled full and on off. Pandya lunges across to drag the sweep shot fine but plays all around it. The ball catches him on the crouched back thigh, and up goes the finger. From 89/2, RCB are now 91/4, still needing 65 for the win.

Probing length from Rashid, in and around off. Tim David gets a big stride in and blocks it off.

On a length and on off, Virat Kohli flicks it through square leg for a single.

Back of a length and on middle and off, Rajat Patidar tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a run.

Touch fuller and around off, Virat Kohli drives it on the up but cannot find the gap, hitting it straight to short cover.

Pace off, good length and on middle, Virat Kohli works it towards the mid on region and calls for the run. Kagiso Rabada from mid-wicket runs towards the ball but slides over it. Kohli thinks about the second, but long on is quick to get to the ball.

Short of a length and outside off, Rajat Patidar cuts it on the bounce to point.

FOUR! Gets it away! Into the surface, on middle, sits up nicely for the batter. Rajat Patidar gets on top of it, swivels and swats it wide of long on for a boundary. RCB need 68 runs in 72 balls.

SIX! Skipper's turn now! Short of a length and on middle, not short enough to trouble the batter. Rajat Patidar gets inside the line of it and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Fuller one and on middle, Rajat Patidar tucks it away to short mid-wicket.

Hard length and on middle, angling in, Rajat Patidar pats it down to long on for a single.

Much fuller and on middle and leg, Virat Kohli drives it to long on for a run.

Uppish but safe! Back of a length and on the leg stump line, Rajat Patidar stays back and flicks it aerially but wide of short mid-wicket and to the right of long on for a brace.

WIDE! Bangs in a bouncer, on off, but a bit too high for the batter, Rajat Patidar lets it go. Called a wide.

Dug into the surface, on middle, Rajat Patidar clips it to short mid-wicket. Siraj finishes his spell in the final with figures of 4-0-36-1.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wow, gutsy move from Shubman Gill to stick with Kagiso Rabada, and that brings in another wicket for the Titans. Kagiso Rabada bowls this fuller and keeps it away from the batter, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal backs away a long way and just throws his bat at it to reach out. He ends up slicing it off the outer half of the bat towards deep third, where Arshad Khan quickly runs to his left, crouches low and takes a fantastic catch near his face. That is also wicket number 29 for Rabada, which secures the Purple Cap for him.

Beaten! Good-length delivery, around off, holds its line, Rajat Patidar goes for the big booming drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fuller and on off, shaping in, Rajat Patidar gets forward and blocks it out.

Bangs in a bouncer now, on middle and leg, Rajat Patidar ducks under it.

On a length and on middle, Rajat Patidar flicks it through square leg for a single.

SIX! Virat Kohli is not holding back! Kagiso Rabada fires in a quick bumper, on middle and leg. Kohli takes it on and attempts the pull shot, but the ball flies off the top edge over the fine leg fence for a biggie. RCB are 70/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Follows the batter, lands this back of a length and angling into the leg side. Virat Kohli pulls it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Goes all the way! Mohammed Siraj bangs in a quick bumper, on middle and leg, Venkatesh Iyer looks to heave it away but gets hurried a bit. It flies off the top edge towards the deep backward square leg fence. Just 94 needed now for RCB.

OUT! TAKEN! A much-needed breakthrough for the Titans. Mohammed Siraj hits the deck hard this time, on middle, skids through a bit. Venkatesh Iyer stays deep inside his crease to flat-bat it down the ground but gets rushed again. He fails to get the elevation and hits it tamely towards mid on, where Kagiso Rabada takes a simple catch. A bit of a send-off from Siraj, but Venkatesh has done his job. RCB are 62/1, chasing 156 runs.

Change of pace, full and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal knocks it back to the bowler.

Short of a length and on off, Devdutt Padikkal stays back and dabs it down in front of point.

On a length and on middle and off, Devdutt Padikkal runs it down to deep third for a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Too full, too straight by Rabada, on the pads. Kohli is not going to miss out as he clips it down to the deep fine fence.

FOUR! Played squarer this time but the result is the same. A bit shorter than the previous ball and on middle. Kohli gets his hands through and smears it through square leg for four more.

SIX! Quality hit! And just like that, the 50 is up for RCB in 3.3 overs. Bowled at 155 kph by Rabada, angled in at the sticks, on a good length. Kohli snaps his wrists and whips it with ease over the deep mid-wicket fence.

FOUR! Beats the fielder in the deep. Kohli is rampant, and the crowd is absolutely loving it. Dug in slightly short by Kagiso, on middle. Kohli gets it at a good height and pulls it hard and wide of deep square leg. Nishant Sindhu slides to his left in the deep but in vain.

Into the surface, following the batter, Kohli nails the pull but picks out the man at deep square leg. Just a single.

Struck on the body. A proper short ball to the left-hander, over middle. Venkatesh moves towards the leg side and shapes up for the pull but catches it on the elbow. He is not aware of where the ball is but luckily for him, it lands away from the off stump. Rabada goes for 19 runs in his 2nd over and GT are left scratching their heads. RCB need 101 runs from 96 balls.

FOUR! Kohli is up and running. Not that bad a ball as it initially looked. Siraj serves it on a good length, on middle. Virat makes use of the angle and glances it fine of the man at deep fine leg for a four to open his account.

An ugly hoick and Kohli is beaten. Siraj hits the hard length, over middle. Virat shimmies down the track and has a heave across the line but the ball goes over his blade.

FOUR! Put away! Fractionally short, over middle. Kohli gets on top of the bounce and plays the pull wide of mid-wicket. Not quite from the middle of the bat but the ball has enough legs to reach the fence.

A bit of nip back into the right-hander and it kicks up a bit too. Kohli advances and taps this good-length ball in front of mid on for a single.

FOUR! Not quite short enough to trouble the tall Iyer, and he climbs onto it. Siraj bangs it in short, across off. It comes at shoulder height and Venkatesh stands tall to pull it over mid-wicket for a four.

Bowled on a shortish length, over middle. Venkatesh Iyer backs away and swings hard for the pull but misses.

FOUR! Nicely done! Rabada begins with a full and this is pushed across the left-hander. Venkatesh backs away and opens up the off side. A lovely extension of the arms and he carves it over point for the first four of the chase.

Fine riposte from Rabada! He bashes the hard length and gets the ball to climb onto the batter. Iyer gets on his toes to play the late dab but is beaten for pace.

SIX! Picked up beautifully. Rabada pitches it up, on the pads. Iyer moves a bit towards the leg side and picks it up off the pads. He sends it beyond the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.

FOUR! Hit hard and Shubman Gill at mid off stood no chance. This is on a length by Rabada, in line with the off stump. Venkatesh makes room again and spanks it with a horizontal bat, well wide of mid off to his left. Iyer pulls up after playing the shot but he is doing a fine job of proving RCB with a quick start.

A big swing and a miss! KG hits the deck hard and gets a good lift off the deck, outside off. Venkatesh Iyer leaves nothing in the tank as he swings but can only connect with thin air.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count. Rabada taken down for 18 runs in his first over. Kagiso lands it on a short of a good length. Iyer gives the bowler the charge and throws his hands at the ball. It goes behind off an outside edge and over the head of the leaping Jos Buttler. RCB require 133 runs in 108 balls.

Iyer and RCB are away straight away. Siraj attacks the stumps with a good-length ball. A hint of shape back into the left-hander. Venkatesh punches it on the up back towards Siraj, who leaps and gets a hand on it. It dribbles down to the right of mid on for a single.

Leg bye! Slanting in at the pads, Kohli leans across to play the tickle but fails to lay any bat on it. The ball drops beside the strip on the leg side off the pads and the batters cross over.

My word, that was not far away from crashing into the stumps. Siraj pushes the length up. Iyer walks across the stumps towards the off side for the scoop but fails to connect and the ball swings just past the leg pole.

Bowled on a length, around middle and leg. Iyer swings hard to go big on the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and Siraj walks up and chirps at the batter.

Siraj hurls it on middle and leg and keeps it on a length. A bit of a late swing back into the batter. Iyer pushes at the ball with hard hands. It races down to deep fine leg off an inside edge, where Arshad Khan is a bit square and he cannot prevent the batters from coming back for the second. Siraj is not happy one bit and feels Khan should have done better there. To be fair to Arshad, the second run was always on.

Curving back into the pads, Venkatesh clips this full ball through square leg and hobbles to the other end.