The IPL 2026 final is finally here, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans set to battle for their second IPL title at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. As always, much of the spotlight will be on Virat Kohli, who has once again been RCB’s most dependable performer this season.
Virat Kohli’s Dominance Against GT
Few batters have enjoyed as much success against Gujarat Titans as Virat Kohli. In nine innings against the franchise, the RCB stalwart has amassed 503 runs at an outstanding average of 71.85 and a strike rate of 153.82. His record includes four half-centuries and a memorable century that came during the 2023 season.
| # | Match Date | Venue | Score (Balls) | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 30, 2022 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 58 (53) | GT won by 6 wickets |
| 2 | May 19, 2022 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 73 (54) | RCB won by 8 wickets |
| 3 | May 21, 2023 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 101 (61)* | GT won by 6 wickets |
| 4 | April 28, 2024 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 70 (44)* | RCB won by 9 wickets |
| 5 | May 4, 2024 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 42 (27) | RCB won by 4 wickets |
| 6 | April 2, 2025 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7 (6) | GT won by 8 wickets |
| 7 | April 24, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 81 (44) | RCB won by 7 wickets |
| 8 | April 30, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 28 (13) | GT won by 8 wickets |
| 9 | May 26, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala | 43 (25) | RCB won by 92 runs (Qualifier 1) |
Kohli’s love affair with GT continued in Qualifier 1 earlier this week, where he crossed the 500-run mark against the Titans. During the same innings, he also became the first player in IPL history to score 600 or more runs in four consecutive seasons.Kohli heads into the final as RCB’s leading run-scorer this season, he has already 600 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 164.38. With one final match separating RCB from back-to-back IPL titles, Kohli will be eager to continue his dominance against a team he has consistently punished over the years. For Gujarat Titans, stopping Kohli early could be the key to lifting the trophy.
How do you feel about RCB chances of winning back-to-back titles?
