Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced one of the finest chases of IPL 2026 as they defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a high-scoring thriller at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Asked to chase 206, RCB rode on a vintage masterclass from Virat Kohli, whose explosive 81 off just 44 balls set the tone for a dominant run chase.
The night almost began disastrously for Kohli when he was dropped on the very first ball by Washington Sundar. Gujarat Titans paid heavily for that mistake. Kohli quickly settled in, finding boundaries with ease and punishing anything loose. In the process, he also became the first player in IPL history to hit 800 fours and later completed 300 sixes for a single franchise.
RCB’s chase gathered serious momentum when Devdutt Padikkal joined Kohli. The left-hander played a fearless hand, reaching his fifty in only 19 balls. Together, the pair dismantled Gujarat’s bowling attack and virtually ended the contest with a stunning second-wicket partnership. At 131/1 after 11 overs, RCB had complete control.
Kohli eventually fell for 81, but the damage had already been done. Late contributions from Krunal Pandya and Tim David ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB reached 206/5 in 18.5 overs.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans posted a formidable 205/3, thanks largely to a sensational innings from Sai Sudharsan. The stylish opener smashed 100 off 58 balls, his third IPL century, and once again underlined his reputation as one of the league’s brightest batting stars. He also became the fastest player to 2,000 IPL runs, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous record.
Shubman Gill chipped in with 32, while Jos Buttler added 25 late in the innings. But despite crossing 200, GT’s bowlers had no answers to RCB’s relentless batting assault.
The win lifted Royal Challengers Bengaluru to second place on the IPL 2026 points table, while Gujarat Titans remained seventh. More importantly for RCB, it was a statement victory powered by their biggest icon, Kohli, who once again proved why he remains the heartbeat of the franchise.
