RCB vs GT Ball by Ball Commentary

155/8(20.0 ov)

RCB

161/5(18.0 ov)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets

Commentary

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

7:13 PM IST The end of the road in 2026 - As with all good things in life, even an IPL season comes to an end every year. After 70 league matches, 3 playoff matches, and then one Grand Final, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru who reign supreme again in 2026. Probably two of the biggest spectator sports in the World - Football and Cricket, have seen the pinnacle of their respective club finals being played on consecutive days, and in both finals, the defending champion has gone on to defend its title, which is a much more difficult feat than it sounds. It was Paris Saint-Germain yesterday in the Champions League Final, and now it's Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Final. With that, we also bid you adieu, and what a ride it has been. The festival of cricket lasted for over two months, but just like that, it will be missed until next year. We hope that you enjoyed our coverage as much as we did, bringing all the action to you. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

7:30 PM IST The Royal Double! Just one more thing left to do now. Rajat Patidar steps up to the podium and collects that coveted IPL Trophy, hoisting it high in the air for a second time running. Patidar then joins his teammates, and the RCB players rejoice, before posing for a team photo. The confetti and the fireworks go off, and the players' friends and families can be seen with big smiles on their faces.

7:18 PM IST The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rajat Patidar says the feeling is incredible, especially returning to the venue with memories of last year's triumph. At the same time, the focus is on staying present and enjoying the moment, admitting that words are hard to find to describe what the victory means. Speaking about the team's body language, he says the players were clear about their plans from the outset. Having decided to chase if they won the toss, the aim was to remove GT's top three batters inside the Powerplay and put them under pressure. He credits the bowling unit for executing those plans perfectly, praising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament. Patidar admits that captaining RCB to the title was never something he had even dreamt about, saying he never imagined himself lifting the trophy as skipper. He feels it was simply meant to be and is grateful for the opportunity and the outcome. Reflecting on the season, he says there was far less pressure compared to last year, when the team was still finding its feet under a new setup. This season, the squad carried much greater confidence thanks to the way they performed throughout the tournament, with players consistently in a positive frame of mind. He also expresses his appreciation for the incredible support from the fans, noting that wherever RCB played, the crowd turned up in huge numbers and made it feel like a home game. Rajat credits his strong season to the work he put in before the tournament. He spent time analysing his batting and identifying areas for improvement, with a particular focus on facing fast bowlers more effectively. He also highlights the guidance he received during the season from Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli and others within the setup, which played a key role in his development. Speaking about Virat Kohli, he says there is never any need to keep someone like him motivated. Whether on or off the field, Kohli is always there for the team and the players. He particularly praises the way Kohli makes an effort to connect with newcomers, helping them settle in and feel comfortable within the group. The skipper also has a special message for the fans, dedicating the title to the RCB faithful and thanking them for their unwavering support throughout the season, signing off with the chant - 'Ee Sala Nu Cup Namdu.'

7:04 PM IST Time for the winners' award and RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, will collect the mementos on behalf of the entire team of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The skipper, Rajat Patidar, then collects the winners' cheque.

7:04 PM IST Let's now hear from the GT skipper - Shubman Gill admits that the Gujarat Titans were probably 20-30 runs short, feeling that a total in the region of 180-190 would have made for a much more competitive contest. He notes that there was a bit of movement on offer for the quicks early on, but Gujarat lost early wickets and were never able to build momentum through the middle overs. Shubman believes that even a score of 150-160 could have been defendable had they picked up a couple of early wickets, but concedes that RCB got away in the Powerplay and feels GT gave away 15-20 runs too many in that phase. Gill feels that they were one of the best bowling sides in the tournament and highlights the resilience the group showed after losing their opening couple of games. According to him, the team kept challenging themselves, worked relentlessly on the finer details and grew stronger as the season progressed. Shubman says they fell short on the night and adds that even if they had gone on to lift the trophy, there would still have been lessons to take away and aspects of their game they could have refined further.

7:02 PM IST GT's director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, collects the runners-up medals on behalf of Gujarat Titans, after which GT's skipper, Shubman Gill, collects the runners-up cheque and joins the broadcasters for a chat.

6:54 PM IST Next up, the match officials - the match referee and all four umpires receive their mementos.

6:54 PM IST The Pitch and ground award (for hosting 5 or more matches) goes to the Cricket Association of Bengal. The Pitch and ground award (for hosting 4 or fewer matches) goes to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

6:56 PM IST The MVP of the season - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 IPL season for scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and taking the Rajasthan Royals deep into the playoffs. The youngster is in some elite company, and let's now hear from him. He says it feels good, although jokingly admits he is feeling some pressure while doing the interview. At the same time, he is determined to keep working hard and improve his performance next season. Speaking about his batting approach, he says he always backs his game and if the first ball is in his area, he looks to attack and play positively. He adds that one of his biggest learnings this season has been how to handle pressure games. According to him, a player cannot bat in the same manner in every situation and must adapt to what the team and the match require. He credits the playoff matches for teaching him that lesson. Looking ahead, he says fitness is a major focus. If he wants to play for a long time, he knows he must stay injury-free and plans to work hard on that aspect. On the support he receives from the Rajasthan Royals, he says everyone in the setup backs him. The senior players, coaches and support staff have been very supportive, creating a positive environment where he is constantly learning and improving.

6:49 PM IST Top of the leaderboards - Kagiso Rabada wins the Purple Cap Award (given for the leading wicket-taker of the season), as he finishes the season with 29 wickets. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wins the Orange Cap Award (given for the leading run-scorer of the season) in his first full season as he topped the batting charts with 776 runs to his name.

6:51 PM IST The Fairplay Award goes to Punjab Kings.

6:43 PM IST Emerging Player of the Season - Vaibhav Sooryvanshi wins the accolade for a record-breaking season, in which the 15-year-old scored 776 runs.

6:45 PM IST POTM - Virat Kohli is the Player of the Match in the Final for his match-winning knock of 75 unbeaten off 42 balls. He also finished with 675 runs throughout the whole season. Kohli says this is the kind of moment you dream about as a cricketer. He reveals that he had imagined scoring the winning runs in an IPL final many times and is delighted to have experienced it for real. Adds that he felt relaxed and confident coming into the game, crediting the quality and character of the group for giving everyone the belief that they could handle any situation thrown at them. Reflecting on his evolution as a T20 batter, Kohli says such is the demand of modern cricket that you cannot stand still. With young players constantly pushing the boundaries and forcing others to adapt, he found himself in an exciting situation where he had to change his mindset and become more proactive against the bowlers. He takes great pride in continuing to improve and evolve his game. Virat says that he is delighted to have contributed to the team's cause and shares that the first objective at the start of the season was to finish in the top two. Once RCB achieved that, he says it did not really matter who they faced in the playoffs because the focus was always on themselves rather than the opposition. Kohli credits the maturity and experience within the squad, believing those qualities invariably come to the fore in high-pressure situations. Admits that he was very confident, even if he had gotten out early, because he trusted the batters to come and felt they had the quality to finish the chase with overs to spare. He is also full of praise for the management, crediting them for the way they assembled the squad and the belief they instilled within the group. Adds that RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, spoke after last season's triumph about ensuring it was not the end of the road and challenging the team to go back-to-back. On the chase, Kohli says the conversation with Venkatesh Iyer was to kill the game in the Powerplay. He reserves special praise for Iyer, saying his intent has been the difference-maker for RCB over the last three or four games. VK also reflects on the extraordinary support RCB receive around the country. He jokes that the team does not really have 7 home games but 14 because of the way fans turn up everywhere and calls their support priceless.

6:32 PM IST Time for the post-Final presentation ceremony...

6:22 PM IST Taking a look back - Well, a lot has happened over the last half an hour or so, but it all began much earlier in the day. Rajat Patidar won the toss and had no hesitation in putting the Gujarat Titans into bat. Shubman Gill did mention that he didn't mind batting first, but GT's irreplacable openers both fell inside the first four overs. The likes of Nishant Sindhu and Jos Buttler got starts, but it was Washington Sundar who made a gritty 50, taking GT over the 150-run mark and giving them an outside chance in the game. As for RCB's bowling, their frontline pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam came good yet again as they picked up 7 wickets amongst themselves, with Rasikh standing out with a three-fer. Krunal Pandya also got a wicket and remained economical. The bowlers set things up brilliantly and Virat Kohli and co then got the job done without much of a fuss. There's a lot more to come, plenty of awards to give away, and the trophy lift as well. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony.

6:24 PM IST Let's now hear from GT's batting coach - Reflecting on the defeat, Matthew Hayden says it is difficult to pinpoint a single reason after such a successful two-month campaign. He feels the early wickets in the Powerplay hurt GT, while also crediting RCB for an outstanding all-round bowling display. He reserves special praise for Krunal Pandya, describing his spell as one of the finest he has seen, especially in a final. Looking ahead, he remains confident about the future of the squad, highlighting the quality of players such as Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. He stresses that the franchise believes in backing its core group and does not make rushed decisions. He also points to the calm environment created by the management, noting that while Ashish Nehra may appear animated on the sidelines, he is remarkably composed behind the scenes. According to him, the strong family culture within the setup is a major reason why GT have become such a consistent force. On his first season as a coach, he admits the experience surpassed his expectations and says watching Virat Kohli play another title-winning knock was a special moment.

6:15 PM IST Now the stylish southpaw - Devdutt Padikkal says it has been incredible to be part of this RCB group, adding that being surrounded by so much quality naturally lifts your own standards. He feels that has certainly been the case for him this season. Padikkal is full of praise for the bowling unit, describing them as unbelievable. He reveals that he has sat in on a few of their meetings and has been struck by how meticulous the planning has been. More importantly, he says, the bowlers have gone out and executed those plans to perfection time and again. Reflecting on the chase, Devdutt says that there was never any panic in the dressing room with Virat Kohli at the crease. He also heaps praise on Kohli, noting that despite everything he has achieved in the game, he has never stood still. Padikkal says Kohli has continued to evolve his game year after year and that his hunger for success remains as strong as ever. Looking back to the end of last season, Padikkal shares that one of the key conversations within the squad was about the possibility of going back-to-back. Adds that the message was to hold on to the feeling of winning a trophy and use it as motivation to chase that experience all over again.

6:23 PM IST RCB's stalwart pacers - Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar now chime in. On the titles he's won so far, Hazlewood says that it's right up there. He adds that they were more relaxed, getting the monkey off their backs last year. Mentions that everyone chipped in well, and people stepped up in different situations, and they had like 10 man of the match award winners. Reflecting on the season, he describes it as a fantastic campaign for the team and says sharing the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a special experience. He praises Bhuvneshwar's consistency, noting that the veteran rarely concedes more than 35 runs in a match and calling his performances at this stage of his career remarkable. He adds that having someone of Bhuvneshwar's quality at the other end helps ease the pressure on the rest of the attack, allowing the bowlers to stay relaxed and execute their plans with confidence. On finishing second in the Purple Cap race, Bhuvi says the team's title triumph means far more than any individual accolade and that he would happily trade personal honours for the trophy every time. He adds that, on a personal level, it has been a successful season, with the planning and preparation put in before the tournament paying off on the field. Speaking about his confidence, he explains that taking wickets naturally boosts self-belief, while previous success also helps in handling pressure situations. However, he is quick to credit the entire bowling unit, highlighting the support and depth within the attack. He notes that whenever one bowler had an off day, someone else stepped up, pointing to the collective effort that has been a hallmark of RCB's successful campaign.

6:10 PM IST RCB's man with the gloves - Jitesh Sharma says it feels incredible to win the title. He reveals that RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, had delivered a simple but powerful message before the season that the team was not here to defend a title, but to win another one. Jitesh feels that the mindset shift made a significant difference to the way the squad approached the campaign. He also credits the management for the environment they have created, saying the players were backed and nurtured throughout the season. According to Jitesh, if players give everything they can to the team, the team, in turn, gives them the confidence and value needed to succeed. Jitesh adds that the squad always knew it had the quality to go all the way, but stresses that they never looked too far ahead. Instead, the focus remained firmly on taking it one game at a time.

6:17 PM IST The King himself - Speaking after the win, Virat Kohli says the pressure felt different from last year, pointing out that there is a reason RCB finished at the top of the table and reached the final as the best side in the competition. He credits the team's skill set and composure, describing the performance as clinical and emphasising that sticking to their plans has been the key to their success. Reflecting on the campaign, he admits there were a few challenging moments after the mid-season break, including a defeat and a narrow win against the Mumbai Indians. However, he believes that victory over MI sparked the belief within the squad, with subsequent wins helping them build momentum and ultimately finish atop the standings. Kohli also highlights the strength and depth of the squad, noting that players no longer feel they have to carry the team on their own. He praises the world-class bowling attack featuring Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Duffy, while also singling out Krunal Pandya's reliability and Rasikh Salam's outstanding season. According to him, RCB's all-round strength across departments is the foundation of the confidence the team carries into big matches.

6:07 PM IST First up, it's the five-time champion - Krunal Pandya says every IPL title is special because nothing comes easy in this competition. Reflecting on his journey, he notes that winning five trophies in 11 years of IPL cricket is something he is immensely proud of. Krunal is quick to credit the support staff, praising the work done behind the scenes right from the auction. He says the coaches and management laid the foundation, and once the season got underway, it was up to the players to execute on the field. He is delighted to have gone back-to-back with RCB.

6:06 PM IST Let's now get a few reactions from RCB's players...

6:08 PM IST The Titans gave it their all - Gujarat Titans simply didn't have enough runs on the board, and even with the ball, they conceded the first 50 runs injust 3.3 overs. Still, they continued to fight and started to pull things back little by little. Mohammed Siraj got the first wicket and Kagiso Rabada too picked one, but it was Rashid Khan who seemed to be bowling a very solid spell. In the end, all the opposition needed were a few boundaries and GT were handed a tought defeat in the Final.

6:16 PM IST No stopping the King - Virat Kohli finishes the game unbeaten on 75 off just 42 balls, as he continues to show his prowess, no matter the format. With 156 needed for the win, Venkatesh Iyer gave RCB the start of dreams and even Kohli didn't hold back one bit. Things started to bog down a bit in the middle overs, and RCB lost a few wickets as well, but Kohli stood tall and sealed the deal in iconic fashion.

6:15 PM IST RCB go back-to-back - The man, the myth, the legend - Virat Kohli seals the second title with a biggie, and the players of Royal Challengers Bengaluru storm the field of play as the fireworks also go off. Royal Challengers Bengaluru write their name in the history books as they become just the third team, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to successfully defend their title. RCB had to wait for 18 seasons to get their hands on the trophy for the first time, but a year later, they have two titles to their name. Spare a thought for Shubman Gill and the Gujarat Titans, who fought tooth and nail in a bid to pick up their second title as well, but fell short in the Final. They will hold their heads up high, as they have had a stellar season and have only been bested by the best team in the IPL over the course of the last two seasons.

End of over 1813 runs

RCB: 161/5CRR: 8.94

Ball

Virat Kohli:75 (42)

Jitesh Sharma:11 (14)

Arshad Khan:4-0-32-1

17.6

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 6 runs

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.

17.5

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

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.

17.4

Arshad Khan to Jitesh Sharma, 1 run

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.

17.3

Arshad Khan to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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

17.2

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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.

150 Runs for the teamRoyal Challengers Bengaluru

Runs: 150/5

5:53 PM IST Oh, dear! Arshad Khan has gone down, and he seems to be in a lot of pain. Hopefully, it is just a cramp, and the physio is out stretching his left hamstring. After a bit of a wait, Arshad is good to go again.

17.1

Arshad Khan to Jitesh Sharma, 1 run

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.

End of over 173 runs

RCB: 148/5CRR: 8.71RRR: 2.66

Ball

Virat Kohli:64 (39)

Jitesh Sharma:9 (11)

Rashid Khan:4-0-25-2

16.6

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, no run

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

16.5

Rashid Khan to Jitesh Sharma, 1 run

92.9kph

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

16.4

Rashid Khan to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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

16.3

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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.

16.2

Rashid Khan to Jitesh Sharma, 1 run

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

16.1

Rashid Khan to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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.

End of over 166 runs

RCB: 145/5CRR: 9.06RRR: 2.75

Ball

Virat Kohli:63 (37)

Jitesh Sharma:7 (7)

Arshad Khan:3-0-19-1

15.6

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, no 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.

5:47 PM IST Is that a fair catch? Shubman Gill seems to have taken it cleanly, but Virat Kohli wants the umpire to have a look. Eventually, Gill isn't completely sure and the third umpire is called in. Replays show that the catch isn't quite clean but the fingers do seem underneath the ball. Really tough one to judge whether any part of the ball touched the turf or not. The third umpire feels that some part of the ball is touching the ground and the zoomer does confirm it as well. NOT OUT! The biggest cheer of the night from the crowd comes out as well.

15.5

Arshad Khan to Jitesh Sharma, 1 run

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

15.4

Arshad Khan to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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

15.3

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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

15.2

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

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.

15.1

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, no run

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

End of over 157 runs

RCB: 139/5CRR: 9.27RRR: 3.40

Ball

Jitesh Sharma:6 (5)

Virat Kohli:58 (33)

Prasidh Krishna:1-0-7-0

14.6

Prasidh Krishna to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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

14.5

Prasidh Krishna to Jitesh Sharma, 2 runs

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.

14.4

Prasidh Krishna to Jitesh Sharma, no run

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

14.3

Prasidh Krishna to Jitesh Sharma, 4 runs

141.5kph

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.

14.2

Prasidh Krishna to Jitesh Sharma, no run

137.0kph

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.

14.1

Prasidh Krishna to Virat Kohli, 1 run

138.6kph

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

5:36 PM IST The next batter in is Jitesh Sharma. Also, Prasidh Krishna has been called into the attack. Can he pull off something special here?

End of over 146 runs

RCB: 132/5CRR: 9.43RRR: 4

Ball

Tim David:24 (17)

Virat Kohli:57 (32)

Arshad Khan:2-0-13-1

13.6

Arshad Khan to Tim David, no run

144.3kph

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.

Tim David

24 (17b 3x4 1x6)SR: 141.18

c Jos Buttler b Arshad Khan

13.5

Arshad Khan to Tim David, no run

138.5kph

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.

13.4

Arshad Khan to Tim David, 4 runs

133.9kph

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.

13.3

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

136.3kph

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.

13.2

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, no run

140.4kph

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

13.1

Arshad Khan to Tim David, 1 run

141.9kph

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.

5:29 PM IST Strategic Break! It would not be too far-fetched to say that Royal Challengers Bengaluru have one hand on the trophy. It is that man, Virat Kohli, once again, who has been the talking point in this chase, notching up his fastest fifty in IPL. He is hobbling a bit, but would want to stay till the end and finish the job. Gujarat Titans really need a miracle here, needing to pick up wickets in bunches, but they do not have enough runs to play with here.

End of over 1310 runs

RCB: 126/4CRR: 9.69RRR: 4.28

Ball

Tim David:19 (13)

Virat Kohli:56 (30)

Rashid Khan:3-0-22-2

12.6

Rashid Khan to Tim David, 1 run

90.8kph

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

12.5

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

91.8kph

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

12.4

Rashid Khan to Tim David, 1 run

91.5kph

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

12.3

Rashid Khan to Tim David, 6 runs

95.9kph

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.

12.2

Rashid Khan to Tim David, no run

94.1kph

Tossed up, on off, David blocks it off.

12.1

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

94.8kph

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.

5:24 PM IST Halt! The physio is out once again for Virat Kohli, who is getting his right knee strapped up. Kohli is now ready to resume.

End of over 127 runs

RCB: 116/4CRR: 9.67RRR: 5

Ball

Virat Kohli:54 (28)

Tim David:11 (9)

Arshad Khan:1-0-7-0

11.6

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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.

11.5

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, no run

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

11.4

Arshad Khan to Tim David, 1 run

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

11.3

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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..

11.2

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

141.7kph

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.

Virat Kohli

Runs: 52(25)SR: 208.00

11.1

Arshad Khan to Virat Kohli, no 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.

5:19 PM IST Still no Prasidh Krishna. Shubman Gill has turned to Arshad Khan.

End of over 119 runs

RCB: 109/4CRR: 9.91RRR: 5.22

Ball

Tim David:10 (8)

Virat Kohli:48 (23)

Rashid Khan:2-0-12-2

10.6

Rashid Khan to Tim David, 4 runs

89.7kph

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.

10.5

Rashid Khan to Tim David, no run

89.6kph

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

5:17 PM IST Slight halt! Virat Kohli has called for the physio. Looks like it is just cramps. He is taking some fluids in and is ready to go again.

10.4

Rashid Khan to Tim David, 2 runs

93.6kph

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.

10.3

Rashid Khan to Tim David, no run

91.4kph

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.

10.2

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

91.6kph

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

10.1

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 2 runs

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.

5:14 PM IST Direct hit! The run out appeal has been checked in the background, and Tim David is safe. The third umpire wants to be sure and has another look. David is safely in.

End of over 109 runs

RCB: 100/4CRR: 10.00RRR: 5.60

Ball

Tim David:4 (4)

Virat Kohli:45 (21)

Jason Holder:2-0-16-0

9.6

Jason Holder to Tim David, no run

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

9.5

Jason Holder to Tim David, 4 runs

135.7kph

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.

100 Runs for the teamRoyal Challengers Bengaluru

Runs: 100/4

9.4

Jason Holder to Tim David, no run

134.3kph

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

9.3

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, 1 run

134.1kph

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

9.2

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, no run

133.5kph

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

9.1

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

133.1kph

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.

End of over 93 runs

RCB: 91/4CRR: 10.11RRR: 5.90

Ball

Tim David:0 (1)

Virat Kohli:40 (18)

Rashid Khan:1-0-3-2

8.6

Rashid Khan to Tim David, no run

94.2kph

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

5:07 PM IST Two wickets in the over, just what the doctor ordered for GT. Tim David makes his way out to bat. This should be a fascinating battle between David and Rashid.

8.5

Rashid Khan to Krunal Pandya, no run

90.4kph

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.

Krunal Pandya

1 (2b 0x4 0x6)SR: 50.00

lbw b Rashid Khan

8.4

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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

8.3

Rashid Khan to Krunal Pandya, 1 run

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

5:04 PM IST Out goes Rajat Patidar and in walks Krunal Pandya. Can Rashid Khan follow up that breakthrough with another?

8.2

Rashid Khan to Rajat Patidar, no run

93.8kph

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.

Rajat Patidar

15 (13b 1x4 1x6)SR: 115.38

c Kagiso Rabada b Rashid Khan

8.1

Rashid Khan to Virat Kohli, 1 run

92.0kph

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

5:01 PM IST STRATEGIC BREAK! Royal Challengers Bengaluru are icing this chase and Virat Kohli looks in devastating form. The target wasn't a big one to begin with, but the way RCB began just ruined any hopes of a comeback from the Gujarat Titans. GT do have a couple of wickets to their name, but with just 68 needed off 72 balls and 8 wickets in hand, GT will need more than a miracle to even take things really deep. It will be spin after the break in the form of Rashid Khan. Shubman Gill has positioned himself at slip.

End of over 87 runs

RCB: 88/2CRR: 11.00RRR: 5.66

Ball

Rajat Patidar:15 (12)

Virat Kohli:38 (16)

Jason Holder:1-0-7-0

7.6

Jason Holder to Rajat Patidar, 4 runs

131.7kph

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.

7.5

Jason Holder to Rajat Patidar, no run

132.1kph

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

7.4

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, 1 run

132.4kph

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.

7.3

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, no run

133.6kph

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

7.2

Jason Holder to Rajat Patidar, 1 run

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

7.1

Jason Holder to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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

4:54 PM IST Jason Holder comes into the attack now.

End of over 711 runs

RCB: 81/2CRR: 11.57RRR: 5.76

Ball

Rajat Patidar:10 (9)

Virat Kohli:36 (13)

Mohammed Siraj:4-0-36-1

6.6

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, no run

137.7kph

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.

6.6

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, 1 run

137.2kph

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

6.5

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, 2 runs

143.3kph

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.

6.4

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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

6.3

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, 1 run

140.6kph

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

6.2

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, no run

143.3kph

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

6.1

Mohammed Siraj to Rajat Patidar, 6 runs

142.4kph

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.

4:48 PM IST Mohammed Siraj (3-0-25-1) will bowl out here.

End of over 67 runs

RCB: 70/2CRR: 11.67RRR: 6.14

Ball

Virat Kohli:35 (12)

Rajat Patidar:1 (4)

Kagiso Rabada:3-0-44-1

5.6

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 6 runs

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.

Virat Kohli

Runs: 35(12)SR: 291.67

5.5

Kagiso Rabada to Rajat Patidar, 1 run

148.2kph

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

5.4

Kagiso Rabada to Rajat Patidar, no run

141.7kph

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

5.3

Kagiso Rabada to Rajat Patidar, no run

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

5.2

Kagiso Rabada to Rajat Patidar, no run

150.3kph

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

4:45 PM IST Kagiso Rabada does repay the trust shown in him by Shubman Gill. The RCB skipper, Rajat Patidar, is in next.

5.1

Kagiso Rabada to Devdutt Padikkal, no run

145.2kph

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.

Devdutt Padikkal

1 (4b 0x4 0x6)SR: 25.00

c Arshad Khan b Kagiso Rabada

4:43 PM IST Bowling change? Nope. Kagiso Rabada will continue, even after going for 37 in his first 2 overs.

End of over 58 runs

RCB: 63/1CRR: 12.60RRR: 6.20

Ball

Devdutt Padikkal:1 (3)

Virat Kohli:29 (11)

Mohammed Siraj:3-0-25-1

4.6

Mohammed Siraj to Devdutt Padikkal, 1 run

144.3kph

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

4.5

Mohammed Siraj to Devdutt Padikkal, no run

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

4.4

Mohammed Siraj to Devdutt Padikkal, no run

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

4:42 PM IST A sliver of hope for GT, but they will need a lot more to get back into this contest. That said, Devdutt Padikkal walks in to bat at number 3 for RCB.

4.3

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

147.5kph

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.

Venkatesh Iyer

32 (16b 4x4 2x6)SR: 200.00

c Kagiso Rabada b Mohammed Siraj

4.2

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, 6 runs

141.4kph

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.

Venkatesh Iyer

Runs: 32(15)SR: 213.33

4.1

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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.

4:37 PM IST Mohammed Siraj to continue. Shubman Gill wants to stick to the regular plan, even when the match is slipping out of GT's hands.

End of over 419 runs

RCB: 55/0CRR: 13.75RRR: 6.31

Ball

Venkatesh Iyer:26 (14)

Virat Kohli:28 (10)

Kagiso Rabada:2-0-37-0

3.6

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

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.

3.5

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 1 run

141.5kph

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

3.4

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

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.

3.3

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 6 runs

154.2kph

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.

50 Runs for the teamRoyal Challengers Bengaluru

Runs: 50/0

3.2

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

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.

3.1

Kagiso Rabada to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

148.6kph

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.

End of over 313 runs

RCB: 36/0CRR: 12.00RRR: 7.05

Ball

Venkatesh Iyer:26 (13)

Virat Kohli:9 (5)

Mohammed Siraj:2-0-17-0

2.6

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

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

2.5

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, 4 runs

141.3kph

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.

2.4

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 1 run

144.0kph

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.

2.3

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

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.

2.2

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, no run

141.5kph

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.

2.1

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 4 runs

144.4kph

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.

4:27 PM IST RCB are well on their way in the chase. A very expensive over from Kagiso Rabada. Also, the physio is in again to check on Venkatesh Iyer, who is down on the ground. His right knee is being heavily taped up. All set to resume now.

End of over 218 runs

RCB: 23/0CRR: 11.50RRR: 7.38

Ball

Venkatesh Iyer:22 (11)

Virat Kohli:0 (1)

Kagiso Rabada:1-0-18-0

1.6

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, 4 runs

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.

1.5

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

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.

1.4

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, 4 runs

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.

1.3

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, 6 runs

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.

1.2

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

148.7kph

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.

1.1

Kagiso Rabada to Venkatesh Iyer, 4 runs

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.

4:21 PM IST Kagiso Rabada to share the attack.

End of over 15 runs

RCB: 5/0CRR: 5.00RRR: 7.94

Ball

Venkatesh Iyer:4 (5)

Virat Kohli:0 (1)

Mohammed Siraj:1-0-4-0

0.6

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, 1 run

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

4:25 PM IST Halt! Venkatesh Iyer has signalled for the physio who is running onto the field now. Looks like he is having some discomfort in his right knee. He takes in some painkillers and is good to go again.

0.5

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, 2 runs

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.

0.4

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

145.1kph

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.

0.3

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, no run

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.

0.2

Mohammed Siraj to Virat Kohli, 1 run

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.

0.1

Mohammed Siraj to Venkatesh Iyer, 1 run

144.2kph

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.

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