Virat Kohli’s brilliant knock of 75 runs and exceptional bowling performance propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to clinch their second consecutive Indian Premier League championship title by defeating Gujarat Titans with a five-wicket victory on Sunday.
Bengaluru’s bowlers limited Gujarat to a total of 155-8, which Bengaluru successfully chased down with 12 balls to spare, thanks to Kohli’s fifth half-century of the season in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad.
Kohli secured the win with a six, concluding his impressive 42-ball innings comprising nine boundaries and three sixes, while gesturing towards the cheering crowd as Bengaluru players rushed out to celebrate the victory.
Following their maiden IPL triumph last year at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Bengaluru and Kohli continued their winning streak.
The iconic number 18 jersey worn by Kohli dominated the stands at the renowned cricket venue, which witnessed an official attendance of over 90,000 spectators on Sunday.
Kohli and opening partner Venkatesh Iyer provided Bengaluru a strong start with a 62-run partnership, before Mohammed Siraj dismissed Iyer and Kagiso Rabada sent Devdutt Padikkal back to the pavilion.
Rashid Khan’s double breakthrough in one over, dismissing skipper Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya, gave Gujarat a glimmer of hope.
However, Tim David and Kohli steadied the chase with a 41-run partnership. David departed after scoring 24 runs, but Kohli guided the team to victory with support from Jitesh Sharma.
Bengaluru’s fast bowlers played a crucial role in the win, with Rasikh Salam excelling with figures of 3-27, supported by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who both claimed two wickets each.
The decision to put Gujarat in to bat paid off as Bengaluru’s pacers struck early and consistently, with Washington Sundar being the lone resistance with an unbeaten 50.
Hazlewood made the initial breakthrough by dismissing skipper Shubman Gill for 10, while Kumar removed the other opener, Sai Sudharsan, for 12 in the subsequent over.
Despite Gill and Sudharsan being contenders for the Orange Cap awarded to the IPL’s top scorer, the title went to Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with 776 runs, followed by Gill (732) and Sudharsan (722). Kohli finished fourth with 675 runs, including a century.
Nishant Sindhu and Jos Buttler attempted to stabilize the Gujarat innings but struggled against Bengaluru’s disciplined attack, leading to Sindhu’s dismissal by Salam and Buttler being stumped by Krunal Pandya.
As wickets continued to fall, Sundar stood firm to reach his fifty in the final over, but it was not enough as Gujarat ended as runners-up for the second time in three finals, with their only championship victory in their debut season in 2022.
