NEW DELHI: Just two years back, it felt as if the dream would never come true when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) crashed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Their fans left the stadium in tears. Many left the stadium in tears last night, too. The difference? Agony and joy. And two IPL titles on the trot. RCB cemented their reign after successfully defending their title against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening. It was a complete team effort throughout the season, where all nine other teams found it difficult whenever they came up against Rajat Patidar‘s men.This season, RCB won 11 matches, including nine in the league stage, Qualifier 1, and the final. And to put it in all honesty, it was complete domination by the Bengaluru-based franchise. As captain Patidar said ahead of the tournament, they were not defending but chasing another title.They kept their attacking approach clear throughout the season, with the captain leading from the front by hitting the most sixes (42) for RCB this season. Virat Kohli did what he has been doing for the past 18 years, finishing as RCB’s leading run-scorer once again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma, and Jacob Duffy stepped up with the ball. Krunal Pandya and Venkatesh Iyer unleashed their all-round brilliance. Again, it was the complete team performance that RCB had planned for.
RCB in IPL 2026: 11 Wins, 5 Losses
RCB started their campaign with a dominant victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru. They clinched a comfortable six-wicket win and followed it up with a victory against Chennai Super Kings.Their first loss came against Rajasthan Royals when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the show. However, they did not lose momentum and bounced back with consecutive wins against Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, followed by a defeat to Delhi Capitals. They responded again with back-to-back victories against Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate with winners trophy (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
After the first half of the season, RCB suffered consecutive defeats for the first time against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. However, they bounced back brilliantly with a last-ball win against Mumbai Indians, powered by Krunal Pandya’s fiery 73, one of the finest knocks of his IPL career.They carried that momentum forward with victories against Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings. RCB then suffered their biggest defeat of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad but recovered strongly with back-to-back wins over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 and the Final.
Reason behind RCB’s success
Batting dominance not dependent on Virat aloneRCB used to rely heavily on Virat Kohli. If he failed, the team often collapsed. But this season, RCB’s batting unit showed complete dominance. Virat Kohli finished with 675 runs, while captain Rajat Patidar led from the front with 501 runs. Devdutt Padikkal supported Kohli brilliantly and scored 464 runs. Tim David and Krunal Pandya strengthened the middle order with 305 and 226 runs respectively. The collective dominance of the batting unit gave RCB tremendous depth and confidence to overcome any challenge.Bowling masterclassBhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood continued to trouble opposition batters throughout the season. Whenever Hazlewood was unavailable, Duffy stepped in and led the pace attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam Dar. Along with Krunal Pandya, every bowler contributed wickets at crucial moments whenever the team needed them. RCB picked up 104 wickets during the season, led by Bhuvneshwar’s 28 wickets.Every bowler’s contribution was just as important as the batters’ dominance.
IPL 2026: RCB Report Card
Top Performers for RCBRCB’s successful IPL 2026 title defence was built on contributions from several key players.Virat Kohli led from the front with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85, proving once again why he remains the backbone of the franchise.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli talks to South African cricketer AB de Villiers before the start of the Indian Premier League final (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Captain Rajat Patidar elevated both his leadership and batting, scoring 501 runs, including a stunning unbeaten 93 off 33 balls in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans that powered RCB into the final.Bhuvneshwar Kumar spearheaded the bowling attack with 28 wickets in 16 matches, combining control and swing while also delivering crucial lower-order contributions with the bat when needed.Krunal Pandya continued his reputation as RCB’s silent hero, contributing 226 runs and 14 wickets, becoming the first player in franchise history to achieve the 200-run and 10-wicket double in a single season.Small Contributions, Big ImpactPhil Salt suffered an injury midway through the season, which gave Jacob Bethell an opportunity. He played seven innings but could not quite replicate the form that made him a standout performer at the T20 World Cup. RCB gave a chance to Venkatesh Iyer, he made the limited opportunities but had a big impact, scoring 209 runs in just six innings at a strike rate of 186.61. His impactful knocks in the playoffs and final proved crucial in RCB’s journey to back-to-back IPL titles.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli, left, and Jacob Duffy celebrate the wicket of Gujarat Titans’ Washington Sundar (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)
Duffy stepped up when Hazlewood was unavailable and impressed so much that RCB opted to play both Duffy and Hazlewood during the playoffs. Rasikh Salam Dar complemented Bhuvneshwar brilliantly and picked up 19 wickets, while Suyash Sharma endured a mixed season but remained economical and finished with nine wickets.
Top Bowlers:
Avg = Bowling Average, Econ = Economy Rate, SR = Strike Rate, 4W = Four-Wicket Hauls, 5W = Five-Wicket HaulsTop Batters:
HS = Highest Score, Avg = Batting Average, SR = Strike Rate
What’s Next for RCB?
RCB’s focus now shifts to the IPL 2027 Mega Auction, where the challenge will be retaining the core of their back-to-back championship-winning squad.The franchise will have to make difficult decisions on key players beyond automatic picks like Kohli, Patidar, and Padikkal.Retaining crucial bowlers such as Bhuvneshwar and Dar will be a priority. At the same time, RCB will need to plan for the future by identifying young Indian batting talent who can eventually succeed Kohli as part of a long-term strategy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Looking at the overseas contingent, the franchise must also find a way to bring back stars such as Hazlewood, Salt, and Tim, whose value is expected to soar after their contributions to consecutive title-winning campaigns.However, RCB may also have to make some tough decisions regarding players like Bethell and Romario, who endured difficult seasons this year.
