Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be aiming for their second consecutive IPL championship against an upbeat Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday at the 130,000-seat Ahmedabad stadium.
Since RCB won their first T20 competition title last year, the 37-year-old Kohli has been essential to their success. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket pitch in the world and the site of RCB’s victory in 2025, batting legend Kohli will be back.
After winning the league stage and defeating GT in Qualifier 1, RCB advanced straight to the final.
GT, who won their first title in their maiden season in 2022, recovered admirably from their setback, and crushed Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 to reach their third final in five years.
“In the IPL and actually in any form of cricket, you have to remain reasonably level regardless of the result. If you come off the back of a defeat, you can’t get too low — because, more often than not, you’re preparing for the next game,” AFP quoted GT director of cricket Vikram Solanki as saying.
India’s Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, scored 104 in at New Chandigarh on Friday. With 722 runs, the 26-year-old is ranked second on the batting leaderboard, behind 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan with 776. Sai Sudharsan, Gill’s opening partner, comes in third with 710 runs. The two have set the foundation for GT’s success.
“I can only imagine all of the work that Shubman has put in throughout his career to get to where he is, as far as batting is concerned. He’s an exceptional young man. To be playing the cricket that he is, to be batting the way he is, is just phenomenal,” said former England batter Solanki.
After leaving Test cricket and T20 internationals, Kohli has amassed 600 runs at an average of 50.00 in 15 games this season, including four half-centuries and one century.
“Everyone understands what Virat Kohli brings — his intensity, his fight, his hunger,” stated Mo Bobat, director of cricket at RCB.
“Experience counts for a lot in pressure games, but I think it also speaks volumes for their personalities and character,” Bobat said.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar rose to the occasion in Qualifier 1, hitting an undefeated 93 off 33 balls. RCB’s massive total of 254 in a 92-run hammering of GT was made possible by his knock, which came after Kohli’s aggressive 43.
“Any team whose captain is playing well, gets greater confidence from that. We’re becoming accustomed to seeing these sorts of knocks from him now. He played some outrageous shots, but also really the aggressive intent… that’s leading by example,” said Bobat.
More than 100,000 spectators are anticipated to attend the final.
