New Delhi: Virat Kohli played a pivotal role as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured their second consecutive IPL title by defeating Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. After opting to bowl first, RCB successfully restricted GT to a total of 155 runs in their innings.
In the chase, Kohli opened the batting and remained unbeaten with a score of 75 runs, leading RCB to victory by five wickets. Following the match, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar commended Kohli’s performances, stating, “At this stage, watching him in this tournament, he has mastered the art of T20 batting that is needed in IPL cricket. This means now he knows that he has to score at a 150 to 160 strike rate. So he cashes in the first six overs. The most important thing is that he has found this power game, which is just about optimum. It’s almost like he is in third and fourth gear, while the others are trying to hit at a strike rate of 200 and 230,” Manjrekar noted in a video shared on his Instagram account.
Kohli had another standout season in IPL 2026, playing 16 matches and scoring a total of 675 runs, placing him in contention for the orange cap. His consistent performances proved vital for the defending champions, enabling them to reach the final and ultimately secure the IPL title for the second time in two years, marking a historic achievement for the franchise.
