Ahmedabad: In a commanding display on one of the most significant nights of the season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) triumphed over the Gujarat Titans by five wickets, successfully defending their IPL title. The victory was underpinned by a strong bowling performance from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam Dar, who consistently applied pressure on the home side at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Gujarat relied heavily on the batting trio of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler; however, their efforts fell short, resulting in a precarious position at 73 for 4. Washington Sundar’s half-century, scoring 50 runs off 37 balls, gave some respite to the innings, bringing Gujarat to a total of 155. Although the score appeared to be subpar, it offered the team something to defend.
RCB’s chase was methodical and efficient. Venkatesh Iyer quickly augmented the scoring with a brisk 32 runs off just 16 balls, reinstating pressure onto Gujarat. Virat Kohli then steadied the innings, rapidly registering a fifty and guiding the team to their target with 12 balls remaining, marking RCB’s second consecutive IPL championship.
Award Winners and Prize Money:
- Winners: Royal Challengers Bengaluru – ₹20 crore
- Runners Up: Gujarat Titans – ₹12.5 crore
- Orange Cap: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – ₹10 lakh
- Purple Cap: Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – ₹10 lakh
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – ₹15 lakh
- Super Striker: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – Tata Sierra
- Most Dot Balls: Mohammed Siraj (Gujarat Titans) – ₹10 lakh
- Emerging Player: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – ₹10 lakh
- Fantasy King: Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) – ₹10 lakh
- Super Sixes: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals) – ₹10 lakh
- Fours of the Season: Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) – ₹10 lakh
- Catch of the Season: Manish Pandey (Kolkata Knight Riders) – ₹10 lakh
- Fairplay Award: Punjab Kings – ₹10 lakh
- Pitch and Ground: CAB (Kolkata Knight Riders home ground) – ₹50 lakh
- Pitch and Ground (four or fewer matches): HPCA – ₹25 lakh
RCB vs GT Final Award Winners:
- Player of the Final: Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – ₹5 lakh
- Super Striker: Venkatesh Iyer – ₹1 lakh
- Most Dot Balls: Bhuvneshwar Kumar – ₹1 lakh
- Most Fours: Virat Kohli – ₹1 lakh
- Most Sixes: Virat Kohli – ₹1 lakh
