TATA IPL 2026 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Schedule, Results, Points Table and Title Win
Royal Challengers Bengaluru did what once seemed impossible: they won the IPL twice in a row. After ending an 18-year wait with their maiden title in 2025, RCB returned in 2026 and defended the crown, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026.
It was a season built on consistency. RCB topped the league table with 18 points, carried the tournament’s best net run rate, and then held their nerve in the final with Virat Kohli anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 75. This page covers RCB’s full IPL 2026 campaign: key fixtures and results, the points table, the final, and the season story.
RCB IPL 2026 Season at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Season | IPL 2026 (Season 19) |
| Captain | Rajat Patidar |
| League position | 1st (9 wins, 5 losses, 18 points, NRR +0.783) |
| Result | Champions (beat Gujarat Titans in the final) |
| Final venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Final result | RCB 161 for 5 beat GT 155 for 8 by 5 wickets |
RCB IPL 2026 Key Fixtures and Results
RCB played 14 league matches, winning nine. Their season mixed dominant batting displays with tight bowling performances, and they peaked when it mattered most.
Verified results from the 2026 campaign:
– RCB 254 for 5 beat Gujarat Titans 162 by 92 runs (league stage) – Sunrisers Hyderabad 255 for 4 beat RCB 200 for 4 by 55 runs (league stage) – Final, 31 May 2026: Gujarat Titans 155 for 8 lost to RCB 161 for 5 by 5 wickets (12 balls remaining)
The 92-run demolition of Gujarat in the league stage was one of the performances of the season and a warning of what was to come in the final. The defeat to Sunrisers showed RCB were beatable, but they responded by winning the matches that decided the table.
The IPL 2026 Final: RCB vs Gujarat Titans
The final at the Narendra Modi Stadium was a rematch of the league-stage thrashing, but Gujarat made RCB work harder this time. Batting first, Gujarat managed 155 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Rashid Khan’s 2 for 25 the standout bowling performance.
RCB’s chase was anchored by Virat Kohli, who carried his bat for 75 not out off 42 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Venkatesh Iyer gave the innings early momentum with 32 off 16, Tim David added 24 off 17, and Jitesh Sharma finished 11 not out as RCB reached 161 for 5 in 18 overs, winning by five wickets with 12 balls to spare.
| RCB Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours/Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| Virat Kohli (not out) | 75 | 42 | 9/3 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 32 | 16 | 4/2 |
| Tim David | 24 | 17 | 3/1 |
| Rajat Patidar (captain) | 15 | 13 | 1/1 |
| Jitesh Sharma (not out) | 11 | 14 | 1/0 |
Kohli’s unbeaten 75 in a final, at a strike rate of 178, was the defining innings of IPL 2026 and sealed back-to-back titles for Bengaluru.
IPL 2026 Points Table
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.783 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.695 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | +0.524 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 | +0.189 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 7 | 6 | 15 | +0.309 |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -0.651 |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | -0.147 |
| 8 | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 6 | 8 | 12 | -0.345 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -0.584 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 14 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -0.740 |
RCB, Gujarat and Sunrisers all finished on 18 points, with RCB’s superior net run rate of +0.783 putting them top of the table.
How RCB Won IPL 2026
Three things defined RCB’s title defence. First, the top order fired all season, with Kohli’s consistency giving every chase a spine. Second, the bowling attack defended totals and squeezed in the middle overs, a historic weakness finally fixed. Third, Rajat Patidar’s calm captaincy, which had delivered the 2025 breakthrough, held the group together through the mid-season wobble.
The playoff run was clinical. Having topped the table, RCB carried momentum into the knockouts and finished the job in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team in years to win back-to-back IPL titles.
RCB’s Key Players in IPL 2026
Virat Kohli was the heartbeat of the campaign, and his unbeaten 75 in the final capped a season of remarkable consistency. At 37, he remained the player RCB built every chase around, and his strike rate of 178 in the final answered any lingering questions about his T20 tempo.
Rajat Patidar’s leadership was equally important. Having ended the title drought in 2025, he managed the squad through the 2026 season with the same calm authority, rotating his bowlers smartly and backing his finishers. Venkatesh Iyer’s arrival added left-handed firepower at the top, his 32 off 16 in the final setting the tone for the chase.
Tim David provided the late-overs muscle, Jitesh Sharma kept wickets and finished games, and the bowling unit shared the load through the season. It was a complete squad performance rather than a one-man show, which is exactly what title defences require.
RCB’s IPL Title History
RCB’s two titles have both come in the Patidar-Kohli era: the maiden crown in 2025, which ended 18 seasons of heartbreak, and the successful defence in 2026. From perennial nearly-men to the league’s dominant side, the transformation is complete.
Who won IPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won IPL 2026, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 31 May 2026. It was RCB’s second consecutive title after their maiden crown in 2025.
Who was the captain of RCB in IPL 2026?
Rajat Patidar captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, leading the side to back-to-back championships.
How many points did RCB get in IPL 2026?
RCB finished the league stage with 18 points from 14 matches (9 wins, 5 losses) and a net run rate of +0.783, topping the table ahead of Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Who scored the most runs for RCB in the IPL 2026 final?
Virat Kohli top-scored with 75 not out off 42 balls, anchoring RCB’s chase of 156 against Gujarat Titans in the final.
Where was the IPL 2026 final played?
The IPL 2026 final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026.
Rivcky John
A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.