Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli and players celebrate after their win in the IPL 2026 final (PTI Image)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru not only defended their Indian Premier League title in style but also bagged their biggest payday of the season after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.RCB’s title-winning campaign was rewarded with Rs 20 crore in prize money, while Gujarat Titans received Rs 12.5 crore after finishing second.
The final proved to be a fitting end to Rajat Patidar’s dominant season. After restricting Gujarat Titans to 155/8, RCB chased down the target in 12 balls to claim their second successive IPL crown.Virat Kohli once again performed on the biggest stage, remaining unbeaten with 75 off 42 balls.
The veteran batsman hit nine fours and three sixes as he led RCB home with a masterclass in trademark chasing.Kohli’s innings was aided by a strong start from Venkatesh Iyer and a useful contribution from Tim David who scored 24 off 17 balls. Eventually, the former RCB captain took the win by six, sparking wild celebrations among the players and fans.Earlier in the evening, RCB’s bowlers laid the foundation for the victory.
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Gujarat Titans’ star opening duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan inside the powerplay, while Rasikh Salam Dar impressed with figures of 3/27.Washington Sundar had a lone battle with an unbeaten half-century, but GT could only manage 155/8 on a surface that offered little help to the strokemakers.Despite the disappointment of losing the final, Gujarat Titans will take solace from a strong season that ended with a runner-up finish and a prize money of Rs 13 crore. After recovering from an inconsistent start to the season, Shubman Gill’s side reached their second Indian Super League final before being edged out by the defending champions.
IPL 2026 Final Prize Money
| a team | He finishes | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | revocation | ₹20 crore |
| Gujarat Titans | Runner-up | Rs 12.5 crore |
While the trophy once again belongs to RCB, both finalists leave IPL 2026 with big financial rewards after producing memorable campaigns that culminated in a thrilling final in Ahmedabad.