By Firstdespatch Desk Jun 01, 2026
In cricket, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully retained the IPL title, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night.
Put in to bat first, Gujarat Titans posted 155 for eight in the stipulated 20 overs, with the help of Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50 off 37 balls. For Bengaluru, Rasikh Salam Dar picked up three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood claimed two wickets each.
In reply, Royal Challengers Bengaluru comfortably chased down the target, scoring 161 for five in 18 overs, powered by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 off 42 balls. For Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan scalped two wickets. Kohli has been named the player of the match.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named the most valuable player of the season. He also won the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs, becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the Orange Cap and rewriting the record books at just 15 years and 65 days of age.
Kagiso Rabada claimed the Purple Cap for taking 29 wickets in the season.
Manish Pandey won the Catch of the Season award for his stunning effort to dismiss Tim David with a blinder at backward point.
Mohammed Siraj was awarded for bowling the most dot balls in the season, delivering 172 dot balls.
Sai Sudharsan received the award for hitting the most fours in the season, with a tally of 75 boundaries.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also bagged multiple honours, including Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season with a strike rate of 237.3, and Super Sixes of the Season with 72 sixes.