After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar made the brave call to bowl first on a batting-friendly Ahmedabad surface. The decision paid dividends almost immediately. RCB’s pace attack executed a disciplined short-ball strategy that left the Titans’ top order in shambles. Six of the eight GT batters were dismissed by short deliveries, a tactic that proved devastatingly effective throughout the innings.

Josh Hazlewood struck first in the third over, removing Shubman Gill for 10 runs off 8 balls with a sharp rising delivery that the GT skipper could only miscue to mid-off. The wicket sparked wild celebrations on the field, with Kohli’s fist-pumping reaction quickly going viral across social media platforms. “What a start for RCB in Ahmedabad,” the official IPL handle posted on X, sharing the video of Kohli’s celebration.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck soon after, producing a perfectly directed bouncer that forced Sai Sudharsan into a false shot. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma sprinted backward and completed a breathtaking running catch to send the GT opener packing for 12. RCB’s fielding intensity was matched only by their bowling precision, as the Titans struggled to build any meaningful partnerships. By the end of the powerplay, GT were reeling at 45 for 2.

Krunal Pandya bowled a miserly middle-overs spell, conceding just 5 runs in the seventh over and later removing the dangerous Jos Buttler for 19 off 23 balls. The introduction of spin only deepened GT’s woes, with Nishant Sindhu falling to Rasikh Salam Dar after scoring 20 off 18. The Titans crawled to 73/3 after 12 overs, and despite brief resistance from Washington Sundar (50* off 37) and a late cameo from Rashid Khan, they could only manage 155/8 in their 20 overs.

Chasing a modest 156 for the title, RCB openers Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli came out with aggressive intent. Iyer took the attack to GT’s pacers, smashing four boundaries and two sixes in his 16-ball 32 before Mohammed Siraj dismissed him with an aggressive send-off that went viral on social media. By the end of the powerplay, RCB had raced to 70 runs — the highest powerplay score ever recorded in an IPL final.

Despite the early wicket, Kohli continued his assault on the GT bowling attack. The 36-year-old reached his fifty in just 25 balls — his fastest half-century in IPL history and the joint-fastest fifty in an IPL final alongside Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle. He showcased his full range of strokes, pulling short balls with authority, driving through the covers with vintage elegance, and launching Rabada over mid-on for a massive six.

GT spinner Rashid Khan briefly gave his team hope, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal (12) and Krunal Pandya (5) in quick succession to reduce RCB to 132/5 in the 15th over. But Kohli remained calm, guiding Tim David (24 off 13) in a crucial partnership before putting the finishing touches on the chase. With RCB needing 2 runs off the final over, Kohli fittingly stepped out and launched the winning shot over the bowler’s head for a six, sparking euphoric celebrations in the RCB dugout.

The final was packed with moments that captured social media’s attention. Kohli’s animated celebrations after the dismissals of Gill and Sudharsan became instant memes, while the mid-overs exchange between Kohli and Sai Sudharsan — caught on camera — left fans speculating about the nature of their conversation. Anushka Sharma’s reaction in the stands, cheering for her husband’s winning six, also went viral across platforms.

Anushka Sharma was seen clapping and smiling as she celebrated RCB’s victory from the stands, and after the win, the couple shared flying kisses across the field — a moment captured by several cameras and widely shared by fans.

The cricketing world erupted in praise for RCB’s dominant title defence. Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes on X, acknowledging the unique challenge of sustaining success after a maiden title.

At the post-match presentation, Virat Kohli was named Player of the Final for his match-winning 75*. Venkatesh Iyer received the Super Striker of the Match award, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s impressive economy earned him the Most Dot Balls award.

For the season, RR’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the biggest individual winner, claiming the Orange Cap (776 runs), MVP of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Emerging Player of the Season, and Super Sixes of the Season (72 sixes). GT’s Kagiso Rabada (29 wickets) took home the Purple Cap. RCB received the winner’s cheque of INR 20 crore, while GT took home INR 12 crore as runners-up.