Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli after the franchise successfully retained its Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2026 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Flower described Kohli as the role model within the RCB camp and praised the veteran batter for setting a powerful example through his dedication and fearless approach.&nbsp;RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to defend the championship successfully. Led by Rajat Patidar, the side first restricted GT to 155/8 before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.&nbsp;Speaking in a video shared by RCB on X, Flower highlighted Kohli’s influence on the team, calling him the emotional core of the dressing room.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Virat, I know you get a lot of attention and quite rightly. But I don't want to downplay that because you are a heartbeat in this dressing room. And the courage that you continually show to go out there and put yourself on the line and take on high-quality opposition is a bloody great role modelling for all of us," Flower said in the video.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮”: Andy Flower to Virat Kohli ❤️ Coach Andy uncut. From highlighting top performances, to wishing the young guns. Here’s a special from Andy’s dressing room talk. 🎥😇🤩 Thank you, Coach! 🫡 To be… <a href="https://t.co/QHGI6xCmLP">pic.twitter.com/QHGI6xCmLP</a>&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://x.com/RCBTweets/status/2061297210449625193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Flower further acknowledged that Kohli often attracts significant attention, but stressed that his importance to the squad goes far beyond public recognition. According to the coach, Kohli’s willingness to shoulder responsibility and compete fearlessly against the best players in the world makes him an exceptional role model for the entire group.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When I think of our season, and I particularly think of the last couple of games in the playoffs, what really stands out for me is the bravery of you guys in the middle. There's been countless examples of it. But when you're playing at the top level, and that's Test cricket or World Cups or IPL, you need to be obviously highly skilful. You need to have cricket intelligence, but you really need to have heart. And we've seen that in abundance this year," Flower said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/anushka-sharma-plants-a-kiss-on-virat-kohli-s-forehead-as-they-celebrate-rcb-s-ipl-win-see-pic-1780315153831">Anushka Sharma plants a kiss on Virat Kohli’s forehead as they celebrate RCB’s IPL win, see pic</a>&nbsp;In the final, Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. Washington Sundar top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 37 deliveries, while Nishant Sindhu contributed 20. RCB’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, with Rasikh Dar Salam claiming 3/27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each.&nbsp;RCB’s chase began strongly through a 62-run opening partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Kohli. Although GT fought back and reduced the defending champions to 132/5, Kohli remained composed, finishing unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls. His innings, featuring nine boundaries and three sixes, steered RCB to victory with 12 balls remaining.&nbsp;The triumph secured RCB’s second IPL crown and added another milestone to the franchise’s growing trophy collection, which also includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles, taking their tally of major Indian franchise cricket trophies to four.

RCB head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli as the heartbeat of the dressing room after the franchise's IPL 2026 triumph over the Gujarat Titans in the final.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli after the franchise successfully retained its Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2026 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Flower described Kohli as the role model within the RCB camp and praised the veteran batter for setting a powerful example through his dedication and fearless approach. RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to defend the championship successfully. Led by Rajat Patidar, the side first restricted GT to 155/8 before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare. Speaking in a video shared by RCB on X, Flower highlighted Kohli’s influence on the team, calling him the emotional core of the dressing room. "Virat, I know you get a lot of attention and quite rightly. But I don't want to downplay that because you are a heartbeat in this dressing room. And the courage that you continually show to go out there and put yourself on the line and take on high-quality opposition is a bloody great role modelling for all of us," Flower said in the video.

RCB head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli as the heartbeat of the dressing room after the franchise's IPL 2026 triumph over the Gujarat Titans in the final.

'Virat Kohli is heartbeat of our dressing room': Coach Andy Flower after RCB's IPL 2026 triumph

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have etched their name into IPL history by winning back-to-back titles. RCB defeated Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final, chasing down a target of 156 with 12 balls to spare in a composed and commanding performance. The victory cements Bengaluru's status as the team to beat and marks a remarkable chapter in the franchise's journey. From years of heartbreak to consecutive championships, RCB fans finally have a dynasty to celebrate as their team continues its dominance on the biggest stage.


IPL 2026: RCB Beat GT In 2026 IPL Finals

IPL 2026: RCB Create History! Royal Challengers Bengaluru Clinch Back-to-Back IPL Titles

RCB topped IPL 2026 and won Qualifier 1, a path 12/15 champions follow since 2011. MI (2019, 2020), GT (2022) and KKR (2024) also topped league stage and lifted title, showing Qualifier 1 winners often convert dominance into trophies.

IPL 2026 | RCB finished at top of points table and won Qualifier 1, but history is not looking kind

GT are set to play the qualifier 1 in IPL 2026 against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 26). GT have been one of the most consistent IPL teams since their debut in 2022 - the same year when they won their maiden and only IPL trophy. Since 2022, GT have made it to playoffs three more times in four seasons including in IPL 2026. The winner of GT vs RCB will go straight to the final while the lose will face winner of SRH vs RR eliminator in the second qualifier. There's have been many similarities for GT in the ongoing season and the title-winning IPL 2022 season, let's have look at GT's chances to win the second IPL trophy and what is working for them.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-here-to-defend-rajat-patidar-confident-ahead-of-rcb-s-qualifier-1-clash-1779723017243">'Not here to defend...': Patidar confident ahead of RCB’s Qualifier 1 clash</a><h2>Wins after 14 league matches</h2>In their 2022 title-winning season, Gujarat Titans had already secured a top position by winning 10 out of their 14 matches, building early momentum that allowed them to dominate the league stage comfortably. In the current 2026 campaign, GT have once again maintained a strong mid-season push with nine wins in 14 matches proving their consistency in building early qualification pressure rather than late surges.<h2>Net Run Rate (NRR)</h2>In 2022, GT finished with a healthy positive net run rate of around +0.316, reflecting their ability to win games convincingly rather than narrowly. In the current IPL 2026 season, their NRR trend has improved to +0.695, because of more attacking batting and higher 200+ totals in the league from all teams.<h2>Runs scored</h2>The 2022 side was built on controlled batting, as they scored 2,339 runs in 278.1 overs at a run rate of 8.4. In 2026, the batting approach has become more attacking with 2,558 runs in 270.4 overs at a run rate of 9.4. The overall team totals trending higher in comparison, especially in matches where the top order has fired.<h2>Wickets taken</h2>Bowling has always been GT’s strongest identity. In 2022, they were the second top wicket-taking side with 100 wickets out of 160 available. In the current season, the wicket tally remains strong with 107 wickets in 14 matches so far. GT also gave away 2,216 runs in 273.5 overs at 8.10 in 2022 and in IPL 2026, they have managed to hover around the same data - giving away 2,434 runs in 278 overs at a rate of 8.75.<h2>Top performers</h2>GT built IPL 2022 victory around middle-order with Hardik Pandya and David Miller scoring nearly 500 runs coupled with Shubman Gill's 483 at the top. In 2026, GT has relied heavily on the top order with Gill again scoring 616 runs and building great partnership with Sai Sudharsan who has Orange Cap with 638 runs. Jos Buttler is also chipping in beautifully at number 3 with 469 runs.As for wickets, In IPL 202 GT relied on Mohammed Shami (20) and Rashid Khan (19) for wickets while in IPL 2026, they have Kagiso Rabada (24), Rashid Khan (19) and Mohammed Siraj (17) doing the work for them.

Since 2022, GT have made it to playoffs three more times in four seasons including in IPL 2026. The winner of GT vs RCB will go straight to the final while the lose will face winner of SRH vs RR eliminator in the second qualifier.

GT are set to play the qualifier 1 in IPL 2026 against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Dharamsala on Tuesday (May 26). GT have been one of the most consistent IPL teams since their debut in 2022 - the same year when they won their maiden and only IPL trophy. Since 2022, GT have made it to playoffs three more times in four seasons including in IPL 2026. The winner of GT vs RCB will go straight to the final while the lose will face winner of SRH vs RR eliminator in the second qualifier. There's have been many similarities for GT in the ongoing season and the title-winning IPL 2022 season, let's have look at GT's chances to win the second IPL trophy and what is working for them. Also Read - 'Not here to defend...': Patidar confident ahead of RCB’s Qualifier 1 clash Wins after 14 league matches In their 2022 title-winning season, Gujarat Titans had already secured a top position by winning 10 out of their 14 matches, building early momentum that allowed them to dominate the league stage comfortably. In the current 2026 campaign, GT have once again maintained a strong mid-season push with nine wins in 14 matches proving their consistency in building early qualification pressure rather than late surges. Net Run Rate (NRR) In 2022, GT finished with a healthy positive net run rate of around +0.316, reflecting their ability to win games convincingly rather than narrowly. In the current IPL 2026 season, their NRR trend has improved to +0.695, because of more attacking batting and higher 200+ totals in the league from all teams. Runs scored The 2022 side was built on controlled batting, as they scored 2,339 runs in 278.1 overs at a run rate of 8.4. In 2026, the batting approach has become more attacking with 2,558 runs in 270.4 overs at a run rate of 9.4. The overall team totals trending higher in comparison, especially in matches where the top order has fired. Wickets taken Bowling has always been GT’s strongest identity. In 2022, they were the second top wicket-taking side with 100 wickets out of 160 available. In the current season, the wicket tally remains strong with 107 wickets in 14 matches so far. GT also gave away 2,216 runs in 273.5 overs at 8.10 in 2022 and in IPL 2026, they have managed to hover around the same data - giving away 2,434 runs in 278 overs at a rate of 8.75. Top performers GT built IPL 2022 victory around middle-order with Hardik Pandya and David Miller scoring nearly 500 runs coupled with Shubman Gill's 483 at the top. In 2026, GT has relied heavily on the top order with Gill again scoring 616 runs and building great partnership with Sai Sudharsan who has Orange Cap with 638 runs. Jos Buttler is also chipping in beautifully at number 3 with 469 runs. As for wickets, In IPL 202 GT relied on Mohammed Shami (20) and Rashid Khan (19) for wickets while in IPL 2026, they have Kagiso Rabada (24), Rashid Khan (19) and Mohammed Siraj (17) doing the work for them.

Since 2022, GT have made it to playoffs three more times in four seasons including in IPL 2026. The winner of GT vs RCB will go straight to the final while the lose will face winner of SRH vs RR eliminator in the second qualifier.

IPL 2026 | Will GT repeat 2022 title-winning feat - What data says about two seasons?

The IPL 2026 is in the playoff stage and the four teams remain in contention for a title. The teams which remain in the hunt for the title after 14 games each in the league stage are: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Rajasthan Royals. All four teams have won at least one title each - in fact only one title each. With only the top teams remaining to play the playoffs stage, the race for Orange Cap and Purple Cap has also gotten thinner. The question is - How many times a team has won back-to-back titles and what does it take to do it? Let's look at the data from previous years and try to pick out a winner -<h2>How can Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defend IPL title?</h2>Only two teams in the history of IPL have won consecutive title - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2010 &amp; 2011 and Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2019 &amp; 2020. During their back-to-back title wins, no players from either teams won Orange Cup or Purple Cap. As of now, GT's Said Sudharsan (638 runs) holds the Orange Cap for most runs and Purple Cap for most wicket is held jointly by RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar and GT's Kagiso Rabada with 24 wickets each - a slight disadvantage for RCB from historical set of eyes.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2026-road-to-playoffs-how-rcb-gt-srh-and-rr-entered-top-4-1779683121847">IPL 2026 Road to Playoffs: How RCB, GT, SRH and RR entered top 4</a>During RCB's maiden title win in 2025, however, GT's Sudharsan (759 runs) and Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets) had the Orange Cap ad Purple Cap, respectively. In the ongoing edition, GT again have Orange Cap leader as of now and also the joint Purple Cap leader as well - something which could work in favour of RCB? Only time will tell.<h2>How many times a Purple Cap winner has won IPL?</h2>In the 18-year-long history of IPL, only three times a Purple Cap winner has won the IPL trophy as well and those players are: Sohail Tanvir - Won Purple Cap with 22 wickets in 2008 and Rajasthan Royals won the title. RP Singh - Won Purple Cap with 23 wickets in 2009 and Deccan Chargers won the title. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Won Purple Cap with 23 wickets in 2016 and SRH won the title.With Bhuvi once again leading the list, jointly though, RCB do have a chance to win the title.<h2>How many times an Orange Cap winner has won the IPL?</h2>Batting surely gets all the attention in the IPL but winning Orange Cap for a team does not guarantee an IPL title. In fact, only two times in the history of the tournament a batter has won both - Orange Cap and IPL title - Robin Uthappa with 660 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014 and Ruturaj Gaikwad with 635 runs for CSK in 2021.As for RCB, Sai Saudharsan was the Orange Cap winner and he is at the top in the ongoing edition as well - another plus for RCB's title hopes.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2010 & 2011 and Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2019 & 2020 are the only two teams to win back-to-back IPL trophies in tournament history.

The IPL 2026 is in the playoff stage and the four teams remain in contention for a title. The teams which remain in the hunt for the title after 14 games each in the league stage are: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Rajasthan Royals. All four teams have won at least one title each - in fact only one title each. With only the top teams remaining to play the playoffs stage, the race for Orange Cap and Purple Cap has also gotten thinner. The question is - How many times a team has won back-to-back titles and what does it take to do it? Let's look at the data from previous years and try to pick out a winner - How can Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defend IPL title? Only two teams in the history of IPL have won consecutive title - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2010 & 2011 and Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2019 & 2020. During their back-to-back title wins, no players from either teams won Orange Cup or Purple Cap. As of now, GT's Said Sudharsan (638 runs) holds the Orange Cap for most runs and Purple Cap for most wicket is held jointly by RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar and GT's Kagiso Rabada with 24 wickets each - a slight disadvantage for RCB from historical set of eyes. Also Read - IPL 2026 Road to Playoffs: How RCB, GT, SRH and RR entered top 4 During RCB's maiden title win in 2025, however, GT's Sudharsan (759 runs) and Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets) had the Orange Cap ad Purple Cap, respectively. In the ongoing edition, GT again have Orange Cap leader as of now and also the joint Purple Cap leader as well - something which could work in favour of RCB? Only time will tell. How many times a Purple Cap winner has won IPL? In the 18-year-long history of IPL, only three times a Purple Cap winner has won the IPL trophy as well and those players are: Sohail Tanvir - Won Purple Cap with 22 wickets in 2008 and Rajasthan Royals won the title. RP Singh - Won Purple Cap with 23 wickets in 2009 and Deccan Chargers won the title. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Won Purple Cap with 23 wickets in 2016 and SRH won the title. With Bhuvi once again leading the list, jointly though, RCB do have a chance to win the title. How many times an Orange Cap winner has won the IPL? Batting surely gets all the attention in the IPL but winning Orange Cap for a team does not guarantee an IPL title. In fact, only two times in the history of the tournament a batter has won both - Orange Cap and IPL title - Robin Uthappa with 660 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014 and Ruturaj Gaikwad with 635 runs for CSK in 2021. As for RCB, Sai Saudharsan was the Orange Cap winner and he is at the top in the ongoing edition as well - another plus for RCB's title hopes.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2010 &amp; 2011 and Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2019 &amp; 2020 are the only two teams to win back-to-back IPL trophies in tournament history.

IPL 2026 | Will RCB be able to defend title? Here's what data says about consecutive trophy winners

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2026 match on Sunday (May 10) by two wickets in Raipur to snap two-game winning streak. Chasing a modest 167, the defending champions were in a pickle cross the line on the last ball in a thrilling finish to go to of the points table. RCB now have 14 points from seven wins and four losses in 11 games. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians, however, crashed out of playoff race with eighth loss of the season. Mumbai, along with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), have six points from three wins and eight losses in 11 games in the ongoing season.<h2>Krunal Pandya holds RCB together</h2>The defending champs lost ace batter Virat Kohli for a duck in the first over of the chase before losing Devdutt Padikkal (12) and skipper Rajat Patidar (8) inside powerplay as well. At 39/3 in 5.1 overs, Jacob Bethell (27) and Krunal Pandya added 55 runs in the next seven overs to bring some stability to the chase. After Bethell, Pandya added 37 runs with Jitesh Sharma (18) as well as RCB came within 40 runs of the target.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-urvil-patel-csk-star-equals-fastest-fifty-record-in-ipl-history-1778425484518">Who is Urvil Patel? CSK star equals fastest fifty record in IPL history</a>Corbin Bosch then dismissed Jitesh and Tim David on the last two balls of 16th over to jolt RCB once more. After Pandya, who scored 73 off 46, was out at the completion of 18th over, RCB needed 17 runs in 12 balls with three wickets in hand. The tail-enders did well to hold their nerves and score the required runs including a double on the last ball to take the team home by two wickets in a breathtaking finish.<h2>MI batters fail again</h2>Batting first, MI lost opener Ryan Rickelton in the first over to Buvneshwar Kumar. The pacer, in his next over, dismissed Rohit Sharma (22) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav on the consecutive balls to leave MI reeling at 28/3. Naman Dhir (47) and Tilak Varma (57) then added 82 runs for the third wicket and took MI past 100. The batters after that, Will Jacks (10) &amp; Raj Bawa (16), could not contribute much as MI finished at 166/7 in 20 overs and Bhuvi finished with 4/23 in four overs.

RCB beat Mumbai Indians by 2 wickets in IPL 2026 on Sunday (May 10) to go top of the points table. MI, however, crashed out of playoffs race after eighth loss of the season in 11 matches.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2026 match on Sunday (May 10) by two wickets in Raipur to snap two-game winning streak. Chasing a modest 167, the defending champions were in a pickle cross the line on the last ball in a thrilling finish to go to of the points table. RCB now have 14 points from seven wins and four losses in 11 games. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians, however, crashed out of playoff race with eighth loss of the season. Mumbai, along with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), have six points from three wins and eight losses in 11 games in the ongoing season. Krunal Pandya holds RCB together The defending champs lost ace batter Virat Kohli for a duck in the first over of the chase before losing Devdutt Padikkal (12) and skipper Rajat Patidar (8) inside powerplay as well. At 39/3 in 5.1 overs, Jacob Bethell (27) and Krunal Pandya added 55 runs in the next seven overs to bring some stability to the chase. After Bethell, Pandya added 37 runs with Jitesh Sharma (18) as well as RCB came within 40 runs of the target. Also Read - Who is Urvil Patel? CSK star equals fastest fifty record in IPL history Corbin Bosch then dismissed Jitesh and Tim David on the last two balls of 16th over to jolt RCB once more. After Pandya, who scored 73 off 46, was out at the completion of 18th over, RCB needed 17 runs in 12 balls with three wickets in hand. The tail-enders did well to hold their nerves and score the required runs including a double on the last ball to take the team home by two wickets in a breathtaking finish. MI batters fail again Batting first, MI lost opener Ryan Rickelton in the first over to Buvneshwar Kumar. The pacer, in his next over, dismissed Rohit Sharma (22) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav on the consecutive balls to leave MI reeling at 28/3. Naman Dhir (47) and Tilak Varma (57) then added 82 runs for the third wicket and took MI past 100. The batters after that, Will Jacks (10) & Raj Bawa (16), could not contribute much as MI finished at 166/7 in 20 overs and Bhuvi finished with 4/23 in four overs.

RCB beat Mumbai Indians by 2 wickets in IPL 2026 on Sunday (May 10) to go top of the points table. MI, however, crashed out of playoffs race after eighth loss of the season in 11 matches.

Who won yesterday's IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians? check result

Delhi Capitals (DC) played their last two IPL 2026 matches at home ground - Arun Jaitely Stadium - lost both, unfortunately, but in drastically different ways. On Saturday (Apr 25), DC scored 264/2 against Punjab Kings which Shreyas Iyer-led team chased down with seven balls and six wickets in hand. In the second match, on Monday (Apr 27), DC were blown away by RCB opening bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, succumbing to 13/6 in the powerplay - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/was-dcs-13-6-lowest-powerplay-score-in-ipl-history-3-of-6-lowest-scores-belong-to-csk-1777345981437">lowest score in IPL history in the first six overs</a>. DC were eventually bowled out for 75 and RCB chased down the paltry target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left. After these two juxtaposing losses, the question is how DC went from 264/2 in 20 overs to 75 all-out in space of two days at the same ground?<h2>How Delhi went from 264/2 to 75 all-out in span of two days?</h2>DC's match against Punjab Kings was played during the day time with 3:30 PM IST start time. The stadium, located in Delhi, is in northern part of India which is experiencing hot days that may have resulted in moisture being evaporated from the pitch - making it suitable for stroke making. Both the teams, DC and PBKS, took full advantage of the flatter deck with over 550 runs being scored in 39 overs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2026-kohli-creates-run-scoring-history-9000-runs-amid-rcb-s-bowling-masterclass-vs-dc-1777344524614">IPL | Kohli creates run-scoring history post RCB's bowling masterclass vs DC</a>The DC vs RCB match was played in the evening, 7:30 PM IST start time, with pitch having just enough moisture for the bowlers to gain some movement in the early overs. The DC batters were not able to adjust to the movement, pace, and bounce of the pitch of their own backyard and hence the historic collapse.<h2>What about oppostion bowling?</h2>PBKS, DC's opponent in the first of last two matches, are not having a great bowling season. The table toppers have conceded in 195 or more runs in each of their seven completed matches barring the 2026 season opener against Gujarat Titans.As for RCB, Bhuvi and Hazlewood are both known for their swing and Test match lines, which was on display against DC on Monday and coupled with an assisting pitch, there was nothing DC could do except be patient which is not how the T20s are played in the current era.

On Saturday (Apr 25), DC scored 264/2 against Punjab Kings which Shreyas Iyer-led team chased down with seven balls and six wickets in hand. In the second match, on Monday (Apr 27), DC were blown away by RCB for 75 and RCB chased down the paltry target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left.

Delhi Capitals (DC) played their last two IPL 2026 matches at home ground - Arun Jaitely Stadium - lost both, unfortunately, but in drastically different ways. On Saturday (Apr 25), DC scored 264/2 against Punjab Kings which Shreyas Iyer-led team chased down with seven balls and six wickets in hand. In the second match, on Monday (Apr 27), DC were blown away by RCB opening bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, succumbing to 13/6 in the powerplay - lowest score in IPL history in the first six overs. DC were eventually bowled out for 75 and RCB chased down the paltry target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left. After these two juxtaposing losses, the question is how DC went from 264/2 in 20 overs to 75 all-out in space of two days at the same ground? How Delhi went from 264/2 to 75 all-out in span of two days? DC's match against Punjab Kings was played during the day time with 3:30 PM IST start time. The stadium, located in Delhi, is in northern part of India which is experiencing hot days that may have resulted in moisture being evaporated from the pitch - making it suitable for stroke making. Both the teams, DC and PBKS, took full advantage of the flatter deck with over 550 runs being scored in 39 overs. Also Read - IPL | Kohli creates run-scoring history post RCB's bowling masterclass vs DC The DC vs RCB match was played in the evening, 7:30 PM IST start time, with pitch having just enough moisture for the bowlers to gain some movement in the early overs. The DC batters were not able to adjust to the movement, pace, and bounce of the pitch of their own backyard and hence the historic collapse. What about oppostion bowling? PBKS, DC's opponent in the first of last two matches, are not having a great bowling season. The table toppers have conceded in 195 or more runs in each of their seven completed matches barring the 2026 season opener against Gujarat Titans. As for RCB, Bhuvi and Hazlewood are both known for their swing and Test match lines, which was on display against DC on Monday and coupled with an assisting pitch, there was nothing DC could do except be patient which is not how the T20s are played in the current era.

On Saturday (Apr 25), DC scored 264/2 against Punjab Kings which Shreyas Iyer-led team chased down with seven balls and six wickets in hand. In the second match, on Monday (Apr 27), DC were blown away by RCB for 75 and RCB chased down the paltry target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left.

IPL 2026 | What went wrong? How Delhi Capitals went from 264/2 to 75 all-out in span of two days at home ground

Delhi Capitals could not bat for their life on April 27 in IPL 2026 against RCB - managing only 13/6 in the powerplay - the lowest score in the first six overs in the IPL history. Among the 6 lowest IPL scores in powerplay - three belong to five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Was DC's 13/6 lowest powerplay score in IPL history? 3 of 6 lowest scores belong to CSK

The RCB vs DC match in IPL 2026 on Monday (Apr 26) will be remembered for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood blowing Delhi away at Arun Jaitely stadium in the national capital. Virat Kohli, India's one the greatest batters ever, however, still managed to create some batting history as well. RCB needed just 76 runs to wih the game and they did so in 6.3 overs with Kohli hitting two pristine maximums to finish off the game. He finished at unbeaten 23 off 15 balls, hitting two sixes and one four in the innings. During his 23 runs, Kohli became the first player in the IPL history to reach 9000-run milestone.<h2>Kohli reaches where no batter has gone before</h2>Kohli is IPL's highest run getter and the first one to reach the 9000-run mark as well. In fact, he is the only batter to cross even 8000-run mark as well. Playing since the inaugural edition of 2008, Kohli has batted in 267 innings - all for RCB - in 275 matches and scored 9,012 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 134. He has 66 fifties to his name and eight hudreds as well - also the highest in the league.Also read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-tweaked-it-again-csk-coach-fleming-shares-grim-update-on-ms-dhoni-calf-injury-1777295403141">‘He tweaked it’: CSK coach Fleming shares grim update on MS Dhoni’s calf injury</a><h2>Who is behind Kohli in batting numbers?</h2>Kohli's run scoring in IPL is so significantally higher than other batters that the second best run getter in the tournament history is nearly 2000 runs behind him and the third best batter is about 2300 runs short. Rohit Sharma, Kohli's longtime India teammate, is IPL's second highest run getter at 7,183 runs in 271 innings of 276 matches at an average of 29 and a strike rate of 132.60. Shikhar Dhawan comes next with 6,769 runs in 221 innings of 222 matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 127.

He finished at unbeaten 23 off 15 balls, hitting two sixes and one four in the innings. During his 23 runs, Kohli became the first player in the IPL history to reach 9000-run milestone as RCB chased 76-run target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left vs DC on Monday (Apr 27).

The RCB vs DC match in IPL 2026 on Monday (Apr 26) will be remembered for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood blowing Delhi away at Arun Jaitely stadium in the national capital. Virat Kohli, India's one the greatest batters ever, however, still managed to create some batting history as well. RCB needed just 76 runs to wih the game and they did so in 6.3 overs with Kohli hitting two pristine maximums to finish off the game. He finished at unbeaten 23 off 15 balls, hitting two sixes and one four in the innings. During his 23 runs, Kohli became the first player in the IPL history to reach 9000-run milestone. Kohli reaches where no batter has gone before Kohli is IPL's highest run getter and the first one to reach the 9000-run mark as well. In fact, he is the only batter to cross even 8000-run mark as well. Playing since the inaugural edition of 2008, Kohli has batted in 267 innings - all for RCB - in 275 matches and scored 9,012 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 134. He has 66 fifties to his name and eight hudreds as well - also the highest in the league. Also read - ‘He tweaked it’: CSK coach Fleming shares grim update on MS Dhoni’s calf injury Who is behind Kohli in batting numbers? Kohli's run scoring in IPL is so significantally higher than other batters that the second best run getter in the tournament history is nearly 2000 runs behind him and the third best batter is about 2300 runs short. Rohit Sharma, Kohli's longtime India teammate, is IPL's second highest run getter at 7,183 runs in 271 innings of 276 matches at an average of 29 and a strike rate of 132.60. Shikhar Dhawan comes next with 6,769 runs in 221 innings of 222 matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 127.

He finished at unbeaten 23 off 15 balls, hitting two sixes and one four in the innings. During his 23 runs, Kohli became the first player in the IPL history to reach 9000-run milestone as RCB chased 76-run target in 6.3 overs with nine wickets left vs DC on Monday (Apr 27).

IPL 2026 | Kohli creates run-scoring history after RCB's bowling masterclass vs DC

From CSK to MI here is a look at five teams to play most matches in IPL Playoffs. The list also features the likes of RCB, KKR and SRH as the race for the IPL 2026 Playoff intensifies. 

From CSK to MI, 5 teams to play most matches in IPL Playoffs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won yesterday's (Apr 15) IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets. With the win, RCB (8 points in 5 games) moved to top spot on the points table while LSG (4 points in 5 matches) slipped down to seventh. Chasing a modest 147, RCB were never in trouble as reached to the target in 16th over. For the defending champions, Virat Kohli top scored with 49 while skipper Rajat Patidar (27 off 13) and Jitesh Sharma (23 not out off 9), played handy cameos. For LSG, Prince Yadav took 3/32 in three overs and Avesh Khan picked up 2/23 in four overs.<h2>Not 100% fit Kohli takes RCB home</h2>Virat Kohli, who became the orange cap (228 runs) holder after his innings of 49 runs vs LSG, revealed after the game that he's not 100 percent fit. "I'm still not 100%. My knee was a bit sore last game. Even health-wise, I've been under the weather for four or five days now. So yeah, just getting back up to my best," said the veteran batter.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-s-vaishali-rameshbabu-scripts-history-beats-gm-kateryna-lagno-to-win-2026-fide-women-s-candidates-1776283355299">Vaishali Rameshbabu beats Kateryna Lagno to win 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates</a>After Phil Salt departed early, Kohli added 57 runs for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal and 20 runs with skipper Patidar before being dismissed on the 11th over with team at 86/3. RCB were well on course of victory by the time Kohli departed, needing 60-odd runs in nearly 10 overs with seven wickets left.<h2>Troubles mount for LSG</h2>`LSG started the season with a loss before winning next two matches but have lost their way in the last two games. Their batting is not coming together and it is costing them a lot. Speaking after the loss, batter Nicholas Pooran, who himself is horribly out of form, said: "Tough season for us, we were below par, 175 would have been competitive, we have been struggling with the bat ... It's T20 cricket, tough game, tough to stay consistent, guys have been working hard, it's a matter of time, have to stay patient and take the opportunity when it comes. I'm feeling really good, stroking the ball nicely but it hasn't gone my way. I've been in this situation before and confident I can do it."

With the 5-wicket win, RCB (8 points in 5 games) moved to top spot on the points table while LSG (4 points in 5 matches) slipped down to seventh. Chasing a modest 147, RCB were never in trouble as reached to the target in 16th over.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won yesterday's (Apr 15) IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets. With the win, RCB (8 points in 5 games) moved to top spot on the points table while LSG (4 points in 5 matches) slipped down to seventh. Chasing a modest 147, RCB were never in trouble as reached to the target in 16th over. For the defending champions, Virat Kohli top scored with 49 while skipper Rajat Patidar (27 off 13) and Jitesh Sharma (23 not out off 9), played handy cameos. For LSG, Prince Yadav took 3/32 in three overs and Avesh Khan picked up 2/23 in four overs. Not 100% fit Kohli takes RCB home Virat Kohli, who became the orange cap (228 runs) holder after his innings of 49 runs vs LSG, revealed after the game that he's not 100 percent fit. "I'm still not 100%. My knee was a bit sore last game. Even health-wise, I've been under the weather for four or five days now. So yeah, just getting back up to my best," said the veteran batter. Also Read - Vaishali Rameshbabu beats Kateryna Lagno to win 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates After Phil Salt departed early, Kohli added 57 runs for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal and 20 runs with skipper Patidar before being dismissed on the 11th over with team at 86/3. RCB were well on course of victory by the time Kohli departed, needing 60-odd runs in nearly 10 overs with seven wickets left. Troubles mount for LSG `LSG started the season with a loss before winning next two matches but have lost their way in the last two games. Their batting is not coming together and it is costing them a lot. Speaking after the loss, batter Nicholas Pooran, who himself is horribly out of form, said: "Tough season for us, we were below par, 175 would have been competitive, we have been struggling with the bat ... It's T20 cricket, tough game, tough to stay consistent, guys have been working hard, it's a matter of time, have to stay patient and take the opportunity when it comes. I'm feeling really good, stroking the ball nicely but it hasn't gone my way. I've been in this situation before and confident I can do it."

With the 5-wicket win, RCB (8 points in 5 games) moved to top spot on the points table while LSG (4 points in 5 matches) slipped down to seventh. Chasing a modest 147, RCB were never in trouble as reached to the target in 16th over.

Who won yesterday's IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants? check result

Rajasthan Royals remain the only team to win all four matches while PBKS have three wins and one no-result. KKR, on the other hand, are still searching for first win. Check how all the teams stack up after four matches each

IPL 2026 | 4 matches each - KKR still waiting for a win while RR stay unbeaten - check how teams stack

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dismantled five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026 on Sunday (Apr 5) in Bengaluru. The defending champions RCB mounted a huge total of 250/3 in 20 overs, thanks to late burst of Tim David who hit 70 not out in just 25 balls. His innings would have ended at 28 off just 14 balls when he was bowled by Anshul Kamboj but it was a no-ball. He then went on to smash five sixes and a four in next 11 balls faced, hitting a fifty in just 21 balls. The fifty was David's second in the IPL with the first one coming last season, also for RCB.<h2>David explains his batting mayhem vs CSK</h2>The Aussie batter won the Player of the Match (POTM) for his performance and was asked about it at the presentation, to which he said: "Very pleased - does not always happen that way. The skipper (Rajat Patidar) was smoking it, and I just took some balls off him - it was super fun. I do not change my game much, but I have confidence from all the prep I do."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-lsg-s-shami-reveals-why-he-plays-all-domestic-matches-despite-being-overlooked-for-india-1775445709650">IPL | Shami on why he plays domestic matches despite being overlooked for India</a>David also shared that "going in to bat with Jitesh and Shepherd behind me really gives me confidence. Lot of prep we do here."<h2>What is ailing CSK?</h2>The five-time winners are not able to find their groove at all this season so far. The failing openers including Sanju Samson, who was traded from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the season for Ravindra Jadeja, has also not been able to replicate his T20 World Cup knockout form, CSK's bowling is looking toothless at the moment, and with veteran MS Dhoni out, the team's morale is not getting any higher. The only shining spot in CSK's otherwise disappointing campaign so far is Sarfaraz Khan with the bat, scoring 99 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 202 including a 25-ball against RCB.

David's innings would have ended at 28 off just 14 balls when he was bowled by Anshul Kamboj but it was a no-ball. He then went on to smash five sixes and a four in next 11 balls faced, hitting a fifty in just 21 balls before finishing on 70 not out off just 25 balls.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dismantled five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026 on Sunday (Apr 5) in Bengaluru. The defending champions RCB mounted a huge total of 250/3 in 20 overs, thanks to late burst of Tim David who hit 70 not out in just 25 balls. His innings would have ended at 28 off just 14 balls when he was bowled by Anshul Kamboj but it was a no-ball. He then went on to smash five sixes and a four in next 11 balls faced, hitting a fifty in just 21 balls. The fifty was David's second in the IPL with the first one coming last season, also for RCB. David explains his batting mayhem vs CSK The Aussie batter won the Player of the Match (POTM) for his performance and was asked about it at the presentation, to which he said: "Very pleased - does not always happen that way. The skipper (Rajat Patidar) was smoking it, and I just took some balls off him - it was super fun. I do not change my game much, but I have confidence from all the prep I do." Also Read - IPL | Shami on why he plays domestic matches despite being overlooked for India David also shared that "going in to bat with Jitesh and Shepherd behind me really gives me confidence. Lot of prep we do here." What is ailing CSK? The five-time winners are not able to find their groove at all this season so far. The failing openers including Sanju Samson, who was traded from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the season for Ravindra Jadeja, has also not been able to replicate his T20 World Cup knockout form, CSK's bowling is looking toothless at the moment, and with veteran MS Dhoni out, the team's morale is not getting any higher. The only shining spot in CSK's otherwise disappointing campaign so far is Sarfaraz Khan with the bat, scoring 99 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 202 including a 25-ball against RCB.

David's innings would have ended at 28 off just 14 balls when he was bowled by Anshul Kamboj but it was a no-ball. He then went on to smash five sixes and a four in next 11 balls faced, hitting a fifty in just 21 balls before finishing on 70 not out off just 25 balls.

IPL 2026 | 'Skipper was smoking it...,' RCB's Tim David shares mindset behind his mayhem vs CSK

The net run rate is something all IPL teams keep in mind while trying to finish the match. The parameter, atlhough secondary, comes handy more often than not when the teams are tied at same points following the league stage matches. The smallest of the difference can cost a team a place in the final. In the IPL, first two teams after the league stage matches - 14 of them - play qualifier for a place in the final. The losing team, however, gets another chance by virtue of finishing in top two to play the second qualifier. The third and fourth placed teams, however, get only shot at advancing with losing team's season coming to end after the eliminator. The winner, meanwhile, has to pass another hurdle in the second qualifier to get to the final.<h2>What is net run rate and how it is calculated in the IPL?</h2>In simple terms, net run rate (NRR) is the difference between runs scored and given by a team over the course of season. Higher the NRR, better the chances of a team of finishing in top two if their points are same as another team.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-how-can-rcb-defend-the-title-the-best-shot-it-to-win-8-more-league-stage-matches-1774852021862">IPL 2026 | Will RCB be able to defend the title? The best shot is to win 8 more league stage matches</a>To calculate NRR, first the total runs scored by a team in all their matches is divided by number of overs played to score those runs. For example, a team batted first 10 times in a season and played 20 overs in all those matches and while batting second, the team chased the target or got bowled out in 18 overs each time then the total runs scored by the team in all 14 matches will be divided by 20 overs X 10 matches = 200 overs + 18 overs X 4 matches = 72 overs, i.e., total 272 overs.Similarly, the same team bowled the opposition out in 18 overs in 10 matches but had to bowl 20 overs four times then runs given by the team will be divided by 18 overs X 10 matches = 180 overs + 20 overs X 4 matches = 80 overs, i.e., total 260 overs.Now, the net run rate or NRR of this team would be the Runs Scored/Overs Played - Runs given/Overs Bowled.<h2>How net run rate or NRR impacts IPL outcomes?</h2>The process of NRR was first introduced back in 2011 when CSK (0.443) finished over MI (0.40) by the virtue of NRR after two teams had same 18 points post league stage. The second-placed finish CSK played the final after winning the first qualifer against RCb while MI, despite winning eliminator against KKR, had to RCB to a place in final which they failed to do so and CSK went on to win the title.Since 2011, KKR in 2014, Mumbai Indians in 2019, CSK in 2021 and 2023 have won the title after finishing in top two by virtue of net run rate.

The parameter, atlhough secondary, comes handy more often than not when the teams are tied at same points following the league stage matches. Since CSK in 2011, KKR in 2014, MI in 2019, CSK in 2021 & 2023 have won the title after finishing in top two by virtue of net run rate.

The net run rate is something all IPL teams keep in mind while trying to finish the match. The parameter, atlhough secondary, comes handy more often than not when the teams are tied at same points following the league stage matches. The smallest of the difference can cost a team a place in the final. In the IPL, first two teams after the league stage matches - 14 of them - play qualifier for a place in the final. The losing team, however, gets another chance by virtue of finishing in top two to play the second qualifier. The third and fourth placed teams, however, get only shot at advancing with losing team's season coming to end after the eliminator. The winner, meanwhile, has to pass another hurdle in the second qualifier to get to the final. What is net run rate and how it is calculated in the IPL? In simple terms, net run rate (NRR) is the difference between runs scored and given by a team over the course of season. Higher the NRR, better the chances of a team of finishing in top two if their points are same as another team. Also Read - IPL 2026 | Will RCB be able to defend the title? The best shot is to win 8 more league stage matches To calculate NRR, first the total runs scored by a team in all their matches is divided by number of overs played to score those runs. For example, a team batted first 10 times in a season and played 20 overs in all those matches and while batting second, the team chased the target or got bowled out in 18 overs each time then the total runs scored by the team in all 14 matches will be divided by 20 overs X 10 matches = 200 overs + 18 overs X 4 matches = 72 overs, i.e., total 272 overs. Similarly, the same team bowled the opposition out in 18 overs in 10 matches but had to bowl 20 overs four times then runs given by the team will be divided by 18 overs X 10 matches = 180 overs + 20 overs X 4 matches = 80 overs, i.e., total 260 overs. Now, the net run rate or NRR of this team would be the Runs Scored/Overs Played - Runs given/Overs Bowled. How net run rate or NRR impacts IPL outcomes? The process of NRR was first introduced back in 2011 when CSK (0.443) finished over MI (0.40) by the virtue of NRR after two teams had same 18 points post league stage. The second-placed finish CSK played the final after winning the first qualifer against RCb while MI, despite winning eliminator against KKR, had to RCB to a place in final which they failed to do so and CSK went on to win the title. Since 2011, KKR in 2014, Mumbai Indians in 2019, CSK in 2021 and 2023 have won the title after finishing in top two by virtue of net run rate.

The parameter, atlhough secondary, comes handy more often than not when the teams are tied at same points following the league stage matches. Since CSK in 2011, KKR in 2014, MI in 2019, CSK in 2021 &amp; 2023 have won the title after finishing in top two by virtue of net run rate.

IPL 2026 | How is Net Run Rate calculated and how it has impacted IPL over years?

The IPL 2026 has started with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beating SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in season opener. RCB chased down 200+ total in record time to start their bid for the title defence - a feat achieved only twice in the IPL history since the inception of the tournament in 2008. While the fans would be hoping for RCB to repeat their title-winning performance from 2025, it might not be easy for the fact that it took them 18 years to win the first title and only two teams doing it so far in the history of the tournament.<h2>Which teams have successfully defending IPL title?</h2>The first stance of an IPL team defenfing its title came in 2011 when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won its second consecutive title, having won it first in 2009/10 season. The five-time champions had won both the trophies under the then captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who remains an integral part of the franchise since 2008 and an iconic figure in the Indian cricket history.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psl-2026-pak-s-fakhar-zaman-charged-with-ball-tampering-in-lahore-qalandars-vs-karachi-kings-1774834433031">PSL 2026: Pak's Fakhar Zaman charged with ball-tampering in Lahore vs Karachi</a>CSK had beaten Mumbai Indians (MI) in the final of 2010 for their first IPL title and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2011 to become the first team to successfully defend the title.The second such stance is when Mumbai Indians won back-to-back titles under Rohit Sharma in 2019 and 2020/21 season. MI beat CSK in 2019 final by 1 run in a thrilling finish and beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by five wickets in 2020/21 season to repeat the feat.<h2>How can RCB defend their IPL title?</h2>Looking at the history, CSK finished third on the points table after league stage with 7 wins in 14 matches in 2009/10 season to win the first of two titles. The Dhoni-led side improved to 9 wins in 14 matches in 2011, finished second on the points table after group stage before winning the second title on the trot.As for MI, the Rohit-led side finished atop the points table in both season, 2019 and 2020/21 with 9 wins in 14 matches to win back-to-back titles.It seems winning at least nine games in the league stage is the way to go for the teams to defend the title and RCB would be hoping for the same after showing off their capabilities in the first match of the tournament.

The fans would be hoping for RCB to repeat their title-winning performance from 2025, it might not be easy for the fact that it took them 18 years to win the first title and only two teams doing it so far in the history of the tournament - CSK in 2010 & 2011 and MI in 2019 & 2020.

The IPL 2026 has started with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beating SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in season opener. RCB chased down 200+ total in record time to start their bid for the title defence - a feat achieved only twice in the IPL history since the inception of the tournament in 2008. While the fans would be hoping for RCB to repeat their title-winning performance from 2025, it might not be easy for the fact that it took them 18 years to win the first title and only two teams doing it so far in the history of the tournament. Which teams have successfully defending IPL title? The first stance of an IPL team defenfing its title came in 2011 when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won its second consecutive title, having won it first in 2009/10 season. The five-time champions had won both the trophies under the then captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who remains an integral part of the franchise since 2008 and an iconic figure in the Indian cricket history. Also Read - PSL 2026: Pak's Fakhar Zaman charged with ball-tampering in Lahore vs Karachi CSK had beaten Mumbai Indians (MI) in the final of 2010 for their first IPL title and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2011 to become the first team to successfully defend the title. The second such stance is when Mumbai Indians won back-to-back titles under Rohit Sharma in 2019 and 2020/21 season. MI beat CSK in 2019 final by 1 run in a thrilling finish and beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by five wickets in 2020/21 season to repeat the feat. How can RCB defend their IPL title? Looking at the history, CSK finished third on the points table after league stage with 7 wins in 14 matches in 2009/10 season to win the first of two titles. The Dhoni-led side improved to 9 wins in 14 matches in 2011, finished second on the points table after group stage before winning the second title on the trot. As for MI, the Rohit-led side finished atop the points table in both season, 2019 and 2020/21 with 9 wins in 14 matches to win back-to-back titles. It seems winning at least nine games in the league stage is the way to go for the teams to defend the title and RCB would be hoping for the same after showing off their capabilities in the first match of the tournament.

The fans would be hoping for RCB to repeat their title-winning performance from 2025, it might not be easy for the fact that it took them 18 years to win the first title and only two teams doing it so far in the history of the tournament - CSK in 2010 &amp; 2011 and MI in 2019 &amp; 2020.

IPL 2026 | Will RCB be able to defend the title? The best shot is to win 8 more league stage matches

The IPL franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been sold in record billion-dollar deals, marking a historic moment in Indian cricket. The new RCB ownership consortium includes the Birla Group, Times Group, and Blackstone, signaling strong corporate backing and ambitious plans for the team. This sale reflects the growing commercial value of the IPL and its global appeal.

RCB & RR Sold in Billion-Dollar Deals | New RCB Owners: Birla, Times Group & Blackstone

Former Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli cannot stop making headlines as less than a week remains for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) to start. On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.<h2>Virat dismisses rumours</h2>In a cryptic Instagram story, Virat shared a laughing emoji, along with a claim stating that Virat had asked for a chartered flight to RCB management. This chartered flight would be arranged from India to London if there is a gap of three days between two IPL matches. The claim further added that Virat would return to India a day before the IPL match and rejoin the squad. However, a laughing emoji on the story did suggest that no such claims were true and the 2025 IPL winner would stay in India with the RCB squad.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;It is worth noting that Virat stays in London with his family these days, away from the media spotlight. He, along with wife Anushka and their two kids, have been traveling across the English capital and India whenever they have sporting commitments, but have largely opted to stay away from the media.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;The former India captain will return to competitive action on Saturday (Mar 28) when RCB take on 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser clash. Virat has joined the RCB squad for the pre-season and will be available full-time. Virat was last in competitive action in January when the Men in Blue faced New Zealand.

On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.

Former Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli cannot stop making headlines as less than a week remains for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) to start. On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter. Virat dismisses rumours In a cryptic Instagram story, Virat shared a laughing emoji, along with a claim stating that Virat had asked for a chartered flight to RCB management. This chartered flight would be arranged from India to London if there is a gap of three days between two IPL matches. The claim further added that Virat would return to India a day before the IPL match and rejoin the squad. However, a laughing emoji on the story did suggest that no such claims were true and the 2025 IPL winner would stay in India with the RCB squad. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli It is worth noting that Virat stays in London with his family these days, away from the media spotlight. He, along with wife Anushka and their two kids, have been traveling across the English capital and India whenever they have sporting commitments, but have largely opted to stay away from the media. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds The former India captain will return to competitive action on Saturday (Mar 28) when RCB take on 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser clash. Virat has joined the RCB squad for the pre-season and will be available full-time. Virat was last in competitive action in January when the Men in Blue faced New Zealand.

On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.

Virat Kohli to get chartered flight to London during IPL 2026? Here's how former RCB captain reacted

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) can now play their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 games at home ground Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The development comes after the Karnataka state government has cleared the venue for hosting IPL as well as international matches on Thursday (Feb 12). The venue was asked to implement multiple infrastructure changes including better security measures in the aftermath of June 4 stampede fowlloing RCB's maiden title win in which more than 25 fans lost thier lives. The venue was barrred from hosting matches after the stampede before the clearance on Feb 12. The decision comes as relief as RCB can now end their search for the alternate venue.<h2>What infrastructure changes were done at Chinnaswamy after Jun 4 stampede?</h2>After the unfortunate incident, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was asked to bring in a slew of changes - a total of 17 safety measures recommended by the Justice John D'Cunha. The home ministry had set a deadline of Mar 15 for the changes which were classified into short-term and long-term as KSCA undertook them in January under new president Venkatesh Prasad. The changes at the stadium included wider gates, defined pathways in and out of the venue for emergency services such as ambulances, multiple concourses for fan assembly inside the venue, and ramp constructions to facilitate easier access for the specially-abled.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-not-batting-friendly-india-players-kishan-and-pandya-ask-for-flatter-wickets-1770955512458">T20 WC 2026 | 'Not batting-friendly:' Kishan and Pandya ask for flatter wickets</a>According to KSCA prsident Prasad, most of the work is nering completion and welcome the state government's decision to allow them to use Chinnawamy as a venue again. "The BCCI is keen for us to host the IPL opening at Chinnaswamy. [I have] got to thank the state government and home ministry for their support along the way towards helping us bring cricket back," Prasad said after a meeting with state government officials. "We're confident of completing the infrastructure work on time."<h2>IPL 2026 schedule</h2>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the dates for the IPL 2026 which is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. The board, however, has not yet released the match schedule, probably because of uncertainty over Chinnasawmy as a venue which now has been cleared. The board may release the schdule soon for all IPL 2026 matches with Chinnaswamy as one of the venues.

The changes at the Chinnaswamy stadium included wider gates, defined pathways in and out of the venue for emergency services such as ambulances, multiple concourses for fan assembly inside the venue, and ramp constructions to facilitate easier access for the specially-abled.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) can now play their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 games at home ground Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The development comes after the Karnataka state government has cleared the venue for hosting IPL as well as international matches on Thursday (Feb 12). The venue was asked to implement multiple infrastructure changes including better security measures in the aftermath of June 4 stampede fowlloing RCB's maiden title win in which more than 25 fans lost thier lives. The venue was barrred from hosting matches after the stampede before the clearance on Feb 12. The decision comes as relief as RCB can now end their search for the alternate venue. What infrastructure changes were done at Chinnaswamy after Jun 4 stampede? After the unfortunate incident, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was asked to bring in a slew of changes - a total of 17 safety measures recommended by the Justice John D'Cunha. The home ministry had set a deadline of Mar 15 for the changes which were classified into short-term and long-term as KSCA undertook them in January under new president Venkatesh Prasad. The changes at the stadium included wider gates, defined pathways in and out of the venue for emergency services such as ambulances, multiple concourses for fan assembly inside the venue, and ramp constructions to facilitate easier access for the specially-abled. Also Read - T20 WC 2026 | 'Not batting-friendly:' Kishan and Pandya ask for flatter wickets According to KSCA prsident Prasad, most of the work is nering completion and welcome the state government's decision to allow them to use Chinnawamy as a venue again. "The BCCI is keen for us to host the IPL opening at Chinnaswamy. [I have] got to thank the state government and home ministry for their support along the way towards helping us bring cricket back," Prasad said after a meeting with state government officials. "We're confident of completing the infrastructure work on time." IPL 2026 schedule The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the dates for the IPL 2026 which is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. The board, however, has not yet released the match schedule, probably because of uncertainty over Chinnasawmy as a venue which now has been cleared. The board may release the schdule soon for all IPL 2026 matches with Chinnaswamy as one of the venues.

The changes at the Chinnaswamy stadium included wider gates, defined pathways in and out of the venue for emergency services such as ambulances, multiple concourses for fan assembly inside the venue, and ramp constructions to facilitate easier access for the specially-abled.

IPL 2026 | RCB home ground Chinnswamy cleared to host IPL and international matches after implementing infrastructure changes

Manchester United owners Glazer family, could soon have their stocks invested in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are reported to be interested in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Glazer family, which owns majority shares at Premier League side Manchester United, could be the latest high-profile owners in the league as they could join the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Ambani and others. RCB has been up for sale with multiple investors interested, including the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla<h2>Glazers interested in RCB?</h2>As per reports, the Glazer family has submitted an offer worth 1.8 billion dollars (roughly Rs 16,300 crore) through its investment company Lancer Capital, making it one of the strongest names in an ownership race that is now attracting attention well beyond India. The development comes just days after RCB’s women's side won the WPL 2026, having defeated Delhi Capitals in the summit clash.&nbsp;IPL teams are increasingly seen as major business assets, and RCB are among the league’s most valuable. RCB possesses one of the largest fan bases in the IPL and strong sponsorship and branding power.<h2>What happened in the WPL final?</h2>Lizelle Lee (37 in 30 balls, with three fours and three sixes) and Shafali Verma (20 in 13 balls, with three fours) put their team to a flying start. A 76-run stand for the third wicket between Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a captain's knock of 57 in 37 balls, with eight fours and Laura Wolvaardt (44 in 35 balls, with three fours and two sixes) brought them back to the game. Just when RCB threatened to pull things back, Chinelle Henry (35 in 15 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) played a fiery cameo to power DC to 203/4 in 20 overs, the highest in a WPL final.&nbsp;In the chase, RCB lost Grace Harris (8) early, but a 165-run stand between Smriti (87 in 41 balls, with 12 fours and three sixes) and Georgia Voll (79 in 54 balls, with 14 fours) pierced DC's chances with every hit. DC threatened to pull things back with three quick wickets in the final few overs, but Radha Yadav (12*) and Nadine de Klerk (7*) chased the total with six wickets and two balls in hand. Mandhana was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' award.

IPL teams are increasingly seen as major business assets, and RCB are among the league’s most valuable. RCB possesses one of the largest fan bases in the IPL and strong sponsorship and branding power.

Manchester United owners Glazer family, could soon have their stocks invested in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they are reported to be interested in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Glazer family, which owns majority shares at Premier League side Manchester United, could be the latest high-profile owners in the league as they could join the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Ambani and others. RCB has been up for sale with multiple investors interested, including the CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla Glazers interested in RCB? As per reports, the Glazer family has submitted an offer worth 1.8 billion dollars (roughly Rs 16,300 crore) through its investment company Lancer Capital, making it one of the strongest names in an ownership race that is now attracting attention well beyond India. The development comes just days after RCB’s women's side won the WPL 2026, having defeated Delhi Capitals in the summit clash. IPL teams are increasingly seen as major business assets, and RCB are among the league’s most valuable. RCB possesses one of the largest fan bases in the IPL and strong sponsorship and branding power. What happened in the WPL final? Lizelle Lee (37 in 30 balls, with three fours and three sixes) and Shafali Verma (20 in 13 balls, with three fours) put their team to a flying start. A 76-run stand for the third wicket between Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a captain's knock of 57 in 37 balls, with eight fours and Laura Wolvaardt (44 in 35 balls, with three fours and two sixes) brought them back to the game. Just when RCB threatened to pull things back, Chinelle Henry (35 in 15 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) played a fiery cameo to power DC to 203/4 in 20 overs, the highest in a WPL final. In the chase, RCB lost Grace Harris (8) early, but a 165-run stand between Smriti (87 in 41 balls, with 12 fours and three sixes) and Georgia Voll (79 in 54 balls, with 14 fours) pierced DC's chances with every hit. DC threatened to pull things back with three quick wickets in the final few overs, but Radha Yadav (12*) and Nadine de Klerk (7*) chased the total with six wickets and two balls in hand. Mandhana was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' award.

IPL teams are increasingly seen as major business assets, and RCB are among the league’s most valuable. RCB possesses one of the largest fan bases in the IPL and strong sponsorship and branding power.

Manchester United owners to buy IPL champions RCB? Here's what we know so far

Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their second Women’s Premier League title after defeating Delhi by six wickets in the WPL 2026 final. A dominant all-round performance sealed a memorable victory for RCB in the summit clash.


WPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Beat Delhi By Six Wickets In The Final

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2026-smriti-mandhana-georgia-voll-shine-in-record-chase-to-help-rcb-win-second-title-dc-lose-fourth-consecutive-final-1770312285617">won their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title</a> after beating Delhi Capitals on Thursday (Feb 5) by 6 wickets in Vadodara but the win didn't come without some drama. Needing four to win off last four balls, RCB's Radha Yadav hit a four but as soon as she hit the ball, DC wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee, inadvertently, dislodged one of the bails. The ball, nontheless, travelled to boundary as RCB chased down 204-run target. There was some confusion regarding the status of ball and the match, but the umpires awarded the win to RCB after checking if the batter was hit-wicket or not, which she wasn't.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-3-teams-200k-prize-money-bangladesh-announce-new-tournament-after-being-replaced-by-scotland-1770304836022">T20 WC 2026| Bangladesh announce new tournament after being replaced by Scotland</a><h2>WPL 2026: RCB winning hit becomes contentious</h2>RCB needed 10 runs off the final six balls with Radha Yadav and Nadine de Klerk batting and Sree Charani with the ball in hand. The bowler gave away two singles on the first two balls, making it 8 off 4 and giving a faint hope to Delhi. The hope, however, soon dashed as Radha smashed two back-to-back boundaries. The second boundary, however, took a bit of time to be awarded after the stumps were disturbed. Have a look at the video of the moment below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗? 🤩 An incredible finish to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAWPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAWPL</a> 2026 as <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCBTweets</a> clinch an absolute thriller to win their Title No. 2⃣ 👏 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa">https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAWPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAWPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClaimTheCrown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClaimTheCrown</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvDC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Final?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Final</a> <a href="https://t.co/sTZtNXQ3Ue">pic.twitter.com/sTZtNXQ3Ue</a>&mdash; Women&#39;s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) <a href="https://twitter.com/wplt20/status/2019467215431426145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>DC fail to break final jinx fourth time in a row</h2>Playing in their fourth consecutive WPL final, DC did well with the bat and scored 203/4 in 20 overs - the highest total in a Women's Premier League (WPL) final. For DC, skipper Jemimah Rodrigues scores a brilliant 55 off 37 and Laura Wolvaardt (44 unbeaten off 25) as well as Chinelle Henry (35 not out off 15) played brillliant cameos as well.Chasing the target, RCB lost Grace Harris cheaply in the second over itself but skipper and <a href="Meet top 5 batters with most runs in Women's Premier League 2026">orange cap winner</a> Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) and Georgia Voll (79 off 54) added 165 runs for the second wicket in 15.2 overs to effectively put the match out DC's hand. DC did make a small comeback by removing Mandhana, Voll and Richa Ghosh in space of 13 balls and 17 runs but it was too late for them. RCB eventually won their second title by chasing the highest total in WPL's final history and became only the second team after Mumbai Indians to have won two title.

RCB's Radha Yadav hit the winning four but as soon as she hit the ball, DC wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee, inadvertently, dislodged one of the bails. The ball, nontheless, travelled to boundary as RCB chased down 204-run target. There was some confusion but the umpires awarded the win to RCB.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title after beating Delhi Capitals on Thursday (Feb 5) by 6 wickets in Vadodara but the win didn't come without some drama. Needing four to win off last four balls, RCB's Radha Yadav hit a four but as soon as she hit the ball, DC wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee, inadvertently, dislodged one of the bails. The ball, nontheless, travelled to boundary as RCB chased down 204-run target. There was some confusion regarding the status of ball and the match, but the umpires awarded the win to RCB after checking if the batter was hit-wicket or not, which she wasn't. Also Read: T20 WC 2026| Bangladesh announce new tournament after being replaced by Scotland WPL 2026: RCB winning hit becomes contentious RCB needed 10 runs off the final six balls with Radha Yadav and Nadine de Klerk batting and Sree Charani with the ball in hand. The bowler gave away two singles on the first two balls, making it 8 off 4 and giving a faint hope to Delhi. The hope, however, soon dashed as Radha smashed two back-to-back boundaries. The second boundary, however, took a bit of time to be awarded after the stumps were disturbed. Have a look at the video of the moment below:

RCB's Radha Yadav hit the winning four but as soon as she hit the ball, DC wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee, inadvertently, dislodged one of the bails. The ball, nontheless, travelled to boundary as RCB chased down 204-run target. There was some confusion but the umpires awarded the win to RCB.

WPL 2026 | WATCH - RCB's winning hit creates confusion before lifting second title

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were at the top of their game on Friday (Feb 5) as they lifted their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, having beaten Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in the summit clash. The defeat was also DC’s fourth consecutive in the WPL, meaning they are in the record books for all the wrong reasons. While there was a moment of controversy in the end with bails falling while the winning four was scored.<h2>RCB lift second WPL title</h2>Tasked to chase 204 runs to win the final, DC scored a record total in the final. However, it was the brilliant batting display that saw RCB through to the final. Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) and Georgia Voll (79 off 54) saw RCB through as the pair stitched a stand of 165 runs from 92 balls. The pair single-handedly saw RCB through, having lost Grace Harris (9) on the first ball of the second over of their chase.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Despite a great batting show in the middle, the match needed a final over finish with Radha Yadav (unbeaten 12) and Nadine de Klerk (unbeaten 7) seeing RCB through. Towards the end of the chase, both Mandhana and Voll were dismissed, which saw RCB concerned. However, RCB made sure that they got over the line and won their second WPL title.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;Earlier, batting first, Delhi Capitals had all its batters in fine form as they scored 203/4 in their 20 overs. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues was the top scorer with 57 off 37, while all batters contributed to the team’s cause as they set a record total for RCB to win the final. Lizelle Lee (37 off 30), Chinelle Henry (35 off 15), Laura Wolvaardt (44 off 25) and Shafali Verma (20 off 13) were all in brilliant form as they helped the team register a total above 200.&nbsp;There was not much the bowlers could do as Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy and Nadine de Klerk all ended with a wicket each for RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were at the top of their game on Friday (Feb 5) as they lifted their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, having beaten Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in the summit clash.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were at the top of their game on Friday (Feb 5) as they lifted their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, having beaten Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in the summit clash. The defeat was also DC’s fourth consecutive in the WPL, meaning they are in the record books for all the wrong reasons. While there was a moment of controversy in the end with bails falling while the winning four was scored. RCB lift second WPL title Tasked to chase 204 runs to win the final, DC scored a record total in the final. However, it was the brilliant batting display that saw RCB through to the final. Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) and Georgia Voll (79 off 54) saw RCB through as the pair stitched a stand of 165 runs from 92 balls. The pair single-handedly saw RCB through, having lost Grace Harris (9) on the first ball of the second over of their chase. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Despite a great batting show in the middle, the match needed a final over finish with Radha Yadav (unbeaten 12) and Nadine de Klerk (unbeaten 7) seeing RCB through. Towards the end of the chase, both Mandhana and Voll were dismissed, which saw RCB concerned. However, RCB made sure that they got over the line and won their second WPL title. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Earlier, batting first, Delhi Capitals had all its batters in fine form as they scored 203/4 in their 20 overs. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues was the top scorer with 57 off 37, while all batters contributed to the team’s cause as they set a record total for RCB to win the final. Lizelle Lee (37 off 30), Chinelle Henry (35 off 15), Laura Wolvaardt (44 off 25) and Shafali Verma (20 off 13) were all in brilliant form as they helped the team register a total above 200. There was not much the bowlers could do as Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy and Nadine de Klerk all ended with a wicket each for RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were at the top of their game on Friday (Feb 5) as they lifted their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, having beaten Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets in the summit clash.

WPL 2026: Mandhana, Voll shine in record chase to help RCB win second title; DC lose fourth consecutive final

After suffering two consecutive defeats, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back to winning ways as they thrashed UP Warriroz by eight wickets in the 18th fixture of the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. With this victory, the Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued to stay at the top with 12 points to their name in eight matches. They have six wins and two losses, with a Net Run Rate of +1.247. Meg Lanning's UP Warriorz are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just four points in seven matches. They have suffered five defeats and secured two wins at a Net Run Rate of -1.146. After being asked to bat first, UP Warriorz were restricted to 143/8 in 20 overs. All-rounder Deepti Sharma and captain Meg Lanning stitched a crucial 74-run stand for the opening wicket for the Warriorz. This was also UP Warriorz's first 50-plus partnership for the first wicket this season. Captain Lanning departed after scoring 41 runs off 30 deliveries, with six fours and one six. Amy Jones had a dismal outing, scoring just one run.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a> Harleen Deol (14) didn't convert her start, whereas Chloe Tryon departed for just six runs. Deepti Sharma completed her half-century in 40 deliveries, which is also the joint-most 50-plus scores for the UP Warriorz alongside Tahila McGrath (4). The all-rounder played a fighting knock of 55 runs off 43 balls, with six fours and one six as UP Warriorz crossed the 140-run mark. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Lauren Bell (1/21), Shreyanka Patil (1/27), and Grace Harris (2/22) had decent outings with the ball. The star performer with the ball was Nadine de Klerk, who picked up a four-wicket haul (4/22), which broke the back of the UP Warriorz batting attack after a brilliant opening partnership.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a> Chasing 144 runs, Captain Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris stitched a match-winning 108-run partnership for the opening wicket. Mandhana also became the joint-most player to be involved in the most century stands in the tournament's history alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt (5). The elite list also includes Meg Lanning (4), Shafali Verma (4), and Hayley Matthews (4). Grace Harris departed after playing a blistering knock of 75 off 37 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down the 144-run target in just 13.1 overs. Captain Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54 off 27 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, as the one-time WPL champion registered a dominating eight-wicket win. For UP Warriorz, Shikha Pandey (1/36) and Asha Sobhana (1/24) were among the wicket-takers.&nbsp;(With Inputs from Agencies)

With this victory, the Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued to stay at the top with 12 points to their name in eight matches. They have six wins and two losses, with a Net Run Rate of +1.247.

After suffering two consecutive defeats, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back to winning ways as they thrashed UP Warriroz by eight wickets in the 18th fixture of the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season. With this victory, the Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued to stay at the top with 12 points to their name in eight matches. They have six wins and two losses, with a Net Run Rate of +1.247. Meg Lanning's UP Warriorz are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just four points in seven matches. They have suffered five defeats and secured two wins at a Net Run Rate of -1.146. After being asked to bat first, UP Warriorz were restricted to 143/8 in 20 overs. All-rounder Deepti Sharma and captain Meg Lanning stitched a crucial 74-run stand for the opening wicket for the Warriorz. This was also UP Warriorz's first 50-plus partnership for the first wicket this season. Captain Lanning departed after scoring 41 runs off 30 deliveries, with six fours and one six. Amy Jones had a dismal outing, scoring just one run. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Harleen Deol (14) didn't convert her start, whereas Chloe Tryon departed for just six runs. Deepti Sharma completed her half-century in 40 deliveries, which is also the joint-most 50-plus scores for the UP Warriorz alongside Tahila McGrath (4). The all-rounder played a fighting knock of 55 runs off 43 balls, with six fours and one six as UP Warriorz crossed the 140-run mark. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Lauren Bell (1/21), Shreyanka Patil (1/27), and Grace Harris (2/22) had decent outings with the ball. The star performer with the ball was Nadine de Klerk, who picked up a four-wicket haul (4/22), which broke the back of the UP Warriorz batting attack after a brilliant opening partnership. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Chasing 144 runs, Captain Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris stitched a match-winning 108-run partnership for the opening wicket. Mandhana also became the joint-most player to be involved in the most century stands in the tournament's history alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt (5). The elite list also includes Meg Lanning (4), Shafali Verma (4), and Hayley Matthews (4). Grace Harris departed after playing a blistering knock of 75 off 37 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down the 144-run target in just 13.1 overs. Captain Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54 off 27 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, as the one-time WPL champion registered a dominating eight-wicket win. For UP Warriorz, Shikha Pandey (1/36) and Asha Sobhana (1/24) were among the wicket-takers. (With Inputs from Agencies)

With this victory, the Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued to stay at the top with 12 points to their name in eight matches. They have six wins and two losses, with a Net Run Rate of +1.247.

WPL 2026: RCB dent UP Warriorz's Playoff hopes, clinch one-sided contest by eight wickets

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