BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on 1 June hailed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as worthy champions of IPL 2026, saying the razor-thin margins between franchises made this one of the most unpredictable and entertaining editions of the tournament. RCB clinched back-to-back IPL titles on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a clinical chase of 156.

Kohli's Masterclass Seals the Chase

Virat Kohli was the architect of the victory, smashing his fastest half-century in IPL history off just 25 balls before finishing unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls — an innings laced with nine fours and three sixes. It was also his highest score in the IPL playoffs. Venkatesh Iyer contributed a brisk 32 in support, ensuring the defending champions never relinquished control of the chase.

Notably, RCB have not lost a single match since 2025 whenever Kohli has scored a fifty — a streak that continued emphatically in the final.

What the BCCI Secretary Said

'Congratulations to the champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and to all the participating teams for making this season highly entertaining and competitive,' Saikia said. He added that Indian cricket 'continues to grow, with several young talents emerging through the tournament,' and that 'the season was conducted smoothly, and the fans thoroughly enjoyed it.'

On the competitive nature of the league, Saikia observed: 'Every team was equally competitive, and until the playoffs, it was difficult to predict the eventual winner. That level of competitiveness made this season even more exciting and entertaining.'

RCB Join Elite Company

With successive title wins, RCB have become only the third franchise in IPL history to retain the trophy, joining the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians — the two most decorated sides in the competition. The achievement cements RCB's transformation from perennial contenders to a dominant force in Indian T20 cricket.

A Season of Emerging Talent

Beyond the title race, Saikia highlighted the emergence of young players across franchises as a key structural gain for Indian cricket. The tournament's competitive balance — where no team was a runaway favourite heading into the playoffs — has drawn widespread praise from administrators and analysts alike. This comes amid growing scrutiny over player workloads and the IPL's expanding calendar, making the quality of cricket on display this season all the more significant.

With IPL 2026 now concluded, attention turns to whether RCB can sustain their dominance into a third successive campaign — and whether any franchise can finally dislodge them.