Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) sensational back-to-back IPL championship victory, Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar sparked a political row by claiming that Bengaluru was unfairly stripped of its right to host the final.
While congratulating the team, the Congress leader alleged that the blockbuster clash was moved to Gujarat’s Narendra Modi Stadium due to political interference.
“The RCB match was supposed to be held in Bengaluru. We have been wronged. They have taken it there because of politics… On behalf of the fans of Karnataka, the fans of RCB, and the state government, I wish the team all the best.” — DK Shivakumar (Set to take oath on June 3)
Back-to-Back Glory: How RCB Defended the Crown
Despite the venue controversy, RCB put on a clinical performance in Ahmedabad to defeat the Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 156.
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The King’s Masterclass: Virat Kohli spearheaded the chase, smashing a blistering 25-ball fifty and finishing unbeaten on 75 off 42 balls (including 9 fours and 3 sixes). This marked his highest-ever score in the IPL playoffs.
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The Lucky Charm Streak: With this win, RCB extended an unbelievable streak—they have not lost a single match since 2025 whenever Kohli scores a half-century.
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Supporting Act: Venkatesh Iyer provided a crucial, brisk cameo of 32 runs to ensure the defending champions stayed completely in control of the game.
Historic Milestones for RCB
With this victory, the Bengaluru franchise firmly cemented its place in IPL history:
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Elite Club: Having won their maiden trophy in Ahmedabad in 2025, RCB has now become only the third team in IPL history (alongside Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings) to successfully defend their title.
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The Qualifier 1 Advantage: The win extends a historic league trend—the winner of Qualifier 1 has now gone on to lift the trophy for nine consecutive seasons.
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Unbeaten Streaks: The victory keeps two incredible player records alive: fast bowler Josh Hazlewood remains undefeated in white-ball finals, while all-rounder Krunal Pandya maintains a perfect 100% win record in every IPL final he has ever played.
Meanwhile, a exhausted Gujarat Titans side—undone by a grueling travel schedule that saw them play three matches in three different cities over just six days—failed to recreate their 2022 championship magic on their home turf.
