In an IPL season where teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi confirmed himself as cricket’s next superstar, it was fitting that India’s current generational talent signed off the campaign in style.
Sooryavanshi’s Rajasthan Royals failed to qualify for Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, but the 15-year-old left with many of the biggest awards after watching a Virat Kohli masterclass inspire Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to another IPL title.
Kohli delivered a man-of-the-match performance with an unbeaten 75 from just 42 deliveries, including the fastest IPL half-century of his career, with the fans’ favourite completing a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans by hitting Arshad Khan for six.
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Virat Kohli wrapped up the IPL final win in style with a six to seal back-to-back titles for RCB
RCB chased down their modest target of 156 with two overs to spare to successfully defend their title, a year on from their maiden win, although it was Sooryavanshi who still dominated the individual season honours.
Sooryavanshi became the first player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Emerging Player awards, following a campaign that saw him also claim the Orange Cap after finishing as the league’s highest run scorer.
His 776 runs in 16 innings – at a strike-rate of 237.30 – will be a formidable target to beat in the years ahead, with Sooryavanshi also hitting a record-breaking 72 sixes during a season that saw him narrowly miss out on the fastest century in IPL history.
Comparisons have been made between Sooryavanshi’s campaign and Kohli’s record-breaking 973-run season in 2016, while Kohli himself has credited the sport’s new stars for helping him to still perform on the biggest stage.
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Kohli smashes 18 runs from four consecutive balls to put RCB in control, during a brilliant unbeaten 75
“Such is the demand of the sport today, you have these super young players pushing you all the time and asking you to change your game and up the ante,” Kohli said in his post-match interview.
“It’s an exciting situation because it gives you something to improve on, something to work towards. I just take a lot of pride in getting better and just trying to figure out areas where I can improve.
“The demands of the modern game, where you need to get those extra 30 runs, meant I had to change my mindset – not my game so much – to hit the shots I hit more often and take the opposition’s best bowlers on. I’m very happy I was able to contribute to the team’s cause.”
One brings two for ‘clinical’ RCB
The pursuit of sporting silverware has regularly been likened to the age-old saying about London buses, where you wait ages for one to arrive before two appear at the same time.
Rory McIlroy’s elusive victory at The Masters to complete the career Grand Slam last April came in his 17th appearance at Augusta National, 11 years on from his last major win, only for him to follow it up with a successful title defence earlier this year.
PSG’s penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal on Saturday saw them join Real Madrid as the only back-to-back winners of the UEFA Champions League, having never previously won the trophy, while RCB have enjoyed a similar upturn in fortunes.
RCB had three runner-up finishes and countless near-misses in their bid for a maiden IPL crown but now sit as just the third team, following on from Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020), to win successive titles.
Will Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru enjoy more IPL success next year?
“It doesn’t feel like the same pressure as last year,” Kohli insisted. “We knew what kind of ability we have in the group. We topped the table and there’s a reason why we got here first.
“We said if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition. There’s a reason why we have done well so far.
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The barest of margins saves Kohli in a late scare in the closing between RCB and Gujarat Titans
“We ended up topping the league stage and the skillsets we have, the maturity and the composure of the guys has shown through again. It was a clinical performance right throughout the tournament.”
Historic three-peat ahead for Kohli and RCB?
No player has won The Masters three consecutive years and no team has claimed the Champions League three years running in the modern era, leaving McIlroy and PSG facing the same three-peat bid in 2027 that RCB will also have their eyes on.
Sooryavanshi will likely be established in international cricket by next season and have further IPL records in his sights, including thwarting Kohli and RCB’s push for a title hat-trick.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi racked up an incredible 96 runs after a batting masterclass during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans on May 29
“I think the franchise has been put together beautifully,” said RCB’s Josh Hazlewood. “Not just the players, but I think the support staff – it’s a nice relaxed atmosphere to try to play your best cricket and perform.
“I think it’s hard to build that culture so quickly when the team changes quite a bit every three years, but it feels like we’ve got that now. Obviously winning helps, but it just feels like the team’s quite a tight unit and we’re playing for someone else other than ourselves sort of all the time.
“Three-peat? Yeah, I can’t see why not.”
India tour of England 2026
All times UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports
- First T20I (Wednesday July 1) – Chester-le-Street, Durham (5.30pm)
- Second T20I (Saturday July 4) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
- Third T20I (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
- Fourth T20I (Thursday July 9) – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
- Fifth T20I (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
- First ODI (Tuesday July 14) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
- Second ODI (Thursday July 16) – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)
- Third ODI (Sunday July 19) – Lord’s, London (11am)
Watch India’s white-ball tour of England, from July 1-19, live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Stream cricket and more with NOW.