Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be aiming for their second straight Indian Premier League (IPL) title when they face an in-form Gujarat Titans in the final at the 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, reports AFP.
The 37-year-old Kohli has been central to Bengaluru’s campaign since their maiden IPL title last year in the T20 tournament.
The batting great will return to the world’s largest cricket stadium, where Bengaluru lifted the trophy in 2025.
Bengaluru finished top of the 10-team table in the league stage and defeated Gujarat in the first qualifier to secure direct entry into the final.
However, Gujarat have bounced back strongly from that defeat. They thrashed Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier to reach their third final in five years, having won the title in 2022.
“In the IPL and in any form of cricket, you have to remain reasonably level regardless of the result,” Gujarat director of cricket Vikram Solanki said.
“If you come off the back of a defeat, you can’t get too low — because more often than not, you are preparing for the next game.”
Skipper Shubman Gill, who also leads India in Tests and ODIs, struck a brilliant 104 in New Chandigarh on Friday.
The 26-year-old has scored 722 runs this season, sitting second in the batting charts behind Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has 776 runs. Gill’s opening partner Sai Sudharsan is third with 710 runs.
The duo has been the backbone of Gujarat’s batting success this season.
“I can only imagine all the work Shubman has put in throughout his career to reach where he is today as a batter,” said former England batter and Gujarat director of cricket Vikram Solanki.
“He’s an exceptional young man. The way he is batting is just phenomenal.”
Experience counts
Kohli, who has retired from Test cricket and T20 internationals, has scored 600 runs this season, including one century and four half-centuries, at an average of 50 from 15 matches.
Bengaluru director of cricket Mo Bobat said, “Everybody understands what Kohli brings — his intensity, his fight, his hunger.”
“Experience counts for a lot in pressure games, but it also speaks volumes about their personality and character,” he added.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar stepped up in the first qualifier, smashing an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls.
His innings, after Kohli’s attacking 43, powered Bengaluru to a massive total of 254 in a 92-run win over Gujarat.
“Any team whose captain is playing well gains greater confidence,” Bobat said.
“We are becoming accustomed to seeing these kinds of knocks from him. He played some outrageous shots, but more importantly showed aggressive intent — that is leading by example.”
The final is expected to attract a crowd of more than 100,000 spectators.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
