Kohli inspires RCB to back-to-back IPL titles

Kohli inspires RCB to back-to-back IPL titlesImage source, ReutersImage caption, Virat Kohli scored 4,188 runs in 117 T20 innings for India at an average of 48.69 between 2010 and 2024ByTimothy AbrahamBBC Sport JournalistPublished2 minutes agoCommentsIndian Premier League final, AhmedabadGujarat Titans 155-8 (20 overs): Washington 50 (37); Dar 3-27Royal Challengers Bengaluru 161-5 (18 overs): Kohli 75* (42); Rashid 2-25RCB won by five wicketsScorecardVirat Kohli's imperious unbeaten 75 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League final which secured back-to-back titles.RCB restricted Gujarat to 155-8, a total they chased down with 12 balls to spare after Kohli reached his fifth half-century of the season in largely one-sided final in Ahmedabad.Kohli sealed the win in style - striking the winning runs with a six to cap a magnificent 42-ball innings featuring nine fours and three sixes. The 37-year-old India legend then pointed to the stands as RCB's players sprinted out on the field to celebrate.Kohli said RCB were the "best team in the comp" and praised a "clinical performance" by his team-mates as the secured their second IPL title having won it for the first time in 18 years in 2025."I said to a few of the boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure as last year," Kohli said"We knew what kind of ability we have in the group. We topped the table. There's a reason why we got here first. "The skill sets we have, the maturity, the composure of the guys just shone through again."RCB's seamers set up the victory as Rasikh Salam Dar stood out with 3-27 in a disciplined attack alongside experienced campaigners Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who both took two wickets each.Only Washington Sundar offered much resistance as he scored a defiant 50 not out while England's Jos Buttler was stumped for 19.King Kohli reigns supremeWith t...