A solid start from Virat Kohli during the finals against the Gujarat Titans has put RCB close to IPL 2026 glory.

After being invited to bat first, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill opened the innings while Jacob Duffy opened the bowling attack.

Josh Hazlewood brought the first breakthrough, dismissing Shubman Gill for 10 runs. He got dismissed on a short-length delivery with decent bounce, where Shubman Gill tried for a pull shot but mistimes as the ball went high in the air in mid-off, and Rajat Patidar bagged the catch.

Nishant Sindhu, who came to bat at No.3, joined Sai Sudharsan at the crease. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagged the crucial wicket of Sai Sudharsan for 12 runs. He got dismissed on a wide off delivery as the ball top-edged and went in the air towards short fine leg, where Jitesh Sharma took an impressive catch.

With the dismissal of openers, Jos Buttler joined Nishant Sindhu as the Gujarat Titans scored 45 runs in the power play. However, Nishant Sindhu got dismissed by Rasik Salam for 20 runs. He got dismissed for a catch by Devdutt Padikkal near the boundary rope.

Washington Sundar came to bat at No.5 and joined Buttler as Titans aimed to revive the innings.

Jos Buttler lost his wicket to Krunal Pandya after the batter stepped out for a big shot but misses it and Jitesh Sharma collects the ball and stumps as Gujarat Titans lost four wickets for 73 runs.

Arshad Khan, who came to bat at No. 6, showed a glimpse, smashing two sixes before being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for 15 runs. He got dismissed on a catch by Rasikh Salam at short fine after a top edge.

With Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder and Rashid Khan dismissals at intervals, the Gujarat Titans failed to cope with runs in the death overs.

With Washington Sundar and Kagiso Rabada at the crease, the Gujarat Titans scored 155/8 in their 20-over innings.

Washington Sundar completed his fifty off 37 deliveries as he was the only scorer for the side. Rasikh Salam bagged three wickets while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood bagged two wickets each.

Chasing 156 runs target, Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli opened the innings while Mohammed Siraj opened the bowling attack.

The duo made a brilliant start, forging a 62-run partnership for the 1st wicket. Siraj brought the first breakthrough, dismissing Venkatesh Iyer for 32 runs.

He got dismissed on a short ball where the left-hander tried for a pull, and Kagiso Rabada picked the catch at mid-on.

Devdutt Padikkal, who came to bat at No.3, got dismissed by Kagiso Rabada for 1 run. He got dismissed on an outside off delivery where the batter hit towards third man as Arshad Khan picked the catch.

With Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar at the crease, Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 70 runs in the power play.