IPL 2026: How and Why did Royal Challengers Bengaluru win IPL 2026? Here are 7 reasons why...
This historic triumph was not built on luck or individual brilliance alone, it was a combination of both. Here are 7 key reasons why RCB won IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Monday, June 1, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Who would have thought the Royal Challengers Bengaluru would lift the Indian Premier League title for the 2nd time in a row except RCB themselves? Only a hand few. But those outside of the usual statistical view, knew that Bengaluru will go for back-to-back titles and that's what they did last night, beating the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Many thought that RCB would falter under pressure, given their history of near-misses. However, Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, blew everyone's mind. Even the nastiest of critics have been shut down. The South Indian franchise has become just the 4th franchise to win multiple IPL titles and 3rd to do it consecutively, joined the likes of Mumbai Indians (2019-2020) and Chennai Super Kings (2010-2011).
This historic triumph was not built on luck or individual brilliance alone, it was a combination of both. Here are 7 key reasons why RCB won IPL 2026.
1. A balanced Team instead of over reliance on one star
For nearly two decades, the main reason why RCB could not win the IPL title was their overreliance on certain individuals, especially in their batting line-up. The 2026 as well as the previous 2025 season officially broke that thing.
Instead of expecting a single individual to carry the weight of the entire franchise, RCB did well as an entire team. Whether it was their aggressive opening burst through their top-order or middle-overs stability or their disciplined bowling, RCB did everything right. This is what they lacked all these years and this is what helped them win IPL 2 times in a row.
2. Rajat Patidar's Calm and Effective Leadership
Rajat Patidar handled the responsibility with a very calm and tactical mindset. He knew when to change bowlers and how to take control of situations, whether with the bat or in the field. Patidar's leadership was all about changes, field placements and of course, his batting.
His attitude under pressure was outstanding and so was his batting performance as he kept leading from the front batting. His blistering 93 off just 33 balls in the playoffs is a prime example of that.
3. Strong Contributions from the Middle Order
In previous occasions, early dismissals used to dismantle RCB's batting order. However, in IPL 2026, the middle order took control of things with Krunal Pandya and Tim David mainly doing the job despite Jitesh Sharma's no show in majority parts of the season.
4. Improved Bowling Performance Throughout the Season
Historically, RCB's bowling unit has been viewed as their weakest link but guess what? All of it has been solved in the last two years. Bengaluru indeed flipped the narrative completely this year and the season before. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who won the Purple Cap in 2025, missed out on the honor by just a single wicket this edition. The brightest ones for them was Rasikh Salam Dar and Josh Hazlewood.
5. Better Team Culture and Role Clarity
Behind RCB's on-field success is the friendly and calm dugout culture and management strategy. The coaching unit, led by head coach Andy Flower and mentor Dinesh Karthik, laid out clear instructions for each and every player and because of that everyone knew what exactly is expected from them and what exactly they needed to do.
6. Consistency in Big Matches
What defined the RCB squads from the past was their tendency to falter under pressure moments, especially during the knockout phases.
This unit, however, displayed an entirely different temperament. They saved their best performances for the last and showcased the likes of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers that RCB can do well without big names as well.
7. Virat Kohli's Experience and Influence
While Rajat Patidar pulled the strings as the designated captain, the presence of Virat Kohli remained the heart of franchise. With the bat, Kohli remains an untouchable property as he become the first player to score 600 or more runs in 4 consecutive seasons. He amassed 675 runs this year at an all-time high strike rate of 163.
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