IPL 2026: Bengaluru Erupts in Celebration as DK Shivakumar Cries Foul Over Final Venue

Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar congratulated Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the team secured a historic second consecutive Indian Premier League title with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final. While joining celebrations across Karnataka, Shivakumar also voiced strong criticism over the decision to host the title clash outside Bengaluru, arguing that the city had been denied the opportunity to stage the marquee event.

Sharing his reaction on social media, Shivakumar praised the franchise for bringing further glory to Bengaluru. He credited the players, coaching staff, support personnel, and fans for the achievement, describing the title-winning campaign as a demonstration of grit, composure, and championship character. The victory marked another major milestone for RCB, which successfully defended its IPL crown after winning the tournament for the first time in 2025.

Despite the celebrations, Shivakumar expressed dissatisfaction with the final being played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium instead of Bengaluru. He claimed that the match was originally expected to be held in Bengaluru and suggested that political factors had influenced the venue selection. Although he did not provide additional details, his remarks added a political dimension to the sporting triumph and quickly attracted attention among cricket followers and political observers.

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On the field, RCB delivered a commanding all-round performance to secure the championship. Gujarat Titans were restricted to 155 for eight in their allotted 20 overs as Bengaluru’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. The disciplined bowling effort prevented Gujarat from capitalizing on key moments and left them with a target that appeared below par for a high-stakes final.

Chasing 156, RCB were guided by a brilliant unbeaten innings from Virat Kohli, who scored 75 runs from 42 balls. The veteran batter reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries, his fastest IPL fifty, and struck nine fours and three sixes during the knock. Supported by Venkatesh Iyer’s quick 32 at the top of the order, Kohli ensured Bengaluru reached the target comfortably with two overs to spare.

The triumph placed RCB among an elite group of franchises to have successfully defended an IPL title, joining Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. The victory also extended the remarkable trend of Qualifier 1 winners lifting the trophy for nine consecutive seasons. Individual milestones added further significance to the result, with Josh Hazlewood maintaining his unbeaten record in white-ball finals and Krunal Pandya continuing his perfect record in IPL championship matches.

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