RCB Vs GT: Virat Kohli Smashes Second Fastest IPL Final Half Century, Joins Rohit Sharma And Chris Gayle In Elite Group

In a night that already had history written all over it, Virat Kohli produced the defining moment of IPL 2026, blazing to a 25-ball half-century in the final to etch his name alongside the greatest players to have graced the grandest stage of Indian Premier League cricket. Kohli reached his half-century in just 25 balls, his fastest IPL fifty and on what a stage to do it, in an IPL final. Kohli now joins Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle in the list for the fastest IPL finals fifties.

Kohli's 25-ball blitz places him among the most celebrated names in IPL final batting history. Suresh Raina holds a share of the all-time record after his explosive 24-ball fifty for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in the 2010 final, a knock that helped CSK post 168/5 and win their maiden IPL title by 22 runs. David Warner then matched that record in the 2016 final for Sunrisers Hyderabad against RCB, finishing with 69 off 38 deliveries as SRH posted 208 and claimed their maiden title by eight runs. Venkatesh Iyer joined the conversation in the 2024 final, reaching his fifty off 24 balls as KKR chased down 114 against SRH in a one-sided contest in Chennai. Rohit Sharma reached his fifty off 25 balls for MI in the 2015 final, and Chris Gayle matched that for RCB against SRH in 2016. Tonight, Kohli takes his place at 25 balls, sharing the joint-second fastest position in this elite club, but no one among them did it with more grace or occasion than the man from Delhi did on this night in Ahmedabad.

RCB are chasing 156 and are well on course to become only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back titles. With Kohli batting, RCB look firmly in control. The Narendra Modi Stadium, Kohli's stage for so many memorable nights, may witness the most cherished one of all before the night is through.

Kohli was relentless against Kagiso Rabada throughout the powerplay. He pulled one aggressively past square leg for four, then ended the powerplay in style by whipping a delivery that strayed onto the pads powerfully over backward square leg for a maximum. GT's trump card, who set a record for most powerplay wickets this season, had no answer to Kohli's audacious strokeplay on the biggest night.

Gujarat Titans were restricted to 155/8 in their 20 overs, with RCB setting themselves a chase of 156. Shubman Gill was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for just 10, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Sai Sudharsan for 12, compelling GT's top order to crumble in the powerplay. With a target well within reach, Kohli came out with a clear mindset: attack early and leave nothing to chance.