Kohli in his chasing element drives RCB to second successive IPL title

For 361 days, Royal Challengers Bengaluru strutted around as first-time IPL champions. On the 362nd evening, they walked into the biggest cricket stadium in the country and got their hands on the trophy again – putting Rajat Patidar on a rarefied pedestal, occupied only by MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as captains winning back-to-back IPL titles.

RCB returned to the venue of their previous conquest and did it all over again – this time against the team with their home base in Ahmedabad. That didn't matter as RCB bowled well, clipped GT's wings and then had Kohli in his run-chasing element. Kohli, the most-capped IPL player, scored his fastest IPL fifty (off 25 balls) to drive his team to victory.

Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 155/8 in 20 overs (Washington Sundar 50* (37); Rasikh Dar 3-27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-29) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 161/5 in 18 overs (Virat Kohli 75* (42); Rashid Khan 2-25) by 5 wickets

Wind knocked out of GT's sails early

Patidar chose to bowl first in the final, and his new-ball bowlers backed him up. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood made big dents in the Powerplay, with Hazlewood getting Shubman Gill caught at mid-on and Bhuvneshwar having Sai Sudharsan caught behind. The six-less Powerplay finished with GT at 45/2.

GT went without a four or six for 35 balls from the last delivery of the Powerplay as Krunal Pandya bowled frugal overs, also removing Jos Buttler. Arshad Khan hit the first six of the innings in the 13th over, and Washington Sundar injected life with a couple of fours. But Patidar brought back Hazlewood who removed Arshad.

Hope rekindled at the death

Rasikh Salam took out Rahul Tewatia, Bhuvneshwar removed Jason Holder, but Washington Sundar fought on, carting Hazlewood for three fours in the 18th over and bringing up a 37-ball fifty in the final over, dragging GT past 150.

Kohli's Powerplay brilliance

Virat Kohli's batting in the Powerplay was spectacular. The pinnacle came on the third ball of the fourth over – Rabada sent down a full ball at 155 clicks and Kohli whipped it over mid-wicket for six. Lengths then got shorter and the pull came out with ferocity in a 19-run over. RCB flew to 55/0 in 4 overs, the game slipping away from GT. Even two quick wickets didn't rattle RCB as they reached 70/2 in 6 overs.

Rashid Khan ruffles feathers

Rajat Patidar got going with a six off Siraj and a four off Jason Holder. But Rashid Khan stepped in to give the contest some life, having Patidar caught by Rabada inches from the boundary. In the same over, Krunal Pandya was out leg before to give GT breathing room.

Kohli hits his fastest IPL fifty

The veteran, limping due to a strain, got to a 25-ball fifty – his fastest in the IPL – and carried on, shielding RCB against a dramatic dip. Tim David kept him company for a 41-run partnership before nicking behind off Arshad Khan.

A tense phase followed as GT pushed back. They brought in impact substitute Prasidh Krishna but couldn't make further inroads. Kohli was nearly out – caught by Shubman Gill at mid-off, but an umpire's review showed the ball hitting the ground.

The defining scene of last year's final was a teary-eyed Kohli on the ground, overwhelmed by a first IPL title. A year later, he was in the middle, hitting the ball over long on to secure a second title in as many years.