
In the IPL 2026 Final against the Gujarat Titans, Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer shared a blistering opening partnership of 62 runs off just 27 deliveries. Their quickfire stand set up the foundation for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the run chase at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The explosive opening stand dismantled the Gujarat Titans' bowling lineup in the PowerPlay, forcing early changes and putting RCB comfortably ahead of the required run rate with 70/2.
Venkatesh Iyer took on the aggressor role, despite suffering an injury scare early on, scoring 32 off 16 balls with three fours and two sixes. Virat Kohli played the anchor role, smashing boundaries all around the park before the partnership was eventually broken in the 5th over. The highlight was Virat Kohli taking on Kagiso Rabada to hit him 19 runs in an over specially that flick of the wrist to hit the six over midwicket was just out of this world.
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Gujarat Titans posted a sub-par 155/8 in 20 overs after being put into bat. The usually explosive top order, including captain Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, failed to fire on the big night. Washington Sundar provided much-needed resistance and respectability to the scoreboard, top-scoring for GT with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls. RCB bowlers dominated the whole game with both bat and ball, now inching way closer to their second IPL trophy.
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Netizens on X exploded with excitement during the IPL 2026 final as Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer launched a spectacular, aggressive opening partnership to chase down the total. Fans celebrated their blistering run-rate, labelling it as "pure intent" from the first ball. Netizens heavily praised Venkatesh Iyer's quickfire 32 off just 16 balls, noting how perfectly his left-handed aggression complemented Kohli's stroke play.
Let us have a look at what Netizens on X are saying about RCB batting:
4,4,6,4 BY VIRAT KOHLI vs KAGISO RABADA 🥶🔥 RCB is on charge. pic.twitter.com/pFzEQeZNJU
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 31, 2026
Virat Kohli vs Kagiso Rabada this entire season pic.twitter.com/n02JlduNGg
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 31, 2026
Virat Kohli appreciating the Innings of Venkatesh Iyer ❤️ pic.twitter.com/73BQAWZR2S
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 31, 2026
That flick SIX from Virat Kohli🥵 pic.twitter.com/19EygAP6h3
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 31, 2026
Virat kohli strike rate 250 plus 😱 pic.twitter.com/GhrqKiLOXl
— 𝙍𝙊𝘾𝙆𝙔 (@LoyalSRHfan) May 31, 2026
Venkatesh Iyer is a playoff bully, so played him in all playoffs matches 🧠 pic.twitter.com/lBUpgGlvkY
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 31, 2026
VENKATESH IYER IN IPL PLAYOFFS: - 55(41) in Qualifier 2 in 2021. - 50(32) in Final in 2021. - 51*(28) in Qualifier 1 in 2024. - 52*(26) in Final in 2024. - 19(17) in Qualifier 1 in 2026. - 32(16) in Final in 2026*. Venkatesh Clutch Iyer...!!!! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/DTZDicHxXT
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 31, 2026
GT batters made it look like a bowling pitch, but RCB scored 50 runs in just 3 overs 😭
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) May 31, 2026
Earlier in the match, RCB's bowlers led by three wickets from Rasikh Salam Dar and two wickets each from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept the Titans in check.



