RCB clinch back-to-back IPL titles in Ahmedabad; 15-year-old Suryavanshi steals the show with Orange Cap, MVP, and three more honours

Champions Again in Ahmedabad

Royal Challengers Bangalore are IPL champions for the second season running. In a final that kept Ahmedabad on edge, RCB overcame Gujarat Titans by five wickets to lift the trophy once more — a result that cements their standing as the most dominant side of recent seasons.

The win brought with it ₹20 crore in prize money, while runners-up Gujarat Titans walked away with ₹12.5 crore. Those figures look significant on paper. But they come with a striking footnote — the prize money RCB earned as champions is still less than what Virat Kohli alone took home in salary this season. Kohli's IPL 2026 retainer stood at ₹21 crore, a crore more than what the entire winning side received in winnings.

Suryavanshi's Historic Sweep

If the final belonged to RCB, the season belonged to one name above all others.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 15-year-old from Rajasthan, walked off the ground at the end of IPL 2026 with five individual awards in hand — a haul that no player his age, or anywhere near it, has managed in the tournament's history. He won the Orange Cap after accumulating 776 runs across the season, the most by any batter. He was also named Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Season, and Super Striker of the Season. In total, he picked up ₹40 lakh in prize money and a car.

On the bowling side, Gujarat Titans' Kagiso Rabada finished with the Purple Cap after claiming 29 wickets.

Youngest Orange Cap in IPL History

The numbers alone don't quite capture what Suryavanshi pulled off. At 15, he became the youngest player in IPL history to win the Orange Cap — an achievement that will sit in the record books regardless of what follows in his career.

The teenager was already among the tournament's most watched players heading into the season. By the end of it, he had cleared every expectation.

'Learned to Play Under Pressure'

When handed the Orange Cap on the night, Suryavanshi spoke with a composure that belied his age. He said he had spent the season learning to read situations and adjust, rather than attacking every delivery on instinct.

"This season I learned how to play in pressure matches," he said. "Also, how to change my game according to the situation. You cannot play every match in the same mode. You have to read the game situation and bat according to the need. I learned this deeply in the playoff matches."

It is the kind of reflection that tends to come from players a decade older. The playoff run, by his own account, was where the real education happened.

Eyes on a Long International Career

Suryavanshi was direct about where his focus lies beyond the IPL. Asked what he takes from this season, he spoke about fitness, longevity, and the demands of playing for India over a sustained period.

"I want to play cricket for a long time for my country and my team. For this, I will have to work a lot on my fitness and avoid injuries," he said. He added that he trusts his natural game above all else — and that when he sees a ball he can attack, he attacks it with full force.

He ended on a line that drew smiles from those around him. When probed further about his recovery routines and physical conditioning, he said with a grin: "Sir, I am not drinking milk right now."

IPL 2026 Individual Awards — Full List

• Orange Cap (Most Runs): Vaibhav Suryavanshi — 776 runs

• Purple Cap (Most Wickets): Kagiso Rabada — 29 wickets

• Most Valuable Player: Vaibhav Suryavanshi

• Emerging Player of the Season: Vaibhav Suryavanshi

• Super Striker of the Season: Vaibhav Suryavanshi

With RCB retaining the title and Suryavanshi already rewriting age-based benchmarks, the conversation heading into the next season will be less about whether he belongs at this level — and more about how far he can go.