Virat Kohli embraces Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026 Final; video goes viral
A Historic Back-to-Back Title for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
For eighteen long years, fans of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) held onto the hope of chanting “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” with genuine pride. That long-awaited dream was finally realized last year, and now, they have the ultimate privilege of declaring “the cup is ours” for the second consecutive year. RCB successfully defended their hard-earned championship title by defeating the Gujarat Titans (GT) in an emphatic style at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Led by skipper Rajat Patidar, Bengaluru outclassed Gujarat in every department during the summit clash of the IPL 2026 season.
With this historic victory, Bengaluru has firmly cemented their position as a modern powerhouse in the tournament’s history. Here is a look at the teams with multiple IPL title victories:
- Mumbai Indians (MI): 5 Titles
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): 5 Titles
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): 3 Titles
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): 2 Titles
The Heartwarming Gesture: Virat Kohli Embraces Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
While the post-match presentation ceremony shone brightly on the victorious Bengaluru squad, one of the most poignant moments of the evening occurred away from the wild celebrations. In a scene that quickly captured the imagination of the cricketing world, Virat Kohli embraces Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026 Final; video goes viral across social media platforms. The legendary veteran walked up to the 15-year-old prodigy, putting a supportive hand on his back and sharing invaluable words of encouragement.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a tournament for the ages but ended up on the losing side. Despite missing out on the coveted IPL trophy, the young sensation clean-swept the individual awards. Through his pure, attacking batting style, Sooryavanshi dominated the season’s charts, earning the Orange Cap, the Emerging Player of the Season, the Super Striker of the Season (with an astonishing strike rate of 237.3), the Super Sixes of the Season award (for smashing 72 sixes), and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Seeing the youngster visibly dejected, Kohli took it upon himself to uplift the rising star.
The Fearless Rise of 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
On the basis of pure individual performance, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stood head and shoulders above the rest during the IPL 2026 season. The young opening batsman showcased absolute fearlessness, taking on some of the most lethal and experienced bowlers on the planet without a shred of hesitation. His aggressive intent set the tone for the Gujarat Titans throughout their campaign.
For Sooryavanshi, the post-match interaction with Kohli was a defining moment. During the presentation ceremony, the teenager admitted that receiving such warmth and wisdom from a living legend felt incredibly special, and he vowed to return even stronger in the next season. The cricket community has lauded Kohli’s sportsmanship, noting that such gestures play a vital role in shaping the future leaders of Indian cricket.
Kohli’s Masterclass Anchors RCB’s Title Defense
On the field, Virat Kohli proved once again why he remains the ultimate chase master. Chasing a target of 155, which Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill later admitted was about 25 to 30 runs short of a competitive total on that pitch, RCB cruised to victory. Kohli steered the chase with a beautifully controlled, masterfully composed knock that looked incredibly effortless to the viewers but demanded supreme physical and mental application.
Bengaluru chased down the target in just 18 overs, fittingly sealed with a towering maximum off Kohli’s bat. He remained unbeaten on 75 runs off just 42 deliveries. For his exceptional match-winning performance under pressure, the 37-year-old veteran was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match (POTM) in the IPL 2026 Final.
Breaking Records in the IPL Final
At 37 years of age, Kohli’s Player of the Match performance in a high-stakes final places him among an elite group of veteran performers who have dominated the tournament’s ultimate clash. Here is the list of the oldest players to win the POTM award in an IPL final:
- Anil Kumble (RCB, 2009): 38 years, 219 days
- Virat Kohli (RCB, 2026): 37 years, 207 days
- Faf du Plessis (CSK, 2021): 37 years, 94 days
- Shane Watson (CSK, 2018): 36 years, 344 days
This stellar achievement adds yet another glorious chapter to Kohli’s legendary career. As Rajat Patidar and his team celebrate back-to-back IPL titles, the iconic image of Kohli guiding and supporting young Sooryavanshi will remain the defining image of the IPL 2026 season.
