Vaibhav Suryavanshi claimed multiple IPL awards after RCB’s Virat Kohli ended the 2026 season with a match-winning knock. cricket news

In an IPL season where teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi confirmed himself as cricket’s next superstar, it was fitting that India’s current generation talent signed the campaign in style.

Suryavanshi’s Rajasthan Royals failed to qualify for Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad, but the 15-year-old walked away with a much bigger prize after watching the award. Virat Kohli’s masterclass inspires Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to another IPL title.

Kohli delivered a man-of-the-match performance with an unbeaten 75 off just 42 deliveries, including the fastest IPL half-century of his career, beating Arshad Khan for six to complete a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, a fan favourite.

RCB chased down their modest target of 156 runs with two overs to spare to successfully defend the title a year after their first win, although it was Suryavanshi who still dominated individual season honours.

Suryavanshi became the first player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Emerging Player awards, following a campaign that also saw him claim the Orange Cap after finishing as the league’s top run scorer.

His 776 runs in 16 innings – at a strike-rate of 237.30 – will be a formidable target to beat in the years to come, with Suryavanshi hitting a record-breaking 72 sixes in a season that saw him narrowly miss out on the fastest century in IPL history.

Comparisons have been drawn between Suryavanshi’s campaign and Kohli’s record-breaking 973-run season in 2016, while Kohli himself credited the game’s new stars for helping him perform on the biggest stage yet.

“Such is the demand of the game today, you have these super young players pushing you all the time and asking you to change your game and go ahead,” Kohli said in his post-match interview.

“It’s an exciting situation because it gives you something to improve on, something to work towards. I take a lot of pride in getting better and trying to find where I can improve.

“The demands of the modern game, where you have to score an extra 30 runs, meant I had to change my mindset – not so much my game – the shots I used to hit often and take on the opposition’s best bowlers. I am very happy that I have been able to contribute to the team.”

A ‘clinical’ brings two for RCB

The pursuit of sporting silverware has been compared to the old saying about regular London buses, where you wait for one to arrive before two appear at the same time.

Rory McIlroy’s elusive victory at The Masters to complete a career Grand Slam last April It came in his 17th appearance at Augusta National, 11 years after his last major win, only to follow it up with a successful title defense earlier this year.

PSG won the penalty shoot out against Arsenal on Saturday It saw them join Real Madrid as the only back-to-back winners of the UEFA Champions League, having never won the trophy before, while RCB enjoyed a similar upturn in fortunes.

RCB have had three runners-up finishes and countless near misses for a maiden IPL crown but now sit as the third team to win back-to-back titles since Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020).

“It doesn’t feel like the same pressure as last year,” Kohli insisted. “We knew what kind of ability we had in the group. We got to the top of the table and there’s a reason we came here first.

“We said if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, then we are the best team in the competition. There is a reason we have done well so far.

“We came out on top in the league stage and the skill, maturity and composure of the lads showed again. It was a clinical performance throughout the tournament.”

Historic three-peat ahead of Kohli and RCB?

No player has won the Masters three years in a row and no team has claimed the Champions League three years in the modern era, leaving McIlroy and PSG facing the same three-peat bid in 2027 that RCBO will be eyeing.

Suryavanshi is likely to establish himself in international cricket next season and will have more IPL records in his sights, including thwarting Kohli and RCB’s push for the title hat-trick.

“I think the franchise has come together beautifully,” said RCB’s Josh Hazlewood. “Not just the players, I think the support staff – it’s a pretty relaxed environment to play your best cricket and try to perform.

“I think it’s hard to build that culture so quickly when the team changes quite a bit every three years, but it seems like we’ve got it now. Obviously winning helps, but it feels like a pretty solid unit in the team and we’re always playing for someone other than ourselves.

“Three-peat? Yeah, I don’t see why.”

India Tour England 2026

All times UK and Ireland; All live on Sky Sports

• 1st T20I (Wednesday 1st July) – Chester-le-Street, Durham (5.30pm)
• 2nd T20I (Saturday 4 July) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
• 3rd T20I (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
• 4th T20I (Thursday July 9)- Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
• Fifth T20I (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
• First ODI (Tuesday, July 14) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
• Second ODI (Thursday July 16)- Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1pm)
• Third ODI (Sunday July 19)- Lord’s, London (11am)

Watch India’s white ball tour of England from July 1-19 on Sky Sports. Didn’t get the sky? Stream cricket and more now.