AHMEDABAD: Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be eyeing their second straight IPL title against an upbeat Gujarat Titans in the final at the 130,000-capacity Ahmedabad stadium on Sunday.
The 37-year-old Kohli has been central to Bengaluru´s efforts since their first title in the T20 tournament last year.
Batting great Kohli will be back at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world´s biggest cricket ground and the venue of Bengaluru´s triumph in 2025.
Bengaluru topped the 10-team table at the end of the league stage, and beat Gujarat in the first play-off to secure direct entry into the final.
However, Gujarat bounced back from their defeat in style.
Gujarat hammered Rajasthan Royals in the last play-off to qualify for their third final in five years, winning the title in 2022.
“In the IPL and actually in any form of cricket, you have to remain reasonably level regardless of the result,” Gujarat´s director of cricket Vikram Solanki said.
“If you come off the back of a defeat, you can´t get too low -- because, more often than not, you´re preparing for the next game.”
Skipper Shubman Gill, who is also India´s Test and ODI captain, hit 104 in New Chandigarh on Friday.
