Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s defeat to Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday marked their fourth loss in IPL 2026. The result meant that, when RCB lifted their maiden title in IPL 2025, they did not lose as many matches across the whole campaign.
But does that point to a drop in intensity? RCB captain Rajat Patidar insists it does not. He said the team are not approaching this season with a “defending champions” mindset, adding, “We are not playing with the mindset that we have to defend [the IPL title].”
Speaking at the press conference, Patidar stressed that the group is treating the tournament as a fresh challenge rather than a continuation of last year’s success. “We are not playing as defending champions this season,” he said. Even with that approach, RCB remain third on the points table, with their six wins keeping them in that position. “We have the opportunity to become champions once again. We have to play an attacking game. We are not playing with a defensive mindset. This is a new season. What we did was in 2025.”
Against LSG in Lucknow—where the weather proved an irritant—RCB were still very much in the hunt during the chase of 210 in 19 overs. Their main setbacks came early and then again in the middle phase: they managed only 45 runs for the loss of two in the powerplay, and the scoring rate dipped after that with just 29 runs for three wickets during the middle overs. As the chase tightened, they ultimately ended up “two shots behind.”
Patidar pointed to Mitchell Marsh as a key reason Lucknow applied early pressure. “I will start with Mitchell Marsh. He batted well on this wicket, which was a good batting track. The way he started in the powerplay, I think he put pressure on us,” he said, referring to Marsh’s 111 off 56 balls. He also noted how conditions and interruptions influenced momentum: “After that, the way our bowlers controlled it—there was a break in between and it rained—so we got time to think.”
He was satisfied with how RCB responded once the match shifted. “Overall, the way they started and the way we finished, I think I am very satisfied: the way we bowled, the way we controlled the game. We were two shots behind [in the end]. We lost the match by just nine runs.”
Even so, the final outcome hinged on how the chase was built late. Although Patidar struck 61 off 31 balls and RCB put together a 95-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal for the third wicket in 53 balls, they reached the position they did largely thanks to Tim David. David made 40 off 17 deliveries, but the equation still required 20 runs in the final over. Digvesh Rathi conceded only ten in that over.
RCB’s form at home in Bengaluru has been strong, with a 4-1 record in the city this season. However, “home” is not Bengaluru anymore for the current stretch: the team are away at the moment, and their final two home fixtures are scheduled in Raipur.
Patidar also addressed the atmosphere the squad feels when travelling. “We never feel that we are playing an away game,” he said. “I think this is the speciality of the RCB fans. They come and support us [everywhere].”
