Rajat Patidar insists Royal Challengers Bengaluru are treating IPL 2026 as a fresh campaign despite fourth defeat of the season against Lucknow Super Giants

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar has made it clear that his side is not carrying the pressure of defending the IPL title in the 2026 season. Following RCB’s nine-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday, Patidar said the team is approaching the tournament with a fresh mindset and an attacking style of cricket.

The loss was RCB’s fourth of IPL 2026, matching the number of defeats they suffered during their title-winning campaign in IPL 2025. However, Patidar dismissed any suggestion that the team’s intensity has dropped this season.

“We are not playing as defending champions this season,” Patidar said after the match. “We have the opportunity to become champions once again. We want to play attacking cricket, not with a defensive mindset. What happened in 2025 is in the past. This is a new season.”

RCB remain third on the IPL 2026 points table with six victories despite the setback against LSG.

Chasing a massive 210-run target in a rain-affected 19-over contest in Lucknow, RCB stayed in contention for most of the innings. However, a slow start in the powerplay, where they managed only 45 for 2, and another middle-order collapse that produced just 29 runs for three wickets, proved costly in the end.

Patidar credited Lucknow opener Mitchell Marsh for shifting momentum early in the game. Marsh smashed a brilliant 111 off just 56 deliveries and dominated RCB’s bowlers during the powerplay.

“I will start with Mitchell Marsh. He batted really well on a good batting wicket,” Patidar said. “The way he attacked in the powerplay put us under pressure. But after that, our bowlers controlled the game very well. The rain break also gave us time to rethink our plans.”

Despite Marsh’s explosive knock, Patidar was satisfied with the way RCB fought back with the ball in the latter stages of the innings.

“Overall, considering the way they started and the way we finished, I am very satisfied with our bowling effort. We controlled the game well and were just two shots behind in the chase,” he added.

Patidar himself led the fightback with an aggressive 61 off 31 balls. He also stitched together a rapid 95-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal for the third wicket, keeping RCB alive in the chase.

Later, Tim David’s unbeaten 40 off just 17 balls gave RCB late hope, but the equation became too steep in the final over. Needing 20 runs from the last six balls, RCB could only manage 10 against Digvesh Rathi, eventually falling short by nine runs.

RCB have enjoyed strong form at home this season with four wins in five matches in Bengaluru. However, their home venue has temporarily shifted, and the franchise will now play their remaining two home games in Raipur as they continue their IPL 2026 campaign.