Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has insisted that his side is not approaching IPL 2026 with the mindset of defending its title despite suffering a second consecutive defeat in the tournament. RCB went down to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a rain-affected thriller on Thursday night, a result that pushed the defending champions down to third place in the points table.

Speaking after the defeat, Patidar said the team remains focused on maintaining the aggressive brand of cricket that helped them win the IPL title last season. He stressed that the squad is treating the current campaign as a fresh challenge rather than carrying the pressure of defending a championship. According to the RCB skipper, the side’s objective is to continue playing attacking cricket and aim for another successful campaign.

“We are not playing as defending champions this season. We have the opportunity to become champions once again, so we don’t have the mindset to defend the trophy,” Patidar said during the post-match press conference. He added that the team is concentrating on giving its best in every game and building momentum through a fearless approach similar to the one that brought success in 2025.

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Patidar also praised Lucknow opener Mitchell Marsh, whose explosive innings played a major role in shaping the contest. Marsh smashed a century and provided LSG with a strong start on a batting-friendly pitch. The RCB captain acknowledged that the Australian batter’s aggressive approach during the powerplay created early pressure on Bengaluru’s bowlers before they managed to regain control later in the innings.

Despite the loss, Patidar expressed satisfaction with how RCB’s bowlers responded after the difficult start. He pointed to the rain interruption as a moment that allowed the team to regroup and rethink strategies during the match. According to him, the contest ultimately came down to a few missed scoring opportunities, with RCB falling just short in the chase by a narrow margin.

The defeat marked RCB’s second straight loss in IPL 2026, though the team remains firmly in contention for a playoff spot. While questions are beginning to emerge around consistency and momentum, the Bengaluru franchise continues to be viewed as one of the strongest contenders in the competition due to its experienced core and aggressive playing philosophy under Patidar’s leadership.

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