Patidar insists RCB not defending IPL title in 2026 season

RCB captain Rajat Patidar says the team is not playing to defend their 2025 IPL title, focusing instead on a fresh campaign.

Captain's mindset shift RCB skipper Rajat Patidar has made it clear that the team's approach this season is not shaped by their previous year's success. 'We are not playing with the mindset that we have to defend [the IPL title],' he explained during a press interaction following the loss to LSG. Patidar added, 'We are not playing as defending champions this season.' The team, currently third on the points table with six wins, sees this as a fresh opportunity rather than a repeat of 2025. ## Focus on aggressive cricket Patidar emphasized that RCB will not adopt a defensive strategy this term. 'We have the opportunity to become champions once again,' he stated. '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.' The captain stressed that the team's ambitions remain high despite the absence of pressure to replicate last year's achievements. ## LSG match analysis RCB's recent match against LSG in Lucknow saw them remain competitive despite the challenging conditions. The chase of 210 in 19 overs was derailed early by a sluggish powerplay, where they lost two wickets for just 45 runs. A slowdown in the middle overs, where they managed only 29 runs for three wickets, put them at a significant disadvantage. Patidar described the situation as being 'two shots behind' by the end. Despite these setbacks, he expressed satisfaction with the team's bowling and control over the game. ## Marsh's masterclass and RCB's fightback Mitchell Marsh's 111 in 56 deliveries set the tone for LSG's strong total of 210. Patidar acknowledged Marsh's impact, saying, '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.' However, he credited the bowlers for keeping the game within reach, especially with a rain break providing a strategic pause. RCB's late surge included Patidar's own 61 off 31 balls and a crucial 95-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal in 53 balls. Tim David's explosive 40 off 17 balls further narrowed the gap, though they still fell short by nine runs. ## Final over drama RCB's effort to chase down LSG's total came down to the wire, needing 20 runs off the last over. Digvesh Rathi conceded just ten, keeping the match close but not enough for victory. Despite the loss, Patidar highlighted the team's resilience, noting they were 'two shots behind [in the end]. We lost the match by just nine runs.' The performance, though not enough for a win, showcased their fighting spirit. ## Home advantage and fan support RCB boast a 4-1 record in Bengaluru this season, but their home ground is currently shifted to Raipur for the last two fixtures. Patidar dismissed any notion of playing away, praising the team's loyal supporters. '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].'