RCB's Rajat Patidar Reflects on Narrow Loss to LSG in IPL 2026

In a gripping IPL 2026 match, RCB's Rajat Patidar reflected on their narrow nine-run defeat to LSG, attributing the loss to Mitchell Marsh's explosive century. Despite the setback, Patidar praised his bowlers and highlighted the team's aggressive mindset for the season. He also acknowledged the valuable lessons learned from teammate Devdutt Padikkal. With LSG securing their third win, RCB now faces challenges as they aim to bounce back in the tournament. Read on for more insights from Patidar on the match and the team's strategy moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 8, 2026, 09:03 IST

Patidar Acknowledges Marsh's Impact in RCB's Defeat

In a thrilling IPL 2026 encounter on Thursday night, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar recognized the significant pressure created by Mitchell Marsh's explosive century, which ultimately led to RCB's narrow nine-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Marsh was awarded Player of the Match for his remarkable 111 runs off just 56 balls, featuring 18 boundaries, propelling LSG to a formidable total.

During the post-match press conference, Patidar commended Marsh's performance and highlighted the resilience of his bowlers, who managed to regain control after the initial onslaught. "Mitchell Marsh played exceptionally well on this batting-friendly wicket. His innings during the Powerplay certainly put us under pressure," Patidar remarked.

He added, "Our bowlers did well to regain composure. The rain break allowed us some time to regroup. Overall, I’m pleased with how we finished the game, despite the loss."

Reflecting on the close contest, Patidar noted, "We were just two strokes away from victory, falling short by nine runs. It was a close match, and we could have clinched it with a couple more runs."

He also praised teammate Devdutt Padikkal for his impressive form, mentioning that he has been learning from Padikkal's approach during training. "Devdutt is in great form. I’ve been observing his shot selection and mental clarity during practice sessions, which has been beneficial for my own game," he stated.

Patidar emphasized that RCB is not approaching this season with a defensive mindset as defending champions. "We’re not here to defend a title; we have a chance to win again. Our focus is on playing aggressively and seizing the opportunity to become champions once more," he explained.

In the match, Marsh's outstanding innings helped LSG reach 209/3 in 19 overs, following interruptions due to rain. RCB fought back with a 95-run partnership between Padikkal (34 runs off 25 balls) and Patidar (61 runs off 31 balls). Despite contributions from Tim David (40 runs), Krunal Pandya (28*), and Romario Shepherd (23*), RCB ultimately fell short by nine runs.

With this victory, LSG has recorded its third win of the season, although they remain at the bottom of the table with seven losses. RCB, on the other hand, has dropped to third place after suffering their fourth defeat in the competition.