Watch: Virat Kohli's dressing room pep talk goes viral after RCB's 9-run loss to LSG, says 'Why did we get those...'

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) missed a real shot to ascend to the top of the IPL 2026 points table following a painful nine-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 7. The defending champions' pursuit of a 213-run target was immediately hampered by the early loss of Virat Kohli, who fell for a two-ball duck. While Rajat Patidar and Tim David produced valiant efforts to keep the chase alive, their middle-order contributions ultimately fell short of sealing the win.

RCB's painful loss to LSG

Despite the setback, RCB remains in a relatively strong position within the top four of the standings. However, the race for the playoffs has intensified, leaving the team with little margin for error in their final four matches of the season. To secure their postseason berth, the squad will likely need to rediscover their peak form and find greater consistency across both departments.

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In the aftermath of the loss, Virat Kohli took a leadership role in the dressing room to address the disappointment. The former captain urged his teammates to maintain a positive outlook and keep their spirits high despite the result. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the game during the high-pressure final stretch of the tournament, reminding the players that their best cricket often comes when they play with freedom and confidence.

“Why did we get those six wins? Because we were enjoying, and we were only worried about our standards, and we’re not even looking at the opposition. And I want to see absolute enjoyment and excitement to get back in the park, regardless of what the jersey colour on the other side is," Kohli said in the video shared by RCB on X.

Watch Kohli's dressing room speech to RCB teammates:

Talking about the match, LSG’s bowling unit, spearheaded by a clinical three-wicket haul from Prince Yadav, displayed remarkable composure to restrict RCB to 203/6. The defense began with immediate intensity as Mohammed Shami struck in the very first over of the chase. Prince Yadav quickly doubled the pressure by dismissing Virat Kohli with a pinpoint delivery, a breakthrough that left the defending champions reeling at a precarious 9/2 early on.

RCB managed a spirited recovery through a 95-run partnership for the third wicket, led by skipper Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal. Patidar was particularly dominant, striking a fluent 61 and briefly shifting the momentum back toward Bengaluru with a display of aggressive, high-quality hitting. Padikkal’s steady 34 provided the necessary support to keep the required run rate within reach during the middle overs. The contest tightened in the closing stages as Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and Romario Shepherd unleashed a flurry of late boundaries to keep RCB’s hopes alive. However, with 20 runs required off the final six balls, Digvesh Rathi delivered a composed last over to stave off the assault. His ability to hold his nerve under immense pressure ensured LSG secured a hard-fought and vital victory.