Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik has made it clear that the franchise is not willing to relax despite already securing a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Ahead of RCB’s final league-stage clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Karthik stressed that maintaining momentum heading into the knockout rounds remains a major priority for the team.

RCB have enjoyed one of their most consistent IPL campaigns in recent years and currently sit at the top of the points table with 18 points from 13 matches. A victory against SRH would not only strengthen their push for a top-two finish but also provide valuable momentum before the Qualifier stage begins.

Speaking in a video shared by RCB on social media platform X, Karthik explained why the upcoming clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad is being treated with full seriousness despite both teams already qualifying for the playoffs. “Look, I know we have qualified for the playoffs and we can take it easily, but I think it’s as important as any other game for us,” Dineshq Karthik said.

ALSO READ: Dodda Ganesh Slams Ajit Agarkar Over Auqib Nabi’s Omission From India Test Squad

“Because if we win this one, we’ll go into the Qualifier with momentum. SRH are a very strong team and that’s why they are in the top three. They’ve played some excellent cricket this season,” he added.

The former India wicketkeeper-batter praised the competitive mindset in the RCB dressing room and highlighted the hunger players showed throughout the tournament. According to Karthik, complacency is something the squad wants to avoid at all costs during the business end of IPL 2026.

“I think it’s been a terrific campaign with both bat and ball, but personally I never want to feel like everything is perfect. You always need to keep wanting more, especially when there’s only a small part of the tournament left,” Karthik said. “That hunger is extremely important if you want to keep improving and moving forward. The character this group has shown throughout the season says everything about the current RCB side,” he further added.

Dinesh Karthik also revealed that every player in the squad has been actively working on improving specific aspects of their game, whether in batting, bowling, or fielding.

ALSO READ: Dinesh Karthik Warns Against Sachin Tendulkar Comparisons For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

“There’s always room for improvement. Every player has come in with a plan to get better at certain things, and there’s a collective effort within the group to keep improving and continue playing good cricket,” he explained.

RCB head into the SRH clash as one of the favourites for the IPL 2026 title, with their balanced performances across departments making them one of the most complete teams in the tournament so far.