NEW DELHI: A tense slice of action during the IPL 2026 meeting between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium turned into a heated talking point when Virat Kohli appeared to lose his composure and was caught in an animated exchange with the on-field umpire. The flashpoint came in the eighth over of RCB’s innings, a phase where the game’s momentum swung quickly and tempers followed.
The incident began when Jason Holder, coming in with pace and purpose, completed a catch off Arshad Khan’s delivery to send Rajat Patidar back. Patidar was on 19 at the time and looking to lift the tempo, attempting a pull shot to accelerate the scoring. Holder moved low and forward, taking a sharp grab, while Kagiso Rabada also rushed in from the side, setting the stage for a near-collision between two fielders as they converged on the ball.
Even as players appealed and the dugout reacted, replays left room for doubt. The available angles did not clearly confirm whether the ball had touched the ground before the catch was taken. Still, the third umpire backed the decision made on the field, and after the review upheld the wicket, Patidar was ruled out. For a crucial stage of the chase, the call landed like a blow—Kohli and the RCB bench were visibly unsettled.
With the matter still fresh, Kohli—who was in the dugout when the decision went against his side—was seen visibly frustrated, questioning what had been called. After an earlier contribution of 28 off 13 balls, the veteran batter was later spotted near the boundary rope, continuing a prolonged discussion with the officials, clearly seeking clarity and expressing his displeasure.
Despite the controversy, the match eventually swung in Gujarat’s favour. Gujarat Titans registered a nervy four-wicket victory over RCB. Earlier in the contest, they had first dismissed the defending champions for 155, managing the job in 19.2 overs, before tightening the chase to reach the target in 15.5 overs, finishing on 158/6.
Shubman Gill set the tone with a knock of 43 off 18 balls, while Jos Buttler contributed 39 off 19 to keep the required run-rate under control. Rahul Tewatia then played the stabilising role, remaining unbeaten on 27 off 17 to help Gujarat close out the innings and secure the win.
With the result, RCB stayed second in the standings with 12 points, while Gujarat Titans climbed to fifth place. The victory added two more points to their tally, bringing it to 10, as the race for the top spots continues to tighten in the IPL 2026 season.
