Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fell to Gujarat Titans (GT) in a match that had a clear on-field finish, but a heated off-field conversation followed. The flashpoint centred on a catch taken by GT all-rounder Jason Holder to remove RCB captain Rajat Patidar, with the Bengaluru dugout convinced the ball had touched the ground before the catch was completed. The third-umpire decision sparked anger across the camp, and Virat Kohli was even seen arguing with an official near the boundary. At the post-match press conference, senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar voiced what he believed he had seen on the replays.
Key takeaways
- RCB lost to GT despite controversy over Jason Holder’s catch that dismissed Rajat Patidar.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar said RCB’s belief was that the ball had contacted the turf, based on the replay visuals.
- He argued that the third umpire should have checked additional angles before finalising the call.
- RCB were bowled out for 155, but GT chased the target with more than four overs remaining.
- Bhuvneshwar attributed the defeat to GT simply batting better on the day rather than any single error.
Holder’s catch and the third-umpire storm
The dismissal became a talking point immediately after it was ruled out, with RCB feeling the evidence supported a different outcome. The Bengaluru camp was particularly frustrated with the third-umpire’s ruling, arguing that the replay suggested the ball touched the ground before Holder completed the catch. The dispute also spilled into the field of play, with Virat Kohli shown confronting an official outside the boundary rope following the decision.
Speaking after the match, Bhuvneshwar Kumar—who is currently the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026—explained how the RCB group interpreted the television images. He said that, from what they could see on the big screen, they believed the ball had hit the turf. In his view, the key issue was not just the decision itself, but whether the third umpire had enough evidence from multiple camera angles to be fully satisfied.
“I wasn’t there, but from what I saw, the ball touched the ground. I don’t know what the umpire told them, or if it was within the laws of the game, I have no idea about that. However, we wanted the umpire to take a closer look at it,” Bhuvneshwar said at the post-match media interaction.
There was also commentary online reflecting the same frustration, with a social post dated April 30, 2026 stating that Holder completed the catch before the ball supposedly touched the ground. The exact sentiment from the RCB side remained consistent: they felt the process had moved too quickly given what they considered visible proof.
RCB’s 155 and GT’s successful chase
While the debate over the catch dominated early conversation, the match result still stood. RCB suffered a batting collapse that proved rare for them during this IPL season. After Virat Kohli provided a solid start, the innings could not build into a score that put GT under sustained pressure, and Bengaluru were dismissed for 155 runs.
GT then chased the target efficiently, reaching the required total with more than four overs to spare. When asked what went wrong for his side, Bhuvneshwar did not frame it as a collapse caused by one specific factor. Instead, he suggested it was a case of GT batting better on the day, and that outcomes in T20 cricket often hinge on momentum and match-day conditions.
“I wouldn’t say anything went wrong, but rather that they batted well. It often comes down to whether it is a good day or a bad day. We lost the toss and were asked to bat first; we tried our best in both departments, but the result is that we lost,” he said.
He also placed the defeat in the context of a long league season, pointing out that perfection isn’t possible across all facets of play over the course of a campaign. Bhuvneshwar highlighted that RCB’s batting had been strong across the tournament, noting they had previously managed 200 or more in earlier games, but that this time the team fell short of the mark.
“In a long tournament of 14 matches, you cannot be perfect in every department in every game. Our batting has been good throughout the tournament-we have scored 200 or more previously. This time, we were not up to the mark, but these things happen. It is about complementing each other; sometimes the bowlers give away 200 runs and the batsmen chase it down without complaint. Today, it was our duty as bowlers to try our best to defend a low score,” Bhuvneshwar added.
