The IPL 2026 contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans turned tense long before the final result, with the Titans ultimately prevailing by four wickets. Beyond the close finish, the defining moment came when Rajat Patidar was ruled caught off Jason Holder, a call that sparked immediate anger inside the RCB camp and criticism from fans online.
What happened to Patidar?
- In the eighth over, Patidar was on 19 when he tried to play a pull shot off Arshad Khan.
- Jason Holder moved quickly to intercept, diving low to take the catch, while Kagiso Rabada closed in as well.
- Replays did not provide a clear picture on whether the ball made contact with the turf during Holder’s slide and attempt to complete the take.
- After a review, the third umpire confirmed the on-field decision, and Patidar was given out.
The ruling left RCB visibly rattled at a critical phase of the match. The disappointment was not limited to the players—Virat Kohli and head coach Andy Flower were also seen speaking animatedly with the on-field officials, reflecting how strongly the decision had hit the dressing room.
How the Laws of Cricket view a catch
The Laws of Cricket outline that a catch is only considered complete when the fielder has full control over both the ball and their movement. In practical terms, the ball should not touch the ground before the fielder has secured control while still in the act of completing the catch. The relevant wording in Law 33.3 states that a catch is completed only when the fielder has “complete control over the ball and his/her movement,” adding that the ball cannot touch the ground before then.
Law 33.2.2 further clarifies what makes a catch fair, stating that it remains legal if the ball is held in the hand(s) of a fielder even if the hand holding the ball is on the ground, or if the ball is pressed to the body, or if it lodges in external protective equipment worn by a fielder, or accidentally in a fielder’s clothing.
Why the third umpire still gave it out
Following the replay review, the third umpire ruled that part of Holder’s hand was preventing the ball from touching the surface. Even though the exact moment of contact—if any—could not be seen with full clarity, the decision stood on the conclusion that the ball remained controlled in the fielder’s grasp throughout the key phase of the catch.
What Ashwin said about the dismissal
As the decision drew heavy backlash on social media, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in on why the catch was treated as fair. He argued that the ball’s position relative to Holder’s fingers made it difficult for viewers to judge whether the ball had truly hit the ground.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Jason Holder’s hands is twice as big as mine. In his hands, the ball almost disappears. So, even if you guys can see the ball through the gap in his fingers, that does not mean that the ball has hit the floor. He has probably wrapped it around. The ball, perhaps, did not touch the ground.”
With that controversy hanging over the match, Gujarat Titans managed to close out the chase and record the four-wicket win, while RCB were left to dwell on a moment they felt could have gone the other way.
