Sunil Gavaskar looked visibly irritated during the commentary of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Mumbai Indians at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The former India captain’s frustration spiked in the closing stages of the IPL 2026 game after RCB used three medical time-outs. Gavaskar felt the side was unnecessarily slowing the contest and argued that the injured player should simply come off the field for treatment, rather than repeatedly stopping play.
The episode unfolded in the 16th over of Mumbai Indians’ chase. RCB speed bowler Rasikh Salam Dar appeared to have trouble during his run-up before the first delivery, and the scorching heat and humidity around Wankhede seemed to play a role, with cramps forcing him to call for the physio. Play paused briefly as the team attended to him.
Rasikh recovered quickly enough to continue, but discomfort returned immediately after—this time after he was hit for a six by Sherfane Rutherford off the very next ball. Once again, the physio was called in to deal with Rasikh’s left leg, adding to the sense of repeated interruptions as the over-rate situation tightened.
Even with the stoppages, Rasikh tried to regain control by getting Naman Dhir out on the following ball. However, he again had to go down later in the same over after the fifth delivery, with cramps returning. This time, Jitesh Sharma and RCB captain Rajat Patidar stepped in to help him stretch while waiting for the physio to arrive for a third intervention.
Gavaskar, watching from the commentary box, questioned RCB’s approach and suggested the same treatment plan could have been followed without multiple breaks. “Just go off the field, get treatment, and then come back. Whatever it is, the remaining deliveries should be bowled by another bowler. But again, now this is what—the third time the physio has come in. Are we going to see the same thing over and over again?” he said during the broadcast.
As Rasikh continued to receive care, the on-field officials could be seen checking the situation toward the RCB dugout, where head coach Andy Flower was present. Eventually, Rasikh was taken off the field, and Romario Shepherd came in to finish the over.
Rasikh returned in time for the final over. Rajat Patidar initially wanted him to bowl, but the umpires ruled against it, stating that he was not yet entitled to bowl again because he had not been back on the pitch long enough following the injury break. Shepherd was therefore given the task to close out the innings.
In the end, RCB held their nerve and defended their total, winning by 18 runs in a high-scoring contest at the Wankhede.
