Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowler Rasikh Salam Dar’s repeated injury breaks during Sunday’s IPL 2026 encounter against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium drew an unusually sharp reaction from former India captain and broadcaster Sunil Gavaskar. The incident unfolded while Mumbai were chasing a challenging 241, with the game in its 16th over when Rasikh suddenly suffered cramps and signalled for treatment. A physio quickly entered the field to attend to him, and the pacer returned soon after to continue his spell.
That relief, however, didn’t last. The same problem resurfaced twice more in quick succession, prompting growing frustration from Gavaskar, who was commentating live. He argued that frequent interruptions hamper the over-rate and suggested a stricter approach to on-field treatment—namely, players should go off for treatment and only return once they are fully ready. “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?” Gavaskar said during the broadcast.
After Rasikh experienced cramps for the third time, he was once again taken off for treatment. Romario Shepherd then completed the remaining deliveries of the over. Even though Rasikh returned before the final over, the on-field officials did not permit him to bowl because he had not spent the required minimum time back on the field following the injury break.
On the scoreboard, RCB managed to squeeze past MI by 18 runs in a high-scoring contest at Wankhede, delivering a combination of sustained batting pressure and timely breakthroughs. First up, the Bengaluru side produced what looked like a near-flawless innings, compiling 240/4. Their total was built on explosive contributions from Phil Salt, who struck 78 off 36 balls, Virat Kohli’s 50 off 38, and RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who blazed to 53 off just 20. Tim David then provided a late surge, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 16.
Speaking after the match at the presentation, Patidar highlighted the special atmosphere at the venue and how the crowd energised the batting unit. “Feel amazing. I think, whenever we come here in Mumbai, especially at this ground, the atmosphere, the fans, and playing along with them and playing in the full-packed stadium—that’s a different feeling. It was, I would say it’s a more clarity about the every individual, I would say (on the strong batting). And the way Virat bhai and Salt started the innings, I think that kept us in the driving seat,” Patidar said.
