Rajat Patidar was furious when the third umpire rejected RCB’s wicket (Agency photo)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar was visibly frustrated after the third umpire’s controversial decision that gave Gujarat Titans’ striker Washington Sundar a crucial timeout during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.The incident occurred after RCB had already gotten off to the perfect start with the ball. After winning the toss and opting to field, the defending champions scored twice inside the power play to eliminate the Gujarat Stars’ opening duo. Josh Hazlewood has been sent off
Shubman Gill
For 10 while
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
He took on Sai Sudharsan for 12, leaving GT under pressure early.With the Giants looking for a recovery, Jacob Duffy looks to have provided RCB with another breakthrough.
Bowling a short delivery on leg stump, Duffy induced an errant pull shot from Washington Sundar, with the ball heading towards fine leg as Jordan Cox completed what initially looked like a clean catch.However, the celebration was cut short as the third umpire was called in to examine whether the catch had been made fairly.Multiple replays showed that Cox did not appear to have complete control of the ball throughout the catch.
The ball appeared to be awkwardly trapped between the ring fingers of both hands, and while he was able to catch it, there was uncertainty as to whether the ball had hit the ground as he attempted to complete the catch.After reviewing the footage, the third umpire ruled that Washington should not be disqualified, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to confirm a clean catch.The decision did not sit well with Patidar. The RCB skipper immediately approached the on-field umpire and seemed keen to understand the reasoning behind the ruling.
Television cameras captured Patidar having a lengthy discussion while seeking clarification on why the catch was not upheld.From RCB’s perspective, the decision was particularly disappointing given how successful they were initially. The Gujarat Titans relied heavily on their top ranking throughout IPL 2026, with both Gill and Sudharsan scoring over 700 runs during the season and playing a key role in the team’s run to the final. Their early expulsion put RCB firmly in control before Sundar’s escape offered GT a potential route back into the competition.
