Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar was visibly unhappy after a contentious third-umpire decision handed Gujarat Titans batter Washington Sundar a lifeline during the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB had made a dream start after opting to bowl first. The defending champions struck twice inside the powerplay, removing Gujarat Titans’ formidable opening pair and putting early pressure on the opposition.
Josh Hazlewood dismissed captain Shubman Gill for 10, while veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent Sai Sudharsan back for 12, leaving GT struggling to find momentum. With Gujarat attempting to rebuild their innings, Jacob Duffy appeared to provide RCB with another crucial breakthrough. Bowling a short delivery aimed at the leg stump, Duffy forced Washington Sundar into a mistimed pull shot. The ball travelled towards fine leg, where Jordan Cox moved in and completed what initially seemed to be a clean catch.
RCB players erupted in celebration, believing they had claimed their third wicket. However, the on-field umpires referred the catch upstairs, bringing the third umpire into the spotlight.
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The replays quickly sparked debate. Multiple camera angles showed Cox gathering the ball, but there were questions about whether he maintained complete control throughout the catching process. The ball appeared to shift slightly between his hands as he went down, creating uncertainty over whether it had made contact with the ground.
After carefully reviewing the footage, the third umpire ruled that there was not enough conclusive evidence to confirm a fair catch. As a result, Washington Sundar was given not out, much to the disappointment of the RCB camp.
Gone… gone… DROPPED! 😱🤯
Big moment in the match as #WashingtonSundar is dropped in the deep by #JordanCox. 👀#TATAIPL 2026 FINAL | #RCBvGT | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/nTKb3Qmpst pic.twitter.com/xUznFU4TBU
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 31, 2026
Patidar’s reaction was immediate. The Bengaluru skipper walked towards the on-field umpire and engaged in a lengthy discussion, seemingly seeking clarification on the decision. Television cameras captured his frustration as he tried to understand why the catch had not been upheld despite RCB’s confident appeal.
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The moment proved significant because RCB had completely dominated the opening phase of the final. Gujarat Titans have relied heavily on their top-order batters throughout IPL 2026, with both Gill and Sudharsan scoring more than 700 runs during the season. Their early dismissals had given Bengaluru firm control of the contest.
Washington Sundar’s reprieve, however, offered Gujarat Titans a valuable opportunity to rebuild. In a high-pressure IPL final where momentum can shift rapidly, the controversial decision became one of the major talking points of the match.
