Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the controversial catch taken by Jason Holder during Gujarat Titans’ win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, offering a strong defence of the decision. The moment in question came when RCB skipper Rajat Patidar top-edged a pull shot off Arshad Khan.

The ball soared towards deep square leg, where Holder sprinted in from the boundary and completed a diving low catch. While the on-field umpires ruled it out, the decision immediately sparked debate. Virat Kohli appeared unconvinced and was seen in an animated discussion with the fourth umpire, suggesting the ball may have touched the ground.

The RCB camp echoed similar concerns, questioning whether Holder had full control. However, Ravichandran Ashwin offered a different perspective, explaining that Holder’s large hands could create a misleading visual impression. 

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“Jason Holder’s hands are twice as big as mine. In his hands, the ball almost disappears. So, even if you can see the ball through the gap in his fingers, that doesn’t mean it has hit the ground. He has probably wrapped it around. The ball likely didn’t touch the ground.”

Ravichandran Ashwin also acknowledged the emotional divide around the decision but insisted that, from a neutral viewpoint, it was a fair dismissal.

“If you are on the RCB side, you might feel he is unlucky. But from the GT side, it’s a clean out. As a neutral, it looks like a fair catch.”

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The dismissal proved to be a turning point in the match, as Gujarat Titans went on to secure a four-wicket win. Holder capped off a brilliant outing with two wickets and three catches, while Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler contributed crucial runs to guide GT home.