Shubham Dubey endured a controversial dismissal during the high-pressure IPL 2026 clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The left-handed batter lost his wicket to Shardul Thakur after a cleverly disguised slower delivery, but the dismissal quickly sparked debate because of an unusual incident involving the Mumbai pacer’s towel.
With the Rajasthan Royals struggling in a must-win encounter, Dubey attempted to counterattack against Thakur and targeted the leg-side boundary with an aggressive slog shot. However, the experienced MI all-rounder outsmarted the batter with a slower ball variation.
Thakur cleverly rolled his fingers across the seam, taking pace off the delivery and creating slight movement away from the batter. Dubey had already committed fully to the shot before realising the ball had arrived much slower than expected.
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As a result, the batter failed to middle the ball cleanly, getting only the toe-end of the bat. The mistimed shot ballooned high towards deep mid-wicket, where Naman Dhir safely completed an excellent catch under pressure.
However, moments after the wicket, attention shifted away from the catch and towards an unexpected incident during Thakur’s bowling action. The towel tucked into the pacer’s waistband accidentally slipped and fell onto the pitch as he delivered the ball.
Clear cheating : All planning to eliminate Rajasthan Royals from the IPL 😭
During today’s match at Wankhede, RR batter Shubham Dubey was on strike when Mumbai Indians bowler Shardul Thakur came in to bowl.
Just before releasing the ball, his towel dropped to the ground — and… pic.twitter.com/0TT9gJUTE6
— T-Celebs (@t_celebs) May 24, 2026
The unusual moment immediately caught the attention of Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who approached the fourth umpire seeking clarification. RR management argued that the falling towel may have distracted Dubey while he attempted the shot.
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The umpires reviewed the incident carefully before eventually deciding that the towel did not interfere with the batter or affect the outcome of the delivery. As a result, the wicket was allowed to stand, forcing Dubey to walk back after scoring just five runs from six balls.
Despite the official decision, the dismissal triggered debate among fans and experts on social media, with many questioning whether the delivery should have been declared a dead ball due to the towel slipping during the bowling action.
