The IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) may have ended with a four-wicket win in Ahmedabad, but the debate over Rajat Patidar’s controversial dismissal due to a brilliant catch by Jason Holder is not over yet.
Fans and cricket experts have been sharing their views on umpiring calls, and now former Indian batsman and renowned commentator, Aakash ChopraHas shared his views on the drama.
Jason Holder-Rajat Patidar’s catch drama refuses to stop
The controversy came to light when Arshad Khan Short ball bowled and Rajat Patidar mistimed his shot. The ball went towards fine leg, where Jason Holder ran and took a diving catch. The catch seemed clear at first glance, but the replay confused everyone.
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It seemed that the ball had touched the ground while the holder was slipping. Yet the third umpire gave Patidar out and Aakash Chopra feels that the decision was wrong. He explained that a catch is complete only when the player has complete control and the ball should not touch the ground at all.
Aakash Chopra raised questions on the umpire’s decision
Since Holder was still shaking and slipping, cricket pundits believed the catch was not completed properly, and openly stated that the umpire made an “error” in his decision.
“In my opinion, it was not a catch. There is a clear difference in Rule 33.3: Once the ball is in your hand, you have to have complete control of the ball and your body and till then, the ball should not touch the ground. Your hand can touch the ground, but not the ball,” Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The commentator said, “Jason Holder took the catch and slipped. When you’re slipping, your body is still in motion, and it’s not completely under control. When he was slipping, the ball had already touched the ground, and the ball was not dead yet. The catch was not complete. I thought the umpire made a mistake there. It should have been given out, not in.”
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Aakash Chopra orders RCB to continue their aggressive style
Despite being an explosive batting unit, rcb India were all out for just 155 runs in 19.2 overs, with Arshad Khan taking three wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium. In reply, Gujarat Titans chased down the target in 16 overs and won the match by 4 wickets on 30 April.
This batting collapse took many by surprise, but Chopra wants RCB to continue the same aggressive pattern in the ongoing IPL 2026. “Was getting all out a matter of concern for RCB? I would say it is not a matter of concern. If you bat at such a fast pace, it will happen only occasionally,” he said.
He said, “It can happen with Sunrisers Hyderabad some day, where you are scoring 250 runs, and some day a 125-run match may come. It is a possibility. When you take so much risk, sometimes it can have side effects. They have to forget this game and just continue in their own way, because they are playing well. I really liked Devdutt Padikkal’s innings.”