Rajat Patidar fuming as the third umpire denies RCB a big wicket in the IPL final

Rajat Patidar fumes as third umpire denies RCB’s wicket (Agency Pic) Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar was visibly frustrated after a controversial third umpire decision gave Gujarat Titans batsman Washington Sundar a crucial reprieve during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.The incident occurred after RCB had already made an ideal start with the ball. After winning the toss and choosing to field, the defending champions struck twice in the power play to remove Gujarat’s star opening pair. Josh Hazlewood dismissed Shubman Gill for 10 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for Sai Sudharsan for 12, putting GT under pressure early.With the Titans looking for a recovery, Jacob Duffy seems to have provided RCB with another breakthrough. Bowling a short delivery on leg stump, Duffy induced a poorly timed pull from Washington Sundar, with the ball heading towards fine leg where Jordan Cox completed what initially looked like a clean catch.However, the celebration was cut short when a third umpire was called into action to check that the catch was taken fairly.Several replays showed that Cox did not have full control of the ball during the catching process. The ball appeared to be caught awkwardly between the ring fingers of both hands, and when he did manage to hold on, there was uncertainty as to whether he had touched the ground as he attempted to catch.After reviewing the footage, the third umpire ruled that Washington had not ruled out and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to confirm a clean catch.Patidar did not succeed in this decision. The RCB captain immediately approached the on-field umpire and seemed eager to understand the reasoning behind the verdict. Television cameras caught Patidar engaged in a lengthy discussion as he sought an explanation as to why the catch was not confirmed.From RCB’s point of view, the decision was particularly frustrating given how well they had started. Gujarat Titans have relied heavily on their top order during IPL 2026, with both Gill and Sudharsan scoring over 700 runs during the season and playing a major role in the team’s run to the finals. Their early dismissal put RCB firmly in control before Sundar’s run offered GT a potential route back into the contest.