Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on the controversial catch taken by all-rounder Jason Holder during the IPL 2026 clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat Titans (GT) managed to defeat defending champions RCB by four wickets in this high-voltage encounter, but Jason Holder’s efforts grabbed all the headlines and everyone is talking about the controversial moment at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Big controversy erupts due to Rajat Patidar’s dismissal in GT vs RCB IPL 2026 match
The controversy started with the dismissal of Rajat Patidar, which happened in the eighth over when Arshad Khan bowled a short ball, which unsettled the RCB camp. The RCB captain tried to pull it, but could not connect properly. The ball went high towards deep backward square and Jason Holder was positioned nearby.
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Kagiso Rabada was also nearby. Both Holder and Rabada ran towards the ball, but the former West Indies all-rounder avoided a collision with the Proteas bowler and took complete control of the ball. The experienced all-rounder dived forward to complete a smart low catch.
The heat is rising in Ahmedabad! 🔥#jasonholder caught #rajatpatidar at the limit, but #rcb The camp was not satisfied with the decision! 👀#TATAIPL 2026 ➡️ #GTvRCB | Live now 👉https://t.co/K8vuSzrZ1d pic.twitter.com/GwfAoIelDj
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 30 April 2026
But in the replay, the ball was seen touching the ground while the holder was slipping and this is where the controversy arose. After Patidar was declared out by the on-field umpire, RCB players were not ready to accept this decision. Virat Kohli was the most angry among them.
He showed obvious disappointment and signaled that the ball had touched the ground. Kohli continued to discuss the decision intensely with the reserve umpire, while head coach Andy Flower also joined the conversation. When everything happened, Patidar kept waiting near the boundary.
The third umpire ruled Jason Holder’s catch fair due to Rule 33.2.2
After examining from various angles, the third umpire felt that Holder’s hand was beneath the ball, preventing it from clearly touching the ground, even though the visuals were not very clear.
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However, Law 33.2.2 states that a catch is fair if “the ball is placed in a fielder’s hand or arms, even if the hand holding the ball is touching the ground, or is clinging to the body, or is entangled in external protective equipment worn by the fielder, or is accidentally entangled in the fielder’s clothing.”
As a result, Patidar had to step back and then Jason Holder played a big role for Gujarat Titans. He took three catches and two wickets as well as scored valuable 12 runs to help GT defeat RCB by four wickets. His all-round efforts earned him the Player of the Match award.
Ravichandran Ashwin breaks silence on Jason Holder’s catch drama in IPL 2026
After the match, Ravichandran Ashwin explained the situation in a simple way. He explained that due to Holder’s large hands, the ball could remain covered, making it appear as if it had touched the ground, even if it had not.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “Jason Holder’s hands are twice the size of mine. The ball almost disappears in his hands. So, even if you guys can see the ball through the gap in his fingers, it does not mean that the ball has hit the floor. He probably has it wrapped around him. The ball, probably, does not touch the ground.”
He further added, “If you’re on the RCB side, you might think he’s unlucky. If you look at it from the GT side, it’s a clean out. But if you’re looking at it as a neutral, it’s a completely fair catch.”
🔴 Ravichandran Ashwin called Jason Holder’s catch ‘fair’, explained it with facts to those who called it ‘not out’
The ball being visible between the fingers does not necessarily mean that it has touched the ground, it may be due to the grip and the angle of the hand, especially with larger hands like Holder.
He… pic.twitter.com/r9p5dbIWXM
– Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) 30 April 2026
