Ian Bishop Questions Controversial Catch Ruling in RCB vs Gujarat Titans IPL Clash

Was Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar out or not out? Did Jason Holder take a clean catch? The debate continues to gather momentum, with several former cricketers weighing in. Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop has now joined the discussion, sharing his views on Holder’s controversial catch during the IPL 2026 clash between RCB and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

Bishop felt there was enough evidence to suggest the decision could have gone the other way and that the umpire should have taken a closer look before making the final call. The incident occurred in the first innings when RCB were trying to build a solid platform. In the eighth over, Patidar, batting on 19, attempted a pull shot to accelerate the scoring. Holder, stationed at deep backward square leg, charged to his right and completed a low catch. Kagiso Rabada was also moving in, but Holder managed to hold on.

RCB players believed Holder did not have full control and that the ball may have touched the ground, leading to animated discussions with the umpires. However, replays were inconclusive, and the third umpire upheld the decision after review, ruling Patidar out.

Asked for his verdict, Bishop made his stance clear, saying the available visuals did not convincingly support the on-field decision. "First he caught the ball, no problems with that. And then with the sliding of the hand initially, that deserved a second look. And then you talk about control of the ball but also control of the body. So when you're looking to get yourself up having slid along the ground, are they determining that his fingers was under the ball. Because the back of the hand was to the sky, which means the ball was facing the grass. And so there was to me doubt there about ball and ground, because you're not in control of your body until you stop sliding and you stand up if you're going to do that. So out or not out? I think there was sufficient evidence in my mind for that to be (not out)," Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo.

As per the MCC’s Laws of Cricket, a catch is considered fair only if the fielder has “complete control over the ball and their own movement before the ball touches the ground.”

The decision left Virat Kohli and the RCB camp visibly unhappy. Kohli, who had earlier provided a quick start with 28 off just 13 balls, was later seen near the boundary rope engaged in a lengthy conversation with the umpire. Patidar’s dismissal proved to be a crucial blow for RCB, especially given his importance in the middle order. Following his wicket, the team lost three more wickets in the space of four overs, derailing their innings.