A dramatic catch review involving an angry Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill triggered a major controversy during the closing stages of the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
The IPL 2026 final witnessed a major controversy involving Virat Kohli during the final phase of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The incident unfolded on the final delivery of the 16th over when Kohli appeared to have been dismissed after offering a catch to Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. While the on-field umpires initially ruled the batter out, the decision was later overturned following a lengthy review process that sparked heated discussions among players and officials.
Shubman Gill’s Catch Comes Under Scrutiny
The controversy began when Kohli played an aerial shot off Arshad Khan that travelled towards mid-off, where Shubman Gill moved forward and completed a diving catch.
The umpires were initially satisfied with the effort and signalled Kohli out. The former RCB skipper had already started walking back towards the pavilion before stopping and approaching the umpire to question the legitimacy of the catch.
According to visuals from the ground, Kohli urged the officials to review the catch before he left the field. Initially, there appeared to be little interest in referring the decision upstairs. However, moments later, the umpires asked Kohli to wait while the third umpire took a closer look at the replay.
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After several minutes of examination, the catch was deemed unfair, and Kohli was ultimately declared not out, allowing him to continue his innings.
Heated Exchange Between Gill And Kohli After Verdict
The decision did not sit well with Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill, who was visibly disappointed after the third umpire overturned the dismissal.
Gill appeared to make his case to both the umpires and Kohli, insisting that the catch had been completed cleanly and that his fingers remained underneath the ball. Despite his protests, the officials upheld the not-out verdict.
A brief exchange followed between the two star cricketers as emotions flared in the high-pressure environment of an IPL final.
Soon after the giant screen confirmed the verdict, Kohli celebrated by punching the air, clearly relieved after surviving the controversial moment.
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