Jason Holder Issues Official Statement On Rajat Patidar Catch Controversy

Jason Holder on Rajat Patidar catch controversy [Source: AFP]

Gujarat Titans all-rounder Jason Holder broke his silence on the controversy around his catch that dismissed RCB captain Rajat Patidar in the 42nd fixture of the IPL 2026 season.

Holder sprinted to his right from backward square leg to latch onto a low catch. He grabbed the ball just inches above the grass, and the umpire ruled it in his favour, despite RCB protesting against it.

Jason Holder opens up on Rajat Patidar’s catch

Meanwhile, the catch was not a simple task for Jason Holder. He was positioned in the deep when the ball went high in the air. 

At the same time, teammate Kagiso Rabada was also running in from another angle to attempt the catch. For a split second, it looked like both fielders might collide or confuse each other. 

Speaking after the game, Holder explained that he was aware of his teammate’s presence, but he judged that Rabada was far enough away for him to safely go for the catch himself. 

"(Did he see KG on that Patidar catch?) Yeah, I did see him. I was just hoping that I didn't run into him. Yeah, I don't know who would have won that one, but yeah, I had him in my eye for sure, but I just didn't want it to fall on the ground," Holder said.

In cricketing terms, he kept Kagiso in his peripheral vision, meaning Jason Holder could sense him without directly looking, while focusing on the ball.

"So, just for me, just somebody committing to going for it. He was still in my peripheral, yes, but I mean, I thought he was far enough from me that I could make an attempt. My biggest thing was just to get there and give an attempt and hold on to it," he added.

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Why did the catch lead to a controversy?

Meanwhile, not everybody was amused with the catch that Jason Holder took to dismiss Rajat Patidar at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

RCB coach Andy Flower, star batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Krunal Pandya argued with the fourth umpire that Holder lost control of the catch and the ball touched the grass.

However, the third umpire had already made his decision, and Patidar, despite sheer resentment, had to walk back to the dugout.

RCB eventually got bowled out for just 155 runs as the middle-order collapsed completely, and GT had the last laugh with a 4-wicket win.

Was Jason Holder at fault?

The controversy stemmed from the fact that Jason Holder slid while taking the catch of Rajat Patidar. It looked like the ball may have brushed the ground during or after the slide. He even seemed to use the ball slightly while getting up.

This is why players like Virat Kohli and several experts were unhappy, as they felt control wasn’t fully established before possible ground contact.

However, the TV umpire appears to have judged that Jason Holder had already secured clean control of the ball before any contact with the ground. 

And the act of sliding and getting up is separate from the catching moment, meaning the catch was considered complete earlier.

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