![RCB batter Rajat Patidar with umpire [Source: Screengrab]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776328561350_RCB.jpg?type=hq)
RCB batter Rajat Patidar with umpire [Source: Screengrab]
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) crushed the visiting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets in match number 23 of the IPL 2026 season. Captain Rajat Patidar, who has been striking at 213.46 this tournament, belted another 13-ball 27 with a boundary and three huge sixes at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, April 15.
While RCB jumped to the top of the points table with their comprehensive and outright win, some fans are alleging a sense of ‘foul play’ on part of the defending champions. The foul play in contention refers to a particular incident that unfolded during the RCB run chase in the latter half of the game, at a time when captain Patidar was making his way to join franchise veteran Virat Kohli at the crease.
Fans allege suspicious activity with umpire in RCB’s win
Chasing 147, RCB captain and number four batter Rajat Patidar made his way to the crease following the dismissal of number three Devdutt Padikkal in the eighth over of the innings.
As the cricketer was catching up with unbeaten opener Virat Kohli, on-field umpire Adrian Holdstock ‘suspiciously’ applied something to the edge of Patidar’s bat, or at least that’s what some fans believe.
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A short footage of the same without any context has been circulating on social media ever since RCB crushed the LSG franchise in match 23 of the IPL 2026 season.
What exactly happened between the umpire and Rajat Patidar
The reality, however, is far from the perception of those fans. The incident, as seen in the video, was likely that of umpire Holdstock performing a routine ‘gauge test’ on the bat of newcomer Rajat Patidar.
As per the IPL rules and regulations, umpires have been given freedom to perform ‘gauge test’ on player’s bats in a bid to check its legal dimensions.
The rule came into effect during the IPL 2025 season last year. Earlier in the ongoing tournament, even Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma had his bat tested by the umpire during their match against the RCB at the Wankhede Stadium. As seen in the video, the on-field umpire did not check Rajat's bat till the end.
However, that shows only half the picture. In reality, the 4th umpires check the bat of each player even before they enter to bat and if the gauge test isn't cleared by the 4th umpire, the batsman isn't allowed to walk in. In some case, batsmen have walked in before being cleared by the 4th umpire and then their full bat check has been done by on-field umpires.
In Rajat Patidar's case, the 4th umpire had already checked the bat through the gauge and hence, the on-field umpire didn't bother to waste more time checking the RCB captain's bat.
RCB vs LSG: As it happened
RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to field first. His bowlers responded strongly by folding up LSG for just 146 in 20 overs. Senior fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up sensational figures of 3-27, while young Rasikh Salam unfurled the spell of the innings with 4-24. Josh Hazlewood conceded just 20 runs off his four overs with the added bonus wicket of Nicholas Pooran.
Krunal Pandya chipped in with two wickets, both in the middle overs of the innings, to seize figures of 2-38.
In response, RCB opener Virat Kohli compiled 49 off 34 balls to anchor the earlier phase of the chase. Patidar whacked 27 off 13 balls, and Jitesh Sharma blasted 23 from just nine as the hosts blazed past the LSG in just 15.1 overs with five wickets to spare.
The outcome marked RCB’s fourth win of the IPL 2026 season, thus taking them to the top of the 10-team points ladder.
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