Watch: ‘Clean out….’- Ravichandran Ashwin gives his verdict on Jason Holder’s controversial catch vs RCB in IPL 2026

Moments after Jason Holder grabbed the one-handed catch while diving forward during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, it was expected to erupt controversy among the fans.

The RCB camp, including Virat Kohli, wasn’t happy with the final decision of the third umpire, who, after a few replays, ruled it out. The visitors felt that the ball had touched the ground when Jason Holder dived forward after completing the catch.

Ravichandran Ashwin ends Holder’s catching controversy in IPL 2026

The former spin all-rounder of the Indian side, Ravichandran Ashwin, has claimed that Holder grabbed the ball in the right way, besides calling it a fair catch from a neutral’s point of view.

“This is the ball, and my hands are finishing at a different position while grabbing the ball. Jason Holder's hands are twice as big as mine. In his hands, the ball almost disappears. So, even if you guys can see the ball through the gap in his fingers, that does not mean that the ball has hit the floor.” Ashwin expressed on his YouTube channel.

Watch the video here: 

“He has probably wrapped it around. The ball, perhaps, did not touch the ground. Understanding the rule is important so that the eyes of the umpires will make the final decision.” He addressed.

The Chennai-born also claimed that the fingers of the West Indies player are massive and would always come into contention with the grass, even if he grabs him comfortably.

“If you are on the RCB side, you might feel that he is unlucky. If you look at it from the GT side, it is a clean out. But if you are viewing it as a neutral, it is completely a fair catch.” Ashwin concluded.

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These helped Bengaluru get bundled out for 155 runs in 19.2 overs as they continued to lose wickets from the beginning. GT struggled a little in the chase before getting over the line by six wickets in 15.5 overs. Despite the defeat, Bengaluru stayed at the second position of the points table. 

Fans react to Ashwin’s verdict on Holder’s catch in IPL 2026

Here is how the fans have reacted to Ashwin’s comment on Holder’s catch in IPL 2026-

closely tie gap between the two fingers are more and that expressed area of the ball is making contact with the ground.
Simple rule, Ball touches ground = not a catch.