New Delhi: A controversy has erupted over Phil Salt’s contentious catch of Heinrich Klaasen during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28. Salt took an exceptional but debatable catch almost on the boundary rope to dismiss Klaasen during SRH’s innings.
The dismissal took place on the first ball of the 14th over. Klaasen got hold of a shortish delivery from Romario Shepherd and dispatched it towards deep mid-wicket. Salt managed to catch the ball very close to the boundary rope. He went down while attempting the catch, but managed to hold on to the ball and seemed to have barely avoided the rope.
The replays showed that Salt had completed the catch cleanly, however, there was no evidence whether his back had touched the cushions or not. The decision was referred to the third umpire, who deemed Klaasen not out after checking the replays. However, what angered many was the fact that the third umpire didn’t check the back angle, which could have proven decisive.
While he checked all angles from the side and the top, the third umpire gave the batter out despite not checking the back angle. Many felt Salt had ruffled the cushions and that the cushions did move a bit. Fans and experts called out the umpire for giving the batter out despite it appearing that some part of Salt’s back had touched the cushions.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also questioned the third umpire’s decision, stating that there was not enough conclusive evidence to rule Klaasen out and that Salt’s foot had touched the boundary cushions.
“Looked to me like the foot had touched the boundary sponge to me … that’s a big call for RCB .. #IPL2626 .. Not sure how you can give that out and be absolutely sure no part of the foot touched the sponge .. and the sponge moved .. a bit of a giveaway,” he wrote in a tweet.
3rd umpire slammed over Salt’s controversial catch in IPL 2026 opener:
🚨 It was clearly a six, Phil Salt definitely touched the boundary line. Umpire even asked to one more angle but they didn’t provide.
Heinrich Klaasen and Sunrisers Hyderabad were definitely robbed.
Looks like Birla’s has already started making an impact for RCB. pic.twitter.com/JzRNqmWzvO
— TEJASH 🚩 (@LoyleRohitFan) March 28, 2026
🚨POOR UMPIRING FROM THRID UMPIRE🚨
– Heinrich Klaasen hit the ball and even in this picture you can see Phil salt left feet touching the Roops, but third umpire completely ignored it and gave out. Heinrich Klaasen wasn’t happy with the decision.
Well paid @RCBTweets 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/9Ib4FXKXfg
— JB (@93Yorker) March 28, 2026
Pathetic angles shown for the catch being taken..really unprofessional…(Klassen’s catch by Salt)…
— Sam Roy (@SamRoy84) March 28, 2026
The Klaasen catch deserved a better angle to make it conclusive. Very dodgy decision #SRHvsRCB
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 28, 2026
Looked to me like the foot had touched the boundary sponge to me … that’s a big call for RCB .. #IPL2626 .. Not sure how you can give that out and be absolutely sure no part of the foot touched the sponge .. and the sponge moved .. a bit of a giveaway .. @cricbuzz
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2026