Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back his frustration during Sunday’s high-stakes IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The “Little Master” accused the RCB camp of exploiting medical time-outs to stall momentum during a tense finish at the Wankhede Stadium.
The controversy centered around RCB pacer Rasikh Salam Dar, who required treatment three times in a single over due to severe cramping in Mumbai’s sweltering humidity.
The 16th Over Saga: A Timeline of Delays
As MI chased a massive target of 241, the 16th over—bowled by Rasikh—became a flashpoint for the slowing over-rate:
Stoppage 1: Rasikh pulled up before his first delivery. The physio attended to him, and play resumed quickly.
Stoppage 2: After being smashed for a six by Sherfane Rutherford, Rasikh went down again. The physio returned for a second time to work on his left leg.
Stoppage 3: After the fifth delivery, Rasikh collapsed once more. Captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma assisted with stretching until the medical team arrived for a third intervention.
Gavaskar’s On-Air Explosion
Watching the repeated delays, Gavaskar urged the umpires and RCB management to take decisive action to maintain the game’s flow.
“Just go off the field, get treatment, and then come back… Are we going to see the same thing over and over again?” Gavaskar fumed on air. “Whatever it is, the remaining deliveries should be bowled by another bowler.”
Following the third stoppage, the umpires intervened. Rasikh was eventually taken off the field, and Romario Shepherd was called upon to complete the final delivery of the over.
The “Ineligibility” Twist
In a bizarre tactical oversight, Patidar attempted to bring Rasikh back to bowl the final over of the match. However, the on-field umpires blocked the move. Under IPL playing conditions, a player who leaves the field for medical treatment must spend a specific amount of “penalty time” back on the field before they are eligible to bowl again.
Because Rasikh had not served that time, Shepherd was forced to bowl the 20th over as well.
Match Result: RCB Survive the Scare
Despite the controversy and a valiant unbeaten 71* from Sherfane Rutherford, RCB secured an 18-run victory.
RCB: 240/4 (20 overs)
MI: 222/6 (20 overs)
The win keeps RCB in the top three of the points table, while Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians remain stuck at the bottom with only one win from four matches. Pandya later admitted the team “really needs to reflect” on their bowling performance and game management.