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Heinrich Klaasen out or not out? Phil Salt's catch during RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opener sparks controversy; ‘how you can…’ c
RCB's Phil Salt (R) takes a catch to dismiss Sunrisers Hyderabad's Heinrich Klaasen in the IPL 2026 opener. (AFP)Phil Salt's catch on the boundary line in the opening game of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad sparked controversy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The incident took place in the 14th over of the Sunrisers Hyderabad innings after put into bat by rival skipper Rajat Patidar.
After Sunrisers Hyderabad lost Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Nitish Reddy inside the powerplay, it was Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen who rescued the 2016 champions with a 97-run stand for the fourth wicket. However, it was the Romario Shepherd over that brought the drama in.
Klaasen, who was batting at 31 off 20 balls, looked to clobber a Shepherd off-cutter over deep mid-wicket. However, the South African didn't get the required elevation as the ball started to dip at the boundary line. Salt, who was just a thread away from the rope, seemed to fumble a bit but held on the catch. With the umpires in doubt, the decision was sent upstairs.
While it looked like Salt touched the covering with naked eye, third umpire Rohan Pandit's decision to rule Klaasen out without looking at all the angles sparked controversy. A top angle shot could have given Pandit the best view. Klaasen looked unhappy with the decision as he had a brief word with the fourth umpire before accepting his fate.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan took lashed out at the fourth umpire, stating how can he give Klaasen out without checking all the angles. “Looked to me like the foot had touched the boundary sponge to me … that’s a big call for RCB,” Vaughan wrote on X (formerly twitter).
“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..,” added Vaughan. Klaasen walked back for 31 off 22 balls, including two fours and one six as Sunrisers Hyderabad put 201/9 in 20 overs.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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