Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik scold umpire after RCB’s drinks break goes horribly wrong; official diverts blame

The umpire was seen sipping from a bottle meant for the RCB batters.

Updated on: Apr 6, 2026, 13:30:52 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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An intriguing incident took place during last evening’s IPL 2026 match between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, when captain Rajat Patidar, head coach Andy Flower and batting coach Dinesh Karthik were left fuming during the drinks interval. As Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal hoped to catch a break, neither could spot the water bottle. Turns out that one of the on-field umpires was sipping water from the bottle meant for the RCB captain. Patidar was the first to spot it, and as Flower and Karthik’s eyes lay on the official, all three looked visibly miffed.

RCB's drinks interval turned into a comedy of errors (Screengrab)

Patidar, Flower and Karthik confronted the umpire, much to the official’s amusement, before he tried to shift the blame. The umpire then pointed towards a third person, seemingly indicating that he was the one who had passed the bottle to him. The matter eventually diffused, but the fans on X had a field day.

Watch the incident below:

CSK no match for RCB

Patidar and Padikkal, along with Tim David, powered RCB to 250/3, their highest-ever IPL total. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli put on a quickfire 37-run stand before the former RCB captain was sent back. Salt scored 46 before he was dismissed, setting the platform for Patidar and Padikkal to seize control, adding 56 runs for the second wicket off 37 balls before the left-hander was dismissed for 50. Tim David then offered the final flourish, muscling 70 off just 25 balls, featuring eight sixes and three fours.

In reply, CSK put up a fight but fell 43 runs short, getting bowled out for 207. Their big bet, Sanju Samson, fell for a third consecutive low score, with only one batter in the top five managing to enter double digits. Sarfaraz Khan, bought for ₹75 lakh at the auction, scored a brisk 50 off 25 balls. Prashant Veer and Jamie Overton tried to give CSK a push in the death overs, but by then it was too late. Bhuvneshwar Kumar led RCB’s bowling reply, picking up 3/41, even as Jacob Duffy, Abhinandan Singh, and Krunal Pandya returned two wickets each.

The win propelled RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. Although Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings have also notched up two wins from two matches, RCB’s superior net run rate of 2.5 strengthens their position at the top. CSK, meanwhile, are at the bottom of the pile, suffering three defeats.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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