Kolkata Knight Riders questioned a controversial catch during their IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens. The moment happened early in the game when Finn Allen was dismissed in a decision that later created debate among players and fans.
After the match, KKR all-rounder Rovman Powell said the umpires may have made a mistake by not reviewing the catch with the third umpire.
Controversy Over Finn Allen’s Dismissal
The incident took place in the second over of KKR’s innings. Finn Allen was dismissed after scoring 9 runs from 8 balls when Prince Yadav bowled him.
Digvesh Rathi took the catch near the deep third-man boundary. At first, the on-field umpires accepted the catch as clean. However, television replays later suggested that Rathi’s foot may have touched the foam padding near the boundary rope while completing the catch.
Many KKR supporters at Eden Gardens reacted with frustration after seeing the replay.
Rovman Powell also spoke about the moment during the post-match press conference. He felt the decision should have been reviewed by the third umpire because it was a very close call.
Powell said the umpires often check technology even for smaller incidents, so this catch should also have been reviewed.
He explained that more camera angles could have helped confirm whether the catch was clean or not. Even though he called it a possible blunder, Powell said the team would not focus too much on the decision and would move on.
KKR Set 181-Run Target
Despite the early controversy, Kolkata Knight Riders managed to post a strong total of 181/4.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi played important roles in the middle overs. Their partnership helped stabilize the innings after early wickets.
Later in the innings, Rovman Powell and Cameron Green added quick runs in the final overs to push the total past 180. The score looked competitive at Eden Gardens and gave KKR hope of defending it.
LSG Complete Successful Chase
Lucknow Super Giants chased the target confidently and eventually won the match.
Young batter Mukul Choudhary played the most important role in the chase. He remained unbeaten on 54 runs from just 27 balls and guided the team to victory.
Ayush Badoni also scored a valuable half-century during the chase. However, LSG lost some early momentum as Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran failed to score big runs.
Despite those early setbacks, Choudhary’s aggressive batting helped LSG reach the target and secure two important points.
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Powell Praises Mukul Choudhary’s Match-Winning Knock
After the match, Rovman Powell admitted that KKR believed 181 runs was a defendable score.
He praised the team’s effort with the bat but also accepted that the bowlers could not control the final overs of the chase.
Powell especially appreciated Mukul Choudhary’s calm performance under pressure. He said the youngster batted very well and deserved credit for finishing the game for Lucknow.
Powell added that the team now needs to identify mistakes and improve in upcoming matches.
Points Table Situation
After this match, Lucknow Super Giants improved their position on the IPL 2026 points table.
Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the season.
| Team | Position | Matches | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucknow Super Giants | 5th | Multiple matches | 2 wins |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 9th | 4 matches | 0 wins |
KKR will now look to bounce back quickly in their upcoming games, while LSG will aim to continue their winning momentum.
Key Moments from the Match
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Finn Allen’s score | 9 runs off 8 balls, dismissed in second over |
| Controversial catch | Digvesh Rathi’s boundary catch raised doubts after replay |
| KKR total | 181/4 with contributions from Rahane and Raghuvanshi |
| LSG chase | Mukul Choudhary 54* off 27, Ayush Badoni half-century |
| Result | LSG won the match and earned two points |
The IPL 2026 season continues with several important matches ahead. Both teams will now shift focus to their upcoming fixtures as the competition intensifies.
