"It was a blunder" - KKR issue official statement on Digvesh Rathi's controversial catch during IPL 2026 clash

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Rovman Powell expressed frustration over the controversial dismissal of Finn Allen against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Powell stated that the on-field officials committed a blunder by not referring the boundary catch to the third umpire at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Allen departed early after scoring just nine runs off eight deliveries in the second over, bowled by Prince Yadav. Digvesh Rathi completed a catch at the deep third-man boundary, but television replays later suggested his foot had contacted the foam padding. KKR fans weren't happy with the call from the umpire.

It Was a Blunder on Their Part - Rovman Powell

Rovman Powell said that IPL officials usually utilize technology for far less significant incidents on the field. The West Indies all-rounder noted that the entire KKR dugout was surprised when the umpires declared Finn Allen out without checking all angles.

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“Definitely more angles should have been looked at. We talked about that when he came off. We thought we had seen in the IPL that the umpires have gone upstairs for lesser things, and that are not as close as that. Maybe it was a blunder on their part, but we're not going to look into that,” Rovman told reporters in the post-match press conference.

SKIED… AND TAKEN ON THE FENCE! 😱

Top edge from Allen, & Rathi pulls off a sharp catch at deep third 👏#TATAIPL 2026 | #KKRvLSG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/2ISFQDaiMT pic.twitter.com/kHnYWXKSh6

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 9, 2026

Want to Make Eden Gardens Our Fortress - KKR All-Rounder

LSG chased down the 181-run target after a brilliant knock from Mukul Choudhary. The youngster smashed an unbeaten 54 off 27 deliveries to seal two points for the visitors. Ayush Badoni also scored a crucial half-century after top-order batters like Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran failed.

KKR posted a competitive 181/4, with contributions from Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Rovman Powell and Cameron Green added the finishing touches, but it wasn’t enough against Mukul’s assault. The home side remains winless after four matches and is at ninth in the standings.

“It's very disappointing. You want to make Kolkata, you want to make Eden Gardens as your fortress. It's your home, it's your home where you have your fans behind you. So it always feels good to win at home. But, unfortunately, tonight we weren't able to secure the victory against Lucknow Super Giants.”

A Lot of Credit Has to Be Given to the Boys - Rovman Powell

Rovman Powell also praised his teammates for their fighting spirit despite the controversial dismissal. He admitted that the bowling unit struggled to control the game in the final overs of the chase.

“A lot of credit has to be given to the boys. I think after scoring 181, we believed that we could have won the game. But credit to the youngster Mukul Choudhary, he batted really well under pressure. We need to identify our mistakes and bounce back stronger in the upcoming Indian Premier League matches scheduled this month.”

Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants are fifth on the points table with two wins. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders need a turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive. They will now focus on upcoming matches to secure their first win of IPL 2026.

Also read: Mitchell Santner ruled out of IPL 2026? MI Head Coach reveals all-rounder’s shoulder niggle