Tensions flared between the teams and the umpires during Sunday's match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. RCB batsman Virat Kohli argued with the umpire, while KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir and head coach Chandrakant Pandit also had a heated discussion with the fourth umpire near the dugout in the death overs of RCB's chase.
The incident took place at the start of the 18th over of RCB's chase. The visitors needed 31 runs from the last two overs with Dinesh Karthik at the crease. After speaking to the umpire, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer gestured towards the pavilion, signalling that the home side would not be allowed to do anything.
Gambhir angrily charged at the fourth umpire and argued with him before Pandit joined in. The commentators were initially confused by the argument, but it was soon clear that KKR wanted Sunil Narine off the field for the final two overs after he had finished his bowling. With RCB threatening to chase down the imposing total, they wanted a replacement fielder in the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
But the umpire quickly denied KKR the advantage, leaving Gambhir furious.
With Dinesh Karthik at the crease, RCB was favourite. He hit three boundaries and a six in his quickfire 18-ball 25. But his dismissal before the final over was a huge blow to Bengaluru, who were chasing 21 with tailenders Karn Sharma and Mohammed Siraj in the middle.
Karn smashed three sixes in Mitchell Starc's over to reduce the margin to three runs off two balls. Starc redeemed himself by taking a return catch to dismiss Karn for 20 off 7 balls, and Lockie Ferguson was run out of the last ball to leave RCB 1 run short.