A major controversy erupted during the IPL 2026 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk on Saturday (April 11) after Tristan Stubbs was denied a glove change in the 19th over, leading to his dismissal and a heated confrontation between the visitors and the fourth umpire.

Stubbs, battling the Chennai humidity, asked to change his sweaty gloves, but the on-field umpire declined his request, citing that BCCI rules strictly restrict equipment changes between overs.

Visibly frustrated, Stubbs had to continue with his sweaty gloves. On the third delivery of the 19th over, bowled by Jamie Overton, he mistimed a hard-length ball towards mid-off, where Noor Ahmad took an easy catch to dismiss him for 60 off 38 balls.

Following the dismissal, Nitish Rana, along with DC's Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao and David Miller, was seen having an argument with the fourth umpire. Tristan Stubbs also vented out his frustration by throwing his helmet in the dressing room.

On Sunday (April 12), IPL issued a statement, confirming that Rana has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for confronting the match official.

“Nitish Rana, batter, Delhi Capitals has been fined 25% of his match fee and has also accumulated 1 demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players," the statement read.

“Rana was found to have breached article 2.3 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to ‘use of an audible obscenity during a match’," it added.

Nitish Rana admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction.

Coming to the match, DC suffered a 23-run defeat at the hands of CSK. Riding on Sanju Samson’s stunning hundred (115* off 56 balls), the hosts racked up a formidable 212/2 on the board. Ayush Mhatre also played a handy knock of 36-ball 59 before being retired out.

In reply, the Capitals were bowled out for 189, with Jamie Overton returning with the impressive bowling figures of 4 for 18 for CSK.

Apart from Stubbs, only Pathum Nissanka (41 off 24) made a notable contribution with the bat for DC.