Cricket fans all around the world have witnessed some of the most incredible catches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. From diving catches to one-handed stunners, these catches are not just about athleticism, but also about reflexes, timing, and strategy. They have not only saved runs but have also turned matches on their heads. In this article, we take a look at some of the best IPL catches ever.
ROHIT SHARMA (2014)
Manish Pandey of the KKR was on strike in the fifth over of the inning. He smashed Lasith Malinga’s full delivery from the Mumbai Indians into the deep midwicket boundary. The ball was moving quite quickly and appeared to be going right through the boundary line. But Rohit Sharma had other ideas as he fielded at deep midwicket. He made significant headway as he ran in the direction of his right before diving full length to his right in a single fast motion to make an incredible catch. He successfully caught the ball and held onto it despite being knocked hard to the ground. As Sharma’s colleagues raced to congratulate him, the Mumbai crowd at the Wankhede Stadium erupted in applause. The game changed with Sharma’s catch since it put an end to Pandey and KKR captain Gautam Gambhir’s risky alliance. It showed off his athletic abilities and his skill as a fielder. It also underlined how important he was to his squad as a player who could contribute greatly on the pitch, with the bat, and with the ball.
AB DE VILLIERS (2018)
This catch from the 2018 IPL season is a prime illustration of AB de Villiers’ amazing fielding abilities, which are well renowned. De Villiers, one of the best fielders in the world, jumped backward and reached out with one hand to capture a ball that appeared destined to cross the boundary. Everyone was in awe of his remarkable athleticism and quick reflexes. This catch which is one of the best IPL catches ever is also known as Spiderman catch because of his Spiderman like quick reflex.
SURESH RAINA (2012)
Manvinder Bisla of the Kolkata Knight Riders was taken out by an incredible diving grab made by Mr. IPL Suresh Raina. From his position at cover, Raina ran to his right, dove full-length, and grabbed onto the ball with one hand as he fell to the ground. A magnificent exhibition of athleticism and fielding prowess was put on to dismiss Bisla.
Chris Lynn (2014)
Chris Lynn, then a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders, dismissed AB de Villiers of the Royal Challengers Bangalore with an incredible one-handed catch in 2014. De Villiers had lofted the ball towards deep mid-wicket, but Lynn ran back and to his left, held out his right hand, and miraculously managed to cling on to the ball as he went to the ground. It was a stunning demonstration of fielding awareness and reflexes making it one of the best IPL catches ever.
Kieron Pollard (2010)
Yusuf Pathan was taken out by an unbelievable catch made by Kieron Pollard in 2010 while he was playing for the Mumbai Indians. Pathan had sent the ball flying towards long-on, but Pollard, who had just crossed the boundary from the other side, dashed in, jumped into the air, and grabbed the ball with both hands just inches from the rope. It was an amazing demonstration of athleticism and talent.
Virat Kohli (2016)
In the tenth over of the innings, Glenn Maxwell of the KXIP was on strike. He smashed Yuzvendra Chahal’s complete delivery from RCB into the long-on boundary. The ball was traveling rapidly and appeared to have no trouble crossing the goal line. Kohli, who was fielding at long-on, had other ideas, though. He made significant ground running to his left before leaping into the air in one seamless motion to make an outstanding catch. He successfully caught the ball and held onto it despite being knocked hard to the ground. Cheers erupted from the audience at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as Kohli’s teammates praised him for the catch. Since it occurred at a critical juncture in the game, Kohli’s catch was very notable. Maxwell was in excellent form and was racking up runs quickly. Maxwell’s innings were terminated by Kohli’s catch, but it also put the KXIP batsmen under strain because they were chasing a large score. Finally, one of Virat Kohli’s best catches in the history of the IPL was against KXIP in the 2016 season. It showcased his physical prowess, dexterity, and capacity to influence the course of the game. One of the most iconic moments in IPL history and one that everyone will always remember is Kohli’s catch.
Brendon McCullum (2008)
Wasim Jaffer, the opening batsman for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), smashed a short delivery from Ajit Agarkar toward deep mid-wicket during a match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and RCB. The ball was struck with great force and appeared to be headed for a six. The ball was inches from the ground when McCullum, who was fielding at deep mid-wicket, sprinted to his right, dove full length, and caught it with one hand. The catch was a phenomenal demonstration of agility, quickness, and foresight. Jaffer was batting strongly at the time and might have hurt the hopes of KKR, making it a crucial point in the game. McCullum’s catch not only led to Jaffer’s dismissal but also inspired the KKR squad, which went on to win the game.
Trent Boult (2020)
Devdutt Padikkal while batting for RCB struck a full throw toward deep mid-wicket during a game between Delhi Capitals and RCB in IPL 2020. Everyone was in awe of Trent Boult’s flying effort, who was fielding at the time, sprinted to his right, dove full-length, and caught the ball with his left hand. The catch was impressive because of its agility, quickness, and fearlessness. Everyone including Trent Boult was shaken by that catch as it was quite surprising. Trent himself was surprised because he did not think that it would stick to his hand but the ball had other plans.
Ravindra Jadeja (2019)
Yet another moment of brilliance as Jadeja’s lightning reflexes sent AB de Villiers back to the pavilion. Ravindra Jadeja, the dove to his right, grabbed the ball with both hands and flung it straight at the stumps, removing the batsman. Jadeja is one of the best fielders in the world, and this spectacular catch showcased his quick reflexes and agility.
Kieron Pollard (2021)
Acrobatic pollard to the rescue again with yet another blinder. In a match against KKR when dangerous batsman Rahul Tripathi struck a lofted shot towards deep mid-wicket Kieron Pollard, who was fielding at the time, however, sprinted in the direction of his right, dove full-length, and made an incredible grab with his right hand. The catch was amazing due to Pollard’s athleticism, reactions, and ability to hold onto the ball despite falling awkwardly, and was voted as one of the best IPl catches ever.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2013)
Chris Gayle of the RCB was on strike in the 17th over of the innings and smacked a length delivery from Mohit Sharma toward the long-off boundary. The ball was moving quickly and appeared certain to cross the goal line. As soon as Gayle touched the ball while Dhoni was positioned close to the long-off boundary, he quickly began racing to his right. He moved quickly and was able to get close to the ball, but he was unable to touch it. He nevertheless persevered and extended his right hand as far as it would go. He miraculously managed to grab the ball and pull it out of thin air, much to everyone’s surprise. The catch was simply breathtaking, and it left everyone in the stadium stunned. Gayle, who is known for his power-hitting, was also taken aback by the catch, and he could not believe what he had just seen. The CSK players and supporters were ecstatic, and they gave Dhoni a standing ovation for his incredible effort. Keeping his eyes on the ball allowed him to assess its trajectory and change his posture accordingly.
Rahul Dravid (2009)
Chris Gayle, the dangerous opener for KKR, was on strike in the eighth over of the innings when he blasted a full delivery from RCB’s Vinay Kumar toward the deep mid-wicket boundary. The ball was moving quickly and appeared to have little trouble crossing the boundary. But Dravid had other plans as he fielded at the far midwicket boundary. He covered a lot of ground as he ran in the direction of his right before leaping into the air to make an amazing one-handed catch. It was an even better catch because he managed to keep the ball inside the boundary rope while making a clean catch of it. As the audience cheered, Dravid’s teammates praised him for the catch. The grab was even more remarkable because Dravid was not well-recognized for his athleticism or agility. He was regarded as a reliable glove in the slips, but such amazing catches in the outfield were not anticipated. However, he executed a stunning catch that will be remembered for years thanks to his perfect anticipation, timing, and commitment.
Steve Smith (2014)
Aditya Tare, the middle-order batsman for MI, was on strike during the third over of the innings when he struck a full delivery from RR’s James Faulkner toward the extra-cover boundary. The ball was moving quickly and appeared to have little trouble crossing the boundary. Smith, who was fielding at extra cover, had different plans though. He made great ground running to his left before diving full length to his left to make an outstanding catch. He successfully caught the ball and held onto it despite being knocked hard to the ground. Cheers erupted from the audience, as Smith’s teammates thanked him for the grab. The catch was particularly noteworthy because it occurred at a pivotal moment in the game. Smith’s catch enabled RR to end the opening partnership and put pressure on the MI batsmen as MI got off to a fast start.
David Miller (2013)
Chris Gayle, who was on strike for the RCB in the seventh over of the innings, smacked a length delivery from KXIP’s Parvinder Awana towards the long-off boundary. The ball appeared to easily cross the border because of its rapid forward motion. However, Miller had other plans as he fielded at long-off. He made great ground running to his left before diving full length to his left to make an outstanding catch. He successfully caught the ball and held onto it despite being knocked hard to the ground. Miller was praised by his teammates for the catch as the crowd cheered loudly. The catch was particularly noteworthy because it occurred at a pivotal moment in the game. Gayle was in a destructive frame of mind, and the RCB middle order felt the burden of his ejection.
Manish Pandey (2014)
When MI’s Corey Anderson was on strike in the ninth over of the innings, he struck KKR’s Piyush Chawla with a full delivery towards the long-on boundary. The ball was moving quickly and appeared to have little trouble crossing the boundary. Pandey, who was fielding at long-on, had different thoughts, though. He covered a lot of ground as he ran in the direction of his right before diving fully to make an outstanding catch. He successfully caught the ball and held onto it despite being knocked hard to the ground. As the crowd cheered, Pandey’s teammates praised him on the catch. As it put an end to a risky combination between Anderson and MI’s captain, Rohit Sharma, Pandey’s catch was a turning point in the game. His athleticism and ability to make challenging receptions appear simple were on display throughout the catch. It also emphasised how important a fielder he was and how important he could be to his team’s success.
The Indian Premier League has provided a platform for some of the world’s best cricketers to showcase their skills, and the catches they have taken have been nothing short of spectacular. From the acrobatic efforts of the fielders to the sheer brilliance of their athleticism, these catches have left fans and critics alike in awe. While it’s impossible to pick just a few from the countless great catches, the ones mentioned in this article are sure to remain etched in our memories for a long time to come.
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