Five best catches in IPL

Apr 19, 2016 at 11:38 PM

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Five best catches in IPL

The T20 format has always produced some brilliant individual performances with the bat and the ball but the 3rd department of the game has seen a meteoric rise since the invention of the shortest format.

Fielding has now become one of the most, if not the most important part of a cricketing innings and in the shortest format where every run counts, it has assumed an even greater importance.

In cricket teams all around the world, fielding has taken the utmost importance as it has the ability to change games in a flash. The Indian Premier League has also seen some extraordinary efforts from players of all nationality and age over the years.

Since it was established, the IPL tournament has seen some spectacular moments on the field that have long remained in the memory of every person who was there experiencing it first-hand. Every season, a number of outstanding catches are taken in the outfield showing the importance that the teams have given to that particular department.

With the trend continuing this year, we have already seen some spectacular catches and on that note, let’s take a look at the best catches ever to be taken in the competition.

Continue reading to find out the top 5 catches in all the IPL seasons:

  1. Chris Lynn (KKR vs RCB; 2014):

With just 150 on board after batting first, the Knight Riders were a few runs short against a star-studded RCB line-up who were comfortable in the run chase right till the very end. A couple of quick wickets at the end made it a little difficult for the Bangalore franchise but with just 9 needed from the last over and with AB de Villiers on strike, it looked like the game was heading RCB’s way but for a miracle.

And a miracle it was when Chris Lynn produced a moment of magic on the rope. De Villiers launched the ball high over the cover boundary but the shot did not have enough legs to get past a sensational effort from Lynn. The fielder pulled off a blinder as he jumped up high to hold on to the ball with his left hand and then miraculously stopped himself from falling over the rope.

The amount of balance he showed so close to the boundary rope in such pressure was worthy of giving his side a victory on the night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_chqB57u4

  1. AB de Villiers (DD vs RCB; 2010)

Back in the day when De Villiers was a part of the Delhi Daredevils squad, he pulled off this blinder out of nowhere.

After choosing to field, RCB were set a daunting target of 183 runs by the Daredevils thanks to a sizzling 50 in 29 balls at the end from Kedar Jadhav. The Bangalore franchise found it hard right from the beginning as they kept losing wickets at crucial intervals.

With 48 required from the last three overs, Praveen Kumar, who was chancing his arm flat-batted a short delivery down to long-on. The Proteas player initially misjudged the catch but in the nick of time leaped up and managed to hold on to the ball. He also managed to stay clear of the rope as he lay there admiring his effort on the boundary.

It was later named the chosen as the catch of the tournament for that season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGCfNBmPO_s

  1. Ricky Ponting (MI vs DD; 2012):

One of the most successful captains in international cricket, Ricky Ponting was always known for his fielding at important positions. He is agile and athletic and pulled out a screaming catch against the Delhi Daredevils a few years ago.

In front of a buzzing Wankhede stadium, Ponting who was at covers, more than made up for his failure with the bat with a sizzling catch on the first ball of the chase. Mumbai scored 209 on the night and stuck as early as the first ball to dismiss Unmukt Chand, the then rising star in India to pace their way to a 44 run victory.

Harbhajan Singh who opened the bowling for MI found the outside edge that hardly carried but Ponting, at full stretch, stretched even further and held on to the ball with both hands to produce one of the best catches in IPL history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axi0jbnixbY

  1. David Hussey (KKR vs DD; 2010):

When it comes to un-orthodox catches at the boundary, this one is from David Hussey is right up there.

6 years ago, in a game against the Delhi Daredevils, the Knight Riders were set a target of 177 in the first innings. David Warner smashed an unbeaten 107 and with some help from Paul Collingwood lifted his team to a formidable total.

In the last over of this game, Hussey who was patrolling the long-on boundary pulled off a stunner to send his English colleague back in the first innings. Hussey had to stretch over the boundary line pluck the catch out of thin air, and as he realized that he was getting close to the ball, he released it in the air.

It almost fell over the rope but Hussey made sure that he pushes it back on the field then dived full stretch to collect it before celebrating one of the best catches in the history of the competition. Though it did not make much difference to the outcome of the game, this catch from Hussey will never be forgotten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA7ZsGgF9X4

  1. Shane Watson/ David Wiese (RCB vs DD; 2016):

The most recent catch in this list was taken earlier this season. And it was a combination of an Australian and a South African that made it possible.

In the 11th match this season, the two players combined to push the Daredevils on the back foot in the first over. S Iyer, who opened the batting for the Delhi franchise launched a ball from Aravind and sent it high into the sky.

Shane Watson who was at mid-on had to run all the way back to the long-on boundary and held on to a stunner over his shoulder. However, his momentum took him over the rope but the all-rounder made sure that he threw the ball in the air before he does.

At this moment, Wiese, who also covered the ground made sure that he held on to the ball with a full stretch dive just a whisker away from the boundary line. This was one of the most astonishing catches ever taken in the history of the tournament but unfortunately, it did not help the Bangalore outfit run away with the game.

So which was your favorite catch from the lot?

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