IPL 2020: Top 5 fielding performances of the season

IPL 2020: Top 5 fielding performances of the season

The Indian Premier League 2020 was a season that had all the thrills, spills and moments that make the tournament the most popular one in the world. The season which was moved to UAE and also pushed to September begun with a plethora of uncertainties, questions and speculations surrounding it. However, the IPL proceeded and ended successfully without a lot of hiccups or headaches for the BCCI.

The quality of cricket on the field was spectacular despite the lack of crowds in the UAE. The batters dug deep and composed special innings even on slow pitches and the bowlers bowled tight lines and lengths even on flat patches. In short, the competitiveness was top-notch.

Among the many things that stood out, the quality of fielding was sublime as well. Despite there being a lot of dropped catches and misfields due to the adverse conditions and lighting in the UAE grounds, fielders pulled off excellent catches and saves at will. We take a look at the top 5 fielding performances of the season:

5. MS Dhoni completes diving catch off the second attempt (CSK vs KKR)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni showed the world that even at 39 years old, he can complete athletic catches effortlessly. In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played in Abu Dhabi, Shivam Mavi was in strike with just two balls to go in the first innings. Dhoni had removed his gloves with the hopes of getting a run-out if the batsmen try to sneak a bye.

Off Dwayne Bravo’s bowling, Mavi swung wildly and the ball took a thick outside-edge. The ball was travelling fast and high and Dhoni didn’t have his gloves on which made it all the more difficult to catch. Dhoni stuck out his right-hand but failed to catch the ball in the first attempt. But on the second attempt, Dhoni threw himself with his arms outstretched. The CSK skipper was in mid-air for quite some time and the catch was completed eventually.

4. Faf du Plessis lights up the first day of IPL 2020 with two stunners in one over (CSK vs MI)

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Faf du Plessis is among the best fielders in the world. His fielding exploits at long on and long off have helped his side pick up wickets and save runs a lot of times. The South African was at his breathtaking best on the first day of the 2020 IPL as he pulled off not one but two similar catches at the boundary.

Mumbai Indians were looking dangerous and aiming for a huge score as Saurabh Tiwary and Hardik Pandya were teeing off. Off Ravindra Jadeja‘s over, Tiwary tried to take him on and hit a six over long-on. The connection wasn’t perfect but the ball seemed to be going for a six. This was until du Plessis leapt high in the air, caught the ball, launched it into the air again as he was off-balance and ultimately caught it. He followed this catch up with a uncannily similar catch to dismiss Pandya as well. His catches were crucial in CSK winning the match against MI.

3. Kieron Pollard pulls off effortless one-handed stunner (MI vs RR)

Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Kieron Pollard is no stranger to taking one-handed catches. The West Indian was at it again against Rajasthan Royals (RR). MI had put on an excellent total of 193 on the board thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s knock of 79 runs. In the chase, MI had stifled RR with early wickets.

However, Jos Buttler was looking very dangerous. The Englishman was batting on 70 runs and threatening to single-handedly win his side the game. Off James Pattinson’s bowling, Buttler looked to swat him over long-on. He seemed to have got at least four runs as Pollard did not seem to be in good position to take the catch. However, Pollard came up with a huge leap that saw him parry the ball and then come back to take the catch in a jiffy. RR were then shot out for just 136 runs thanks to the catch.

2. Jofra Archer shocks the world with one-handed blinder (RR vs MI)

Jofra Archer shocked the world by pulling off an unbelievable catch with one hand to dismiss Ishan Kishan of the Mumbai Indains (MI). Sent in to open the innings, Kishan began slowly and was looking to up the ante when he sliced a ball high to third-man.

The ball seemed to be heading for a six as the third man fielder Jofra Archer was running back. However, the Englishman pulled the ball out of thin air with a stunning leap and one-handed take. The catch left each and every person on the field shell-shocked. Even the bowler Kartik Tyagi was in disbelief. The catch undoubtedly takes the cake for being the catch of the IPL this season.

1. Nicholas Pooran pulls off inexplicable save on the boundary line (KXIP vs RR)

In what was a fielding effort that was spoken about for days, Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) Nicholas Pooran came up with an inexplicable fielding effort to save a ball that seemed to be destined to go for a six. In a high-scoring encounter, KXIP had scored 223 runs thanks to Mayank Agarwal’s century. In the second innings, Rajasthan Royals (RR) came out all guns blazing and Sanju Samson looked in great nick.

Samson hit a Murugan Ashwin delivery to deep mid-wicket. The ball seemed like going for a six before Pooran leapt high in the air while crossing the boundary to catch the ball and then throw it back just as he was falling. The save was without an ounce of doubt, the best fielding effort of the tournament with many even going to lengths to call it one of the greatest efforts in cricket history.

Also Read: Top 5 Bowling Performances of the Season