Top 8 Catches in IPL History
An impressive catch can completely alter the course of a game. Pulling it off requires immense alertness and agility; only those possessing this trait of genius can pull off such an extraordinary feat of genius.
Suresh Raina ranks first on this list with 109 catches in IPL history, followed by Kieron Pollard with 103 and Rohit Sharma who both have 100.
1. Johan Botha and Ajinkya Rahane
Johan Botha was one of the first players to truly dominate Twenty20 cricket. Not only was he an effective batsman but his catch to remove Suresh Raina was further proof of his talents.
Kieron Pollard will go down as one of the greatest outfield catching players in IPL history, having amassed an incredible 103 catches during his career which ended in 2022 and this effort stands as a true landmark moment in his legacy.
AB de Villiers may be best known for his powerful hitting, but the South African can hold his own with gloves as well. One incredible catch against Delhi Daredevils stands as proof: de Villiers dived backwards to catch Praveen Kumar skying the ball towards the boundary – something spectators had never witnessed before! In addition, other familiar names from across cricket left spectators stunned with their skill on the field.
2. Yogesh Nagar
Yogesh Nagar made his mark as a right-handed batsman and off spinner in Delhi over a decade ago with excellent performances at junior level, which earned him inclusion into their domestic side for all three formats and proved useful as a partnership breaker for their success.
So far in IPL-5, he has enjoyed a quiet debut, yet made two significant contributions: hitting 23-not out against Deccan Chargers while chasing 157 at Kotla Stadium; and then scoring 27 in their dramatic match with Rajasthan Royals at Raj Bhawan.
His off-spinner abilities and fielding are also noteworthy, but it’s his batting which has catapulted him to stardom in the Indian Premier League. A hard-hitter with impressive innings to his name, his hard hitting bat can make an impactful statement about one team against another and could prove pivotal in changing games with just his bat alone.
3. Steve Smith
Smith rose quickly from backyard cricketer to Australian captain during an impressive career that saw him bat across all formats of the game, possessing quick feet and excellent technique against spin and pace alike. From his limited-overs debut against England in February 2010 until stepping in as Test captain for Michael Clarke later that year, his game matured rapidly.
After years of waiting, Kohli finally scored his maiden ODI century against Zimbabwe in 2014. Since then, he has become one of the best batsmen worldwide despite occasional lean patches in ODI cricket.
Smith is an excellent T20I batsman and consistently tops the T20I scoring charts for any team he joins. In 2015 he scored several important runs with Rajasthan Royals before going on to score his maiden T20 century the following season for Rising Pune Supergiant.
4. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers has become one of the biggest crowd-pullers in modern cricket with his all-round performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Affectionately known as ‘Mr 360′ for his incredible 360 degree hitting ability, this South African batsman has also proven to be an exceptional fielder, capturing numerous breathtaking catches during his IPL career.
He made history during IPL history with some iconic catches at both boundary-line and inside circle that will never be forgotten, making some one-handed stunners at boundary line and anticipating balls within circle and pouncing on them, not forgetting his remarkable fielding ability while captaining both Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He is widely considered one of the best fielders ever seen in this tournament.
At Mumbai Indians’ 41st match of IPL 2016, AB de Villiers took one of his most unforgettable catches ever in IPL history – leaping high into the air while seemingly defying gravity, he caught it at its moment of impact and left everyone speechless!
5. Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard has become one of the most lethal white ball batsmen to grace T20 cricket. Standing at 6ft 5in tall and capable of sending any bowler flying with one big hit, this Trinidadian batsman never takes things lightly.
Pollard had an impressive first-class record, including scoring an unbeaten 126 on debut for Trinidad and Tobago against Barbados, but the IPL provided him with his opportunity. Since then, he has played for both South Australian Redbacks in KFC T20 Blast as well as Somerset County Cricket Club for Friends Provident T20 Tournament 2010.
Pollard has been with Mumbai Indians from their inception, having forgoing an offer from West Indies to join their national side. His leadership has been essential to their success: when things are falling apart he is relied upon to step in and lift them when things seem grim; his contributions have contributed towards them winning five IPL titles over his time there.
6. Glenn Maxwell
He is one of the best all-rounders in limited-overs cricket, known for his aggressive batting from anywhere in the order and deceptively accurate off-spin bowling. A natural at T20I cricket and regularly hitting big sixes using his trademark “swivel slog sweep”, he makes him an attractive option.
Maxwell made his IPL debut with Delhi Daredevils in 2012 and was then purchased at auction by Mumbai Indians for an astounding $1 Million, where he played until moving over to Kings XI Punjab for good in 2014. Since then he hasn’t looked back.
At Australia’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in 2023 and this season’s ICC Champions Trophy tour to India, he played an instrumental role. However, recently he has come into disfavor after being charged with hitting a trash can at Adelaide’s The Gov venue during a concert of Australian band Six & Out; Cricket Australia confirmed they are investigating this incident.
7. Rahul Dravid
Catches win matches, and no player in IPL history has excelled more at taking spectacular catches than Rahul Dravid. The Indian Test legend stands out for his unparalleled athleticism and incredible catching capabilities; making his mark with spectacular leaps, leaps and take-downs of great catches.
At this year’s IPL tournament, he quickly dismissed both Murali Vijay and Manoj Tiwary in one over with incredible sprinting for balls over his head dismissals. Additionally, he played an integral part of Chennai Super Kings team that won back-to-back titles this year.
Although overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar during his playing days, The Wall still made a meaningful contribution for India. He played a critical role in protecting star batsmen from new ball bowling as well as rank turners on fresh grassy surfaces; his sound batting technique and determination earned him the moniker “The Wall”.
8. David Warner
Australian pocket dynamo David Warner has long been one of the premier batters in Indian Premier League. Since debuting with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2009, Warner has become one of their most prolific hitters and continues to be an integral component.
Left-hander IPL batsman Rahul Tripathi has amassed 646 fours and 226 sixes throughout his IPL career, becoming one of the most consistent batsmen worldwide while simultaneously excelling as a brilliant fielder. At 32 years old he remains one of the finest cricket players.
Warner has enjoyed success against Rajasthan Royals’ spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin and will look to extend that dominance in this match. Warner was picked for Australia’s national T20 side without even playing one first-class match before becoming one of Australia’s finest all-format players ever seen on an international field; his return after an international ban proved controversial yet was marked by increased strength which showed through in his performances.
