One of the players who has impressed with his fielding and catching skills in the 2023 World Cup is Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian all-rounder has been a livewire on the field, saving runs, taking catches and effecting run-outs. He has also contributed with the bat and ball, making him a valuable asset for the team.
After a few test weeks, the fielding and catching standards in the 2023 World Cup have significantly improved. We’ve heard jokes about ‘Australia fielding like Pakistan’ and ‘Pakistan fielding like Australia’ recently, but beyond from that, there have been spectacular out-field and smart in-field efforts galore.
And, without a doubt, these have made a significant impact in the fortunes of the teams. For example, in India’s first third-week encounter against Bangladesh, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were looking good in their third-wicket partnership until KL Rahul jumped to his incorrect hand to grab a drip of Mehidy’s bat.
The wicket provided little assistance, and the bowler, Mohammed Siraj, was having a bad day. After the catch, Siraj’s spirits were revived, Indian shoulders were fortified, and Bangladesh fell. India eventually won by seven wickets.
Rahul’s catch earns this week’s honorable mention for finest take. We’ve handpicked three more for you that are even better than this:
3. Charith Assalanka
Charith Asalanka took a shocker in the outfield to send back Logan van Beek in the Netherlands’ third match of the week against Sri Lanka. The batsman was hitting well at 59 (74) in the midst of a Dutch comeback following an early setback.
In the 49th over, attempting to take the game on, he pulled one from beyond the off-stump against bowler Kasun Rajitha and hoicked it over mid-wicket. It appeared to be going for six, but Asalanka made excellent ground and caught it with a strong dive forward and across. The dive’s angle and timing were excellent.
He slipped through and was within a few inches from the boundary ropes!
2. Roelof van der Merwe
This was sheer reflexes, so amazing that even the camera couldn’t keep up. Australia’s Steve Smith, who had batted so beautifully for 71 against the Netherlands on the flat Delhi pitch, viciously sliced one ball from Aryan Dutt to point.
Roelof van der Merwe, 38, who is as athletic as anybody in cricket, stretched his body back and forth and held his right hand out just millimeters over the ground. Smith was forced to leave after the ball became trapped.
What made the grab even more extraordinary was that David Warner had struck an uppish drive against Bas de Leede in the previous over, which van der Merwe snagged flying to his right at covers.
The decision, however, was forwarded upstairs. After completing the catch, the ball appeared to have touched the grass, and the third umpire determined that van der Merwe was not in control.
1. Ravindra Jadeja
This was the catch that allowed Ravindra Jadeja surpass Rahul Dravid’s moment of magic against Bangladesh and receive the ‘Best Fielder’ medal from his fielding coach T Dilip in the Indian dressing room’s unofficial ceremony.
It was more crucial than Rahul’s since the batter was Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s finest. Jasprit Bumrah, who had bowled a fantastic stint earlier in the day, sent a sloppy short and wide one to Rahim, who rocked back and sharply cut it.
Ravindra Jadeja was at backward point, and Ravindra Jadeja knew that the ball would have crossed him as soon as Ravindra Jadeja went for the dive. So Ravindra Jadeja hurled himself at an angle, nearly parallel to the ground, and plucked it out of thin air. Following then came a (successful) celebration, which included a medal-wearing gesture towards Dilip in the pavilion.
