IPL 2018: 6 costliest dropped catches in the tournament

Jadeja dropped two catches in a row

'Catches win matches' is an old saying in cricket which has no expiry date. Good fielding always save some valuable runs for a team in a cricket match. In the T20 format of cricket, where even a small margin of error is unacceptable, drop catches might alter the entire course of a match.

Drop catches will always hurt the fielding side and might affect the bowlers psychologically.

Nowadays, it is expected from the fielders to put some extra effort in the field and to take some tough catches.

We have witnessed some brilliant catches in the IPL 2018. But, few catches were dropped in the tournament which changed the outcomes of some matches. Let's take a look at the 6 costliest catches dropped in the IPL 2018.

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#6 Ravindra Jadeja's double drop vs KKR

Ravindra Jadeja from Chennai Super Kings is one of the best fielders in the world. Even Jaddu dropped back to back catches in a match against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 3, 2018, at the Eden garden.

On batting first, CSK posted a total of 177-5 in 20 overs with the help of Mahendra Singh Dhoni who scored 43 runs in 25 balls. In the second innings, Jadeja at mid-off dropped two consecutive straightforward catches of Sunil Narine who was on 6 runs.

Then, Narine added 26 crucial runs and scored 32 runs in 20 balls which provided a platform for KKR's chase.

KKR chased down the target in 17.4 overs with the help of Shubman Gill who scored a brilliant knock of 57 runs in 36 balls and KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik who blasted 45 runs in 18 balls.

It is an absolute shock for all CSK fans to see Jadeja dropping two simple catches in an over.

Jaddu's double blip on the field https://t.co/P0W35v1XU1

— Arunagiri (@Arunagirimk) May 28, 2018

#5 Rahul Tripathi drops Watson twice

Shane Watson scored a brilliant 106 runs after being dropped twice

On April 20, 2018, Chennai Super Kings played against Rajasthan Royals in Pune. RR won the toss and asked CSK to bat first.

Former RR player Shane Watson opened the CSK innings along with Ambati Rayudu. After hitting two fours in the first over of Stuart Binny, Watson edged the fifth ball of the over to Rahul Tripathi at first slip but he dropped that simple catch.

In the next over, Tripathi at cover again dropped Watson, which was a tough chance when compared to the previous one.

These two dropped catches changed the entire flow of the match and Watson then went on to score a brilliant ton and helped CSK to post a mammoth total of 204-5 in 20 overs.

RR bowled out for 140 in 18.3 overs and lost the match by 64 runs. The two dropped catches by Tripathi have cost RR the match in the end.

Note : catch dropped by Tripathi (0:28 s in the video).

M17: CSK vs RR – Man of the Match – Shane Watson https://t.co/JqnVppDjNm

— Arunagiri (@Arunagirimk) May 28, 2018

#4 A rare miss from Dhoni

Jos Buttler's brilliant knock of 95* helped RR to win vs CSK

Chennai Super Kings skipper Dhoni dropped Jos Buttler in the match against Rajasthan Royals which changed the outcome of the clash.

On May 11, 2018, RR in Pink jersey (cancer awareness) locked horns with CSK in Jaipur. CSK won the toss and elected to bat first. Suresh Raina's 52 runs helped CSK to post a par plus score of 176-4 in 20 overs.

Ben Stokes got out in the powerplay but Jos Buttler took all the responsibilies in his shoulders.

Buttler reached his fouth consecutive fifty in the IPL 2018 in the 8th over. RR required 38 runs in the last three overs to win the game.

Dwayne Bravo bowled the 18th over and took the wicket of Stuart Binny in the fourth ball. In the last ball of the same over,

Buttler tried to scoop the slower ball over short fine leg but deflected the ball to the wicket-keeper but Dhoni failed to grab the ball.

Then, Buttler guided RR to victory with the help of a little cameo from Krishnappa Gowtham and beat CSK by 4 wickets in a nail-biting thriller.

#3 Vijay Shankar's expensive drop catch

Vijay Shankar's expensive drop against Sunrisers Hyderabad

On May 5, 2018, Delhi Daredevils led by young Shreyas Iyer played against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.

After winning the toss, DD opted to bat first and posted a decent target of 163-5 in 20 overs. India's U-19 skipper Prithvi Shaw scored a brilliant 65 runs in just 36 balls.

After a brilliant opening wicket partnership of 76 runs between Shikhar Dhawan and Alex Hales, SRH were in the right course towards the target.

With 32 runs needed to win in the final three overs, Liam Plunkett took the wicket of Manish Pandey who was batting on 21 runs in the very first ball of the 18th over.

In the fourth ball of the same over, Vijay Shankar at deep backward square dropped an easy catch of Yusuf Pathan.

With 28 runs needed in 12 balls, Pathan blasted two sixes and two fours after being dropped and played a crucial knock of 27 runs in 12 balls to guide the orange army to victory along with his skipper Williamson (32 runs off 30 balls).

#2 Uthappa's dropped catch turns the match around vs CSK

Sam Billings (56 runs of 23 balls) aided CSK to victory against KKR

In the only match which was played in the den (Chepauk), Chennai Super Kings played against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10, 2018.

CSK won the toss and opted to bowl first. KKR posted a humongous total of 202-6 in 20 overs thanks to the deadly knock from Andre Russell who scored 88 runs in just 36 balls at a strike rate of 244.44.

CSK openers Watson (42 runs in 19 balls) and Ambati Rayudu provided a great start for CSK by scoring 75 runs in 5.5 overs. At one stage, CSK were struggling 155-4 in 16.3 overs.

With Suresh Raina and Dhoni back in the pavilion, even the CSK fans felt that it was almost impossible to chase down the target.

But, Sam Billings played a match-winning innings of 56 runs in just 23 balls at a strike rate of 243.48 which changed the scenario of the match. But, it is to be noted that Robin Uthappa dropped Billings when he was batting on nine runs in the Tom Curran's 15th over.

It was a costly catch which was dropped by Uthappa and it turned the match around completely.

CSK required 17 runs in the last over to win the match but Bravo and Jadeja blasted a six each to seal the victory for CSK.

Note : catch dropped by Uthappa (0:14 s in the video)

M05: CSK vs KKR – Man of the Match – Sam Billings https://t.co/c6NNA6IR9Q

— Arunagiri (@Arunagirimk) May 28, 2018

#1 Piyush Chawla drop ruins KKR's IPL final dream

Piyush Chawla's drop proved to be very costly for KKR

On May 25, 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in the qualifiers two of the IPL 2018 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

KKR won the toss and elected to bowl first. At one stage, SRH were struggling with 138 runs on the board losing seven wickets in the 19th over.

In the same over, Rashid Khan (four runs in two balls) charged down and played the back of the length delivery ball from Shivam Mavi towards sweeper cover where Piyush Chawla completely misjudged the ball. He not only dropped the catch but also parried the ball over the boundary line.

Then, the Afghan sensation blasted 34 runs in just 10 balls which helped SRH to post a challenging total of 174-7 in 20 overs.

KKR managed to score 160-9 in 20 overs and lost the match by 14 runs. Rashid also shined with the ball (4-0-19-3) and took two crucial catches in the match.

The catch which was dropped by Chawla in the first innings ruined the dreams of KKR to reach the final of IPL 2018.

Q2: SRH vs KKR – Rashid Khan Six https://t.co/3sJjQWKsR7

— Arunagiri (@Arunagirimk) May 28, 2018