5 most iconic catches in Indian cricket history ft. Suryakumar Yadav

"Catches win matches," as the saying goes, and this has been seen time and time again, especially in Indian cricket. Fans have seen the outcome of matches change after a brilliant display on the field. Taking catches is one of the easiest ways fielders can help bowlers. From 1983 to 2024, some brilliant catches in pressure situations have been key in India's success.

India have always been blessed with some terrific fielders, be it Robin Singh or Mohammad Azharuddin, who were brilliant with their slip catches. Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaid took Indian fielding to the next level. Players like Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja followed in their footsteps, and India have continued to have some brilliant players.

Through the years, fans have seen players take some brilliant chances. In this article, we talk about the five most iconic ones in the history of Indian cricket.

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#5 Mohammad Kaif's blinder against Pakistan in 2004

Pakistan won the toss and asked India to bat in the first ODI in Karachi in 2004. Virender Sehwag (79) was outstanding and was well-supported by Rahul Dravid (99), who missed out on a well-deserved century by one run. Towards the end of the inning, Mohammad Kaif scored 46 as India put up 349.

In response, Mohammad Yousuf (72) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (122) led the way for Pakistan. In the last two overs, the Men in Green needed 17 runs. In the fifth ball of the penultimate over, Mohammad Kaif took a brilliant catch to dismiss Shoaib Malik, which changed the complexion of the game.

Kaif came charging in from long-off and almost collided with Hemang Badani, but he didn't let the ball slip as he completed a brilliant catch. Pakistan needed nine off the final over with three wickets remaining; but Ashish Nehra held his nerves and bowled a brilliant over to take India home.

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#4 A brilliant diving catch by Yuvraj Singh changes India’s fortune

India faced South Africa in the first semi-final of the 2002 Champions Trophy. After deciding to bat first, fifties from Virender Sehwag (59) and Yuvraj Singh (62) helped India to 261.

In response, the Proteas lost Graeme Smith early, but Herschelle Gibbs (116) and Jacques Kallis (97) led South Africa's fightback. Gibbs scored a brilliant century and put South Africa in the driving seat but had to leave the field due to injury. South Africa were 194-1 after 38 overs.

In the second ball of the 39th over, Jonty Rhodes got a top edge while he tried to sweep Harbhajan Singh. The ball went in the air, and Yuvraj Singh completed a brilliant one-hand catch by diving to his right at short fine leg. It started the collapse for the Proteas, who lost their momentum and eventually fell short by 10 runs.

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#3 S. Sreesanth's all-important catch seals Men in Blue's 2007 T20 World Cup triumph

“In the air, Sreesanth takes it; India win." These were the words of Ravi Shastri, who was in the commentary box when S. Sreesanth took the catch of Misab-ul-Haq at short-fine leg, which helped India win the 2007 T20 World Cup.

In the third ball of the final over by Joginder Sharma, with Pakistan only needing six to win with a wicket in hand, the right-handed batter tried to scoop the ball over fine leg, but it went straight up and landed in the hands of Sreesanth.

It was a very important catch given the situation, and the Indian fast bowler held on to it to bring glory to India.

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#2 Suryakumar Yadav's presence of mind puts India in the ascendancy in 2024 T20 World Cup final

The most recent iconic catch came in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. South Africa needed 16 to win in the last over, with David Miller on strike.

The left-handed batter hit a full toss from Hardik Pandya to long-off; the ball nearly cleared the rope, but Suryakumar Yadav caught it before his momentum carried him over. He had his presence of mind to lob the ball in the air as he went over the ropes, came back in and completed the catch to put India in the driving seat.

Pandya then bowled a brilliant over as the Men in Blue won by seven runs. Suryakumar’s catch proved to be a match-defining one as India won their first ICC trophy since 2013.

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#1 Kapil Dev’s iconic catch of Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final

The West Indies won the toss and asked India to bat first in the 1983 World Cup final. However, India didn’t make the most of it, as they were bowled out for 183.

In response, the West Indies lost opener Gordon Greenidge early, but Viv Richards was in full flow. The West Indian was having a good time at the crease until Madan Lal surprised him with a bouncer, which went high towards deep-midwicket. Indian captain Kapil Dev ran backward and took a brilliant catch to dismiss Richards.

After that, Indian bowlers were all over the West Indian. Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath took three wickets each as India won by 43 runs, clinching their first World Cup title by beating the two-time champions.