As they say, "catches win matches," It won't be wrong to say that T20 cricket, especially the IPL has revolutionized fielding standards in the cricket world. Since taking a catch or stopping even a single could turn a T20 game, cricketers have focused immensely on fielding.
In this article, we look at the top five cricketers and non-wicket keepers with the most catches in IPL history.
1. Suresh Raina (109 catches)
When it comes to the IPL, there is hardly any top record that Suresh Raina does not own, and that makes him one of the greatest players in IPL. He owns the fielding record too, as he has taken 109 IPL catches. He has been a benchmark for fielding and arguably one of the best fielders India has ever produced. His ability to take various positions on the field puts him apart. He could take a screamer at slip or save plenty of runs in the outfield. Hence, there is no doubt that he is the most successful fielder in IPL history.
2. Virat Kohli (107 catches)
Former Indian and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli is one of the greatest athletes. His strong fitness makes him one of the greatest fielders in cricket history. He is known for his safe hands, as he has taken 106 catches in his IPL career.
3. Kieron Pollard (103 catches)
Caribbean cricketer Kieron Pollard was one of the greatest IPL players. Apart from his aggressive batting and useful bowling, Pollard was also popular for his strong fielding. The most attractive feature of his fielding was his ability to stand at long-on or long-off and gallop the ball with one hand by leaping in the air. For such a tall man with a big physical stature, his fielding skills are quite exemplary. He was the first overseas cricketer and second overall non-wicketkeeper to complete 100 IPL catches, as he claimed 103 catches in his IPL career.
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4. Rohit Sharma (98 catches)
One of the greatest IPL captains, Rohit Sharma is very close to completing 100 IPL catches, as he has taken 98 catches in the tournament. Rohit may not be a natural athlete, but he always gives his 100% on the field, and the record proves it.
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5. Ravindra Jadeja (97 catches)
Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja is one of the very special and rare talents. In any role, as a left-handed batter, as a left-arm spinner, or as a fielder, Jadeja can always play a strong game-changing role. Even though he didn’t play most of the matches at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Jadeja had a huge impact in that tournament as a substitute fielder, as he was one of the best run-savers in that competition. In the IPL, Jadeja has taken 97 catches.
