Catches win matches. That is the common motto for teams and players if they have to win matches. Runs saved on the field can make a difference of one or two runs in the victory margin. A great fielder can take catches regularly and save runs on the outfield. However, a couple of misfields can change the momentum of the side. Thus, it is very important for outfielders to ensure runs are saved.
While keepers take catches on a regular basis, it is the number of catches taken by outfielders that results in a remarkable stat. In the entire history of the Indian Premier League, only one outfielder has taken over 100 catches. That player is Suresh Raina. During his time with Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions, Raina has taken 109 catches. In IPL 2022, the likes of Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja could potentially reach the 100-catch mark.
Player | Matches | Catches | Maximum catches |
Suresh Raina | 205 | 109 | 3 |
Kieron Pollard | 178 | 96 | 2 |
AB de Villiers | 184 | 90 | 3 |
Rohit Sharma | 213 | 90 | 3 |
Virat Kohli | 207 | 84 | 2 |
Shikhar Dhawan | 192 | 82 | 3 |
Ravindra Jadeja | 200 | 81 | 4 |
Dwayne Bravo | 151 | 77 | 3 |
Manish Pandey | 154 | 75 | 3 |
David Warner | 150 | 68 | 4 |
Faf du Plessis | 100 | 66 | 4 |
Ajinkya Rahane | 151 | 58 | 2 |
Suryakumar Yadav | 115 | 55 | 2 |
David Miller | 89 | 53 | 4 |
Hardik Pandya | 92 | 53 | 3 |
Steve Smith | 103 | 53 | 3 |
*Minimum cut-off is 50 catches.
The level of consistency that Suresh Raina has displayed on the field is the prime reason why he sits on top of the charts with 109 catches. The maximum number of catches that he has taken in a match is three. In fact, among the list of players who have taken over 50 catches, only Faf du Plessis and David Warner have taken four catches in a match. No outfielder in the history of IPL has taken five catches.
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It is sad that Suresh Raina will not be part of the IPL 2022. In the mega-auction, he did not receive a bid and went unsold. This was a shock for most of the people after all the years he gave for Chennai Super Kings. Raina was part of all four title triumphs for Chennai Super Kings in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021.
Read More: Fans React as Suresh Raina Goes Unsold
Pollard, on the other hand, has taken some spectacular catches to ensure Mumbai Indians have won matches at crucial times. Pollard looks good to go past 100 in IPL 2022. On the other hand, Faf du Plessis’ catches in IPL 2020 and 2021 went viral. It displayed his athleticism and brilliance even at this age.
One hopes that Raina, who retired from international cricket in 2019 along with MS Dhoni, makes a comeback to the IPL. He can be an ideal replacement in case of an injury to the player in any franchise. But, for this stat, Raina should be given his due in addition to his batting.