The saying 'catch the ball, win the match' is very famous in the cricket world. Its examples have been seen from time to time. Especially in Indian cricket. Players not only help the bowling with their amazing fielding but also change the entire match.
The Indian cricket team has been very lucky in this matter. From 1983 to 2024, Indian players have performed strongly under pressure situations. Robin Singh and Mohammad Azharuddin set a different level of excellent fielding in the slips. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif set a different standard in fielding. Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja carried forward this tradition.
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India was on a tour of Pakistan in 2004. In the ODI match held in Karachi, India batted first and scored 349 runs. In reply, Pakistan needed 17 runs to win in the last two overs. On the fifth ball of the 49th over, Shoaib Malik played a shot towards long-off. Kaif and Hemang Badani ran for the catch. Kaif almost collided with Hemang and took the catch. In the last over, Ashish Nehra saved 9 runs and put the match in India's bag.
India faced South Africa in the first semi-final match of the 2002 Champions Trophy. India batted first and scored 261 runs. In reply, Herschelle Gibbs (116) and Jacques Kallis (97) helped the team come back. After scoring a century, Gibbs left the field due to injury. In the 39th over, Jonty Rhodes went to play a sweep shot on Harbhajan Singh's ball, but the ball took the edge of his bat and went towards short fine leg. Yuvraj Singh, standing there, jumped in the air to his right and took a wonderful catch. In the end, India won the match by 10 runs.
The final of the first edition of the T20 World Cup was played between India and Pakistan. In the end, Pakistan needed only 6 runs to win and India needed one wicket. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who was at the crease in Joginder Singh's over, played a shot towards short-fine leg. The ball went straight into Sreesanth's hands and India won the match.
India and South Africa clashed in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa needed 16 runs to win in the last over and David Miller was at the crease. The left-handed batsman played a shot towards long off on the first ball of Hardik Pandya's over. Suryakumar standing at the boundary took a brilliant catch. Thanks to this catch, India made a comeback in the match and eventually won by 7 wickets.
In the 1983 World Cup final, West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl first. India scored 183 runs. Chasing the target, Viv Richards stood at one end and kept scoring runs continuously. At one time West Indies was on the verge of victory. Richards played a shot towards deep midwicket on a bouncer ball in Madan Lal's over. The ball went in the air and Kapil Dev took a brilliant catch while running back. This was the turning point of the match. In the end, India won the final.
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