Bro, let me be honest. I love sixes. I love fours. I love big scores. But you know what gives me the same level of excitement? A stunning catch. That moment when a fielder flies through the air, plucks the ball out of nowhere, and turns the match upside down.
IPL 2026 has already given us some absolute blinders. I have watched replays again and again. I have shouted at my TV. I have sent videos to my cricket group at 1 AM.
So here is my list of the Top 5 Catches of IPL 2026 so far. No particular order. Just pure brilliance.
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### 1. Shreyas Iyer – The Flying Captain (PBKS vs MI)
You have seen this one. Everyone has seen this one. Shreyas Iyer, mid-air, horizontal, flicking the ball back just before his foot touched the rope. Xavier Bartlett completed the catch. Hardik Pandya was out. Wankhede Stadium went silent.
Bro, I tried to recreate this catch in my living room. With a tennis ball. On my bed. I fell. My wife laughed at me. My son said "Abbu, aap kya kar rahe ho?"
That is how hard this catch is. Shreyas made it look easy. Catch of the season? Probably. Catch of IPL history? Maybe.
### 2. Rinku Singh – The One-Handed Stunner (KKR vs GT)
KKR has had a terrible season. Six matches. Zero wins. One point. But even in this nightmare, there was one moment of pure magic. Rinku Singh. One hand. Running backwards. Diving full stretch.
The ball was sailing over his head. He stuck his left hand out – just like that – and the ball stuck. Like it was glued. Like magic.
I jumped off my sofa. I forgot that KKR was losing. For that one moment, I was just a fan appreciating greatness.
KKR fans, this catch is for you. At least something to smile about.
### 3. Tristan Stubbs – The Superman (DC vs LSG)
Tristan Stubbs is not a big name. Not yet. But after this catch, people will remember him. LSG was batting. A big shot was hit towards deep mid-wicket. Stubbs ran, dived, and caught the ball inches above the ground. His body slid, but the ball never touched the grass.
The umpire took it upstairs. Replay after replay. Every angle showed the same thing – clean catch. One of the best you will ever see.
### 4. Faf du Plessis – The Ageless Wonder (RCB vs CSK)
Faf du Plessis is 41. Yes, forty-one. Most players his age are in the commentary box. He is still flying in the field. Against CSK, his old team, he took a blinder at long-on. Judged it perfectly, ran in, dived forward, and caught it with both hands.
The crowd roared. Even CSK fans clapped. That is respect.
Age is just a number. Faf proves it every match.
### 5. Shimron Hetmyer – The Boundary Line Magic (RR vs PBKS)
Shimron Hetmyer is known for his power hitting. But in this match, he showed his fielding skills. The ball was heading for a six. Hetmyer jumped at the boundary, caught it, and realized he was falling over the rope. In that split second, he threw the ball back to his teammate before stepping out. The relay catch was completed.
Quick thinking. Fast hands. Match saved.
These are the moments that do not always show up in scorecards. But they win matches.
### Honorable Mentions
I could not fit everyone. So here are some quick shoutouts:
- **Rahul Tripathi** (SRH) – diving catch at point.
- **Deepak Chahar** (MI) – caught his own bowling return.
- **Phil Salt** (RCB) – running catch behind the wickets.
### Why Catches Matter More Than You Think
Bro, a six is two seconds of excitement. A catch stays with you. It changes momentum. It lifts the team. It silences the crowd. And sometimes, it wins you a match.
Shreyas Iyer's catch won PBKS the match against MI. Rinku Singh's catch gave KKR fans something to cheer about. These moments are why we love cricket.
### Final Word
IPL 2026 is only halfway done. There will be more catches. More flying fielders. More moments that make you jump off your sofa.
Which catch is your favorite? Did I miss any? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
And as always, keep supporting 4thumpire.
Peace out. ✌️