Year-Ender 2023: Presenting the Top-10 Catches of the Year Featuring Travis Head, Ajinkya Rahane and More

Catches win matches. The age-old adage continues to hold true. Catches have the potential to turn the momentum of a game completely.

From Travis Head’s stunner to dismiss Rohit Sharma in the World Cup final to Shikhar Dhawan’s brilliant dive to remove David Warner in an IPL match, 2023 witnessed several remarkable catches.

Also Read: Bangladesh Claim Historic Victory Over New Zealand

With the year now drawing to a close, let’s take a look at some of the most mind-boggling fielding efforts of the year.

Travis Head vs India (World Cup Final)

Probably the most impactful catch on this list, Travis Head proved to be a menace against India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. During the first half of the game, Head dismissed Rohit Sharma by taking a near-impossible catch off a poor hit from the Indian skipper. While running against the direction of the ball, Head made a well-timed dive to secure the important scalp.

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Mushfiqur Rahim vs Sri Lanka (World Cup match)

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim displayed his brilliance at the World Cup in India. While playing against Sri Lanka, Rahim leapt in the air to complete a one-handed stunner. The catch was not just beautiful but also extremely important as it occurred in only the second over of the game dismissing the dangerous Kusal Mendis.

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Rassie van der Dussen vs Australia (World Cup Semi-final)

The Proteas have consistently produced brilliant fielding moments in cricket and such was the case in their 2023 World Cup semi-final against Australia. Rassie van der Dussen took a stunner to grab the wicket of Mitchell Marsh in the eighth over of the second innings.

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Trent Boult vs Netherlands (World Cup)

Apart from terrorising batters on the bowling front, New Zealand speedster Trent Boult also can make an impact on the boundary rope. Against the Netherlands at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Boult lost control as he moved past the boundary rope while attempting a catch. However, he threw the ball up just in the nick of time before coming back in to complete the catch.

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Rashid Khan’s IPL 2023 stunner

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan took one of the finest catches in IPL history in the 51st match of the 2023 season. While playing the Lucknow Super Giants, Rashid Khan produced a jaw-dropping sliding catch for the Gujarat Titans in the ninth over of the match. The catch dismissed Kyle Mayers at 48 runs.

Joe Root’s one-handed grab

Joe Root produced one of the best fielding moments in this year’s Ashes. On the second day of the final Ashes Test, Root did his magic in the slips dismissing Marnus Labuchagne with a one-handed catch. This secured England’s only wicket before the lunch break as Labuchagne left at 9 runs in 82 balls.

Bairstow stunner

After a poor showing behind the stumps on Day One of the Ashes Test at Old Trafford, Jonny Bairstow redeemed himself with a spectacular catch. The 33-year-old reacted with an emphatic scream after pulling off a miracle. The catch removed Mitchell Marsh to swing the momentum toward England’s favour.

That KPL catch

The match between KPA 123 and KSCA Calicut in the Kerala Premier League, witnessed an impossible catch. In one delivery from KPA’s Firas Mohammed, the ball chipped off the bat’s edge and moved towards the keeper. The wicketkeeper dived towards the ball but it bounced off his glove and landed on his back. The catch was then completed by a fielder who took the ball off him.

Shikhar Dhawan in IPL 2023

Shikhar Dhawan proved that age is just a number as he produced a moment of magic in Dharamshala. Delhi Capitals skipper David Warner hit a shot toward mid-off. Dhawan made a run for the ball and was able to take the catch despite his elbows hitting the ground hard.

Ajinkya Rahane versus the West Indies

India’s Test veteran Ajinkya Rahane put his brilliant fielding skillset on display after plucking the wicket of West Indies batter Jermaine Blackwood.

On a delivery off Ravindra Jadeja in the 87th over, Rahane took a positionally unfavourable catch for a right-hander, as he dived for the ball. He held firm while going down to dismiss Blackwood at 20 runs.