The Rajasthan Royals’ incredible four-field victory over Kings XI Punjab at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Sunday was a match full of individual efforts. For KXIP, Mayank Agarwal scored his first century of IPL and was ably supported by his captain KL Rahul with half a century. In response, RR was guided by a fabulous hitting from Sanju Samson, Captain Steve Smith and Rahul Tewatia, all of whom scored half a century.
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When RR achieved the most successful chase in IPL history, the racing festival in Sharjah will always be memorable. Yet amid all the scoring runs, an almost incredible fielding effort by KXIP’s Nicholas Pooran has left people in a frenzy.
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In the eighth over of the Royals chase, Pooran put up a fielding effort, to be honest, like no other. Yes, it was that good. Players securing a catch and returning it to the field before landing within the boundary isn’t new, but wait until you see Pooran’s version. The West Indies batsman, who had already starred in the bat, hitting 25 of eight balls, with three sixes and one four, produced a remarkable fielding, which many call ‘gravity defying’, to deny RR and Samson a six . .
Here’s who came up with it. Third ball of the eighth round, Murugan Ashwin threw it short and Samson rushed to catch it. However, when the ball seemed to clear the boundary, Pooran, parked in the long-on, stepped back, leapt into the air, caught the ball, and moments before hitting the ground, he threw the ball just in time. It may seem normal, but the visual effort will blow your mind.
KXIP’s fielding coach Jonty Rhodes, considered the greatest fielder of all time, couldn’t contain his excitement from the dugout and praised Pooran’s efforts with applause. As expected, Pooran’s fielding effort won the hearts of a number of current and former cricketers, including former India batsman and captain Sachin Tendulkar, who called it “the best save seen in his life.” That is something that comes from someone who has played international cricket for almost 25 years.
“This is the best save I have ever seen. Simply incredible !! “Tendulkar tweeted.
Tendulkar’s longtime India opening partner Virender Sehwag, who has represented KXIP in the past, was impressed by the turnout.
“Gravity naamak cheez hi bhula di. Aisa kaise. Defied gravity, Pooran. What a saved. “
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