After a thrilling start to the 11tth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), one can clearly say that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have emerged as the top performers in the first week of the IPL 2018. However, in the first week, there have been some players which have not only performed well with the bat or with the bowl but also on the field as well as there has been some breathtaking catching in the initial phase of IPL 2018 itself. Let us look at the top five catches of this season of the IPL in the first week.
1. Rashid Khan (SRH vs RR)
During the first inning of the match between SRH and RR, Shakib Al Hasan was bowling to Sanju Samson in the 14th over of the first innings, on the fifth ball of that over, Shakib brilliantly anticipated that Samson in step out which he did and the bowler bowled slow bowl outside off as a result of that, the batsman had to reach out to hit only to slice the ball high in the sky. Rashid Khan affected a rapid sprit from the sweeper cover position and timed his slide so correctly so that he can catch the bowl on time. It was a perfect combination of great bowling and brilliant cathing.
2. Dinesh Karthik (CSK vs KKR)
CSK was playing their first home match of the season after a gap of more than 1000 days and during a chase of a daunting target of 203, Piyush Chawla was bowling to Chennai skipper MS Dhoni and on the third ball of the over, MS miss timed a shot which took the inside edged off his bat and it had gone straightly to the hands of the KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik, who firstly fumble but somehow manages to hung n to the bowl and collects like a boss! KKR even didn’t appeal but Mahi started to walk.
3. AB de Villiers (KKR vs RCB)
On the Double Dhamaka Sunday, RCB was locking horns with KKR at latter’s home ground and during the 18h over of Kolkata’s chase, Chris Waokes was bowling to Andre Russell and on the fourth bowl of the over, Woakes delivered a slow bowl outside off, Russell cleared his front leg, and skews the ball off the outside half towards long-off. AB de Villiers runs back and to his right from mid-off. McCullum runs in from long-on as well. McCullum was never in the situation of catching the ball, so in the end, it was AB who took the clean catch and somehow managed to avoid the collision between the two. One has to say that it was a brilliant catch from Mr. 360. He also played some phenomenal shots during RCB’s batting as well.
