A light-hearted moment between Rajasthan Royals’ fielding coach Dishant Yagnik and West Indian batter Shimron Hetmyer brought smiles during a training session ahead of RR’s IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As Hetmyer dropped a catch during drills, Yagnik jokingly dragged him by the shirt across the ground, triggering laughter and easing the tension ahead of a high-stakes encounter.
The incident, caught on camera and shared by the franchise on X (formerly Twitter), showed Yagnik pulling Hetmyer across the turf, saying with a grin, “Ek catch pakadta nahi hai. Seedha catch pe gir jaa raha hai,” roughly translating to “He doesn’t catch a single ball, just falls on a straightforward one!”
WATCH – Trent Boult Showers Praise on Rohit Sharma After MI’s Dominant Win Over SRH
It was a humorous gesture that highlighted the camaraderie and relaxed vibe in the RR camp, despite the team’s struggles in the tournament. Rajasthan Royals are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, April 24. The match carries weight for RR, who have managed only two wins from eight matches and are reeling from four straight losses.
The relationship between a coach and his back bencher student 😂💗 pic.twitter.com/blZeNakQie
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 24, 2025
Sitting eighth on the points table with four points, RR are desperate for a turnaround to stay alive in the playoff race. Shimron Hetmyer, a key finisher for the side, has had a below-par season so far. With just 176 runs at an average of 25.14 and a strike rate of 153.04, he has only one half-century to his name — a 52-run knock against the Gujarat Titans.
His inability to close out chases in recent matches has put added pressure on him ahead of the Bengaluru clash, especially returning to his former home ground. RR’s recent defeats have been agonizingly close — one going into a Super Over against Delhi Capitals and another slipping away in the final over against Lucknow Super Giants.
WATCH – Mohammad Amir Open To IPL 2026 Opportunity, But Commits to PSL if Overlooked
In contrast, RCB have been steady, with five wins from eight games, all of them coming on the road. Their latest triumph came against Punjab Kings, and notably, they had also thrashed Rajasthan by nine wickets earlier this season. As RR aim to break their losing streak, all eyes will be on Hetmyer to deliver, not just in the nets but in the heat of the match.
