Top 10 fielders on show in the IPL

Brendon McCullum is one of the quickest fielders in the world

When the IPL starts in India, the cricketing world comes to a standstill. This year, it has been no different and it gets bigger when we go into the business end of the tournament.

While the tournament has always been about monstrous sixes and toe crushing yorkers, what separates the champion team from the rest is their fielding. “A run saved is a run scored” is what the experts say and the best in the business are proving that it is true. From flying saves at point to juggling saves on the boundary line, this IPL has unveiled a lot of men who make a difference with their sheer magic on the field.

10. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane’s story is one that would inspire every aspiring cricketer. He is a typical talented kid spotted and groomed by the Rajasthan Royals and has become one of the best fielders that the country has produced. He is extremely flexible and sensible.

Be it fielding in the slips, stopping potential boundaries at point, or near the boundary, he does what the team wants him to do. Speaking about Rahane, MS Dhoni once remarked, “He says yes, to everything”.

9. Brendon McCullum

Here is a superb fielder from the franchise which has arguably the best fielding side in the tournament. He leaps, dives and saves a ball that could not have otherwise been stopped by anyone but him. He is probably the only man who can bend 180 degrees and take absolute screamers on the boundary.

Baz (as he is fondly called) is an astute fielder and an unbelievable sprinter who flings his arms at anything and everything if the situation demands it.

8. Glenn Maxwell

Fresh from Australia’s World Cup win, Glenn Maxwell adds value to any team he plays for. While he is regarded as one of the biggest hitters currently, he brings more to the plate with his off-spin and excellent fielding skills.

His fielding exploits with Nathan Lyon in an international match took teamwork to a different level. With the Kings XI Punjab languishing at the bottom, Maxwell would be hoping to instil some confidence in the team with his electric presence on the field.

7. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard’s reach gives him an advantage in the field

Now, who wouldn’t be intimidated by a 6 ft 5 inch Trinidadian standing at the boundary? Apart from taping his mouth, throwing his bat around and hitting towering sixes, he is also known for his powerful throwing arm and wonderful hands.

Speaking about his work in the field, he had this to say: ”Fielding is an attitude and I enjoy it when I take a good catch.”

Celebration is a part of the lifestyle of Pollard and his all-round abilities make him one of the stars of limited overs cricket. What else would one expect when his fielding coach is Jonty Rhodes.

6. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina is one among a new brand of cricketers with oodles of energy and confidence. He likes to be in the game all the time and has a childlike enthusiasm which is contagious.

When a wicket falls anywhere or at any time, you can be assured that Raina is going to be the first one to congratulate the fielder and the bowler. He is a live-wire in the field and has marvellous reflexes and agility. No wonder, CSK’s fielding coach Steve Rixon calls him “?the fielding captain”.

5. David Warner

David Warner is someone who expects himself to succeed every time he steps onto the field and captaincy has only added to his sense of responsibility. When not strategising and talking to his bowlers, this pocket-sized dynamite can be seen diving and patrolling the covers with his out of the world abilities and has one of the safest pairs of hands.

Talking about fielding, he said: “If we get our fielding right, the bowling and batting will take care of itself.”

4. Dwayne Bravo

This chirpy West Indian pulled off an absolutely stunning run out to dismiss Virat Kohli in a recent match against RCB thereby turning the tide in CSK’s favour. If consistency is one of the main reasons for CSK’s success, then Bravo is definitely one of the secrets.

Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis are two of the best fielders in the IPL

The West Indian is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in T20 cricket. The typical Caribean flair is evident in his fielding. In addition to those wonderful low catches and numerous saves at the boundary, his celebrations make him an absolute crowd-puller.

3. Faf du Plessis

From enthralling the viewers with flying saves at mid-off and long-off to being a sensational batting mainstay at the top of the order, Faf du Plessis (also called marathon man) has been a major reason for CSK’s success over the years.

So what makes him so special? If taking one-handed catches is an art, Faf is a master of it. In his own words, “the most important thing is to want the ball” and this guy seems to be wanting it all the time.

2. Steven Smith

Steven Smith is touted to be Australia’s next Test and ODI captain and is certainly living up to this tag. No one can easily forget his fielding exploits while speaking with the commentators during IPL 2012.

Steven Smith has always been a top fielder

With his acrobatic skills and an amazing sense of mind, he is probably one of the best boundary riders in the tournament and can save those big hits at the end overs. He is another young talent out of the RR stable who can woo the world with his awesome fielding skills.

1. AB de Villiers

This superman of world cricket is the modern-day synonym of versatility. The whole world stood by his side when he wept after the semi-final loss against New Zealand in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. But this fighter has put everything behind him and continues to do what he does best - ‘being the best’.

Combining his breathtaking fielding skills with his astonishing batting, he is integral for the fortunes of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. With his agility, dives and direct hits, this modern-day Jonty Rhodes is the man to watch out for.