Best fielders in IPL

IPL time and again has dazzled us with out-of-the-world fielding moments and like the TV commercials for it, indeed it’s getting tougher and more dynamic every year. This year too, we saw some screaming catches and gravity-defying dives that are a trademark of IPL. Like the commercials, it’s true that it is getting bigger and tougher every year.Apart from batting and bowling, some players have made a mark by pulling off catches and dives like rabbits from magicians’ hats. Let’s acknowledge the Best Fielders in IPL.NOTE: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and not reflective of the website.

#10 Dale Steyn

Hes on this list because hes the only fast bowler who can field with reliability apart from Mitchell Starc(who has not played a lot of IPL but has been stupendous in the latest one). Steyn has a strong arm and his throws have led to many run-outs. Hes also brilliant at the ropes and takes stunning catches every now and then. His commitment on the field can put many youngsters to shame.

#9 Dinesh Karthik

The highly rated and valued player has dazzled us time and again with his athleticism behind the stumps as well as in the field many times. He has taken scores of stunning catches and one catch in the latest IPL was a testimony to his ability.

#8 Ravindra Jadeja

Along with Raina,he provides a safe cushion to Chennai Super Kings in the fielding department and he does so with a certain panache. Hes one of the rare breeds as a genuine Indian all-rounder and he further highlights his rarity by being a great fielder. His speciality lies in accurate throws and an ability to dive to his wrong side which even some of the best fielders are unable to do. Add that to his exceptional catching skills and you have a complete package for a T-20.

#7 Ajinkya Rahane

When Rahane, Kohli, Raina and Jadeja play for the Indian team together, they make the impossible happen - make the Indian team on par with their South African counterparts. On other days, hes the most difficult wall to breach at covers and point. More than the stunning catches which hes habitual of, he dives like a domino to save guaranteed boundaries and does it so frequently that we sometimes fail to appreciate the genius of this guy because of him being an irregular at the international level.

#6 Steve Smith

You can have Steve Smith in your team even if he tells you that he is going to score a duck. The reason? Hell easily save 25-30 runs in every match, pull off a couple of stunning catches and make an odd dead accurate throw. Having him on the field is like having a high voltage live wire in your side. Hes at sixth in this list as hes not played that much in the IPL and were yet to be treated to a lot of awesomeness of this flying Australian.

#5 David Warner

The only reason hes below Raina and Kohli in this list is that hes an Australian and there were many players who were better than him in the 2000s Australian side. Anyway, in my opinion him, Kohli and Raina cant really be compared as they still have a lot to prove and even more to play but whenever this smiling assassin is on your side, be assure of some gravitry defying stunts.

#4 Virat Kohli

The short-tempered Indian star is a force to reckon with on the field. Hes always dedicated and gives the game his 110%. He could have been higher up the list but for his tendency to drop too many sitters of late for a fielder of his calibre. He can produce magic moments out of nowhere and leads his team from the front. He and ABD form one of the most formidable pairs on the field in the IPL.

#3 Suresh Raina

This little man is not so little in his stature as a fielder or a player. He tirelessly dives as if its his favourite past-time, takes catches as if he was born to do it and runs lke hes running for his life. with his level of fitness and utility, hes almost never missed a match for Chennai Super Kings and along with jadeja, he has made CSKs fielding the best in IPL.

#2 AB de Villiers

Apart from being the best batsman and the best finisher (arguably) in the world, he unarguably is the best fielder in the world right now. The only reason hes second on this list is that Pollard has been super-human in the IPL. This man is the fastest runner in cricket without competition and his dives and presence of mind are a sight to behold. Place the man anywhere on the field and the batsman will not even consider that portion as an option to score from. Apart from being a cricketer he was nominated for the junior national Hockey and Football squard, holds swimming and 100 m records at school level and was the captain of junior Rugby Team. Superhuman much?

#1 Kieron Pollard

This Trinidadian giant has been an absolute nightmare for six-hitters. There have been times when he has converted sure sixes into wickets and turned entire matches into his teams favour. Whats surprising in his case is the agility and flexibility he possesses despite his size thereby allowing him to be a bigger threat. At 6 foot 5, his reach after jumping in the air can be upto an astonishing 11-12 feet. He proved his brilliance once again when he took the screamer off Kevon Cooper in the 2014 IPL.