IPL: Most catches for each team in the tournament history

By the day, fielding is becoming an important aspect for players. We hear a lot about how fielding has to become the secondary skill of a player. And with the advent of T20 cricket, fielding has become very crucial.

The IPL has seen a lot of brilliant catches and excellent fielding efforts. But here we focus on players who have taken the most number of catches for each team in the history of the IPL.

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#8 Delhi Daredevils – Virender Sehwag (29)

Virender Sehwag was also the captained Delhi Daredevils in 52 games.

Virender Sehwag was not the most athletic fielder. However, he had a very safe pair of hands. He used to stand in the slips at the start of the innings and took a few good catches in the cordon.

Considering the fact that Virender Sehwag played the most number of games of Delhi Daredevils (79 games), it is not a surprise that the Delhi dasher has taken the most number of catches for DD. He has also scored the most runs for DD – 2174 at an average of 29.37 and a strike-rate of 160.32. He played for Delhi for 6 years – from 2008 to 2013.

#7 Kolkata Knight Riders – Manoj Tiwary (30)

Manoj Tiwary was a part of KKR for 4 years.

This might be a surprising name but over the years Manoj Tiwary has proven he is a very good fielder. His exploits in the field have more often gone unnoticed. One of the famous fielding moments for Manoj Tiwary was the time he ran out Thisara Perera from backward point and MS Dhoni imitated him.

Manoj Tiwary represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for four years (2010-2013). He played 54 games and took 30 catches. He usually fields in the covers and point regions in the powerplays and then guards the boundary line (long-off, long-on, mid-wicket) during the death.

He also scored 1002 runs at an average of 29.47. 2013 was his last year with KKR. He played for DD and RPS in the following years.

#6 Sunrises Hyderabad – David Warner (30)

David Warner leads from the front on the field.

David Warner absolutely loves fielding. His energy on the field, the way he rallies around the team and his ability to produce fielding brilliance on the field is simply brilliant.

David Warner made his international debut in a T20 international against South Africa and made a stunning 89 and was subsequently picked by Delhi Daredevils in 2009. But his IPL career took a drastic turn when he joined Sunrises Hyderabad in 2014. He has become very consistent and has scored 2579 runs in the last 4 seasons for SRH.

Not only with the bat, he leads front the front even on the field. Other players usually feed off from Warner’s energy. In 59 games he’s played for SRH, he has taken 30 catches and has effected quite a few runouts.

#5 Rajasthan Royals – Ajinkya Rahane (31)

Ajinkya Rahane is one of the safest catchers.

Ajinkya Rahane has established himself as one of the safest slip catchers in the Indian team. He is a player who has a quiet nature and goes about his job nonchalantly.

Rahane has the ability to field at any position. He fields inside the 30-yard circle, on the boundary and close-in. He has played 71 matches for Rajasthan Royals and has taken 31 catches playing for them. He is also the second-highest run-getter for RR with 2047 runs. He averages 35.91 for the Jaipur-based franchise. In fact, the 29-year-old is the only player in the history of the T20 cricket to hit 6 fours in one over.

Rahane started his career at Rajasthan Royals (in 2011) and will be back to the franchise this year.

#4 Kings XI Punjab – David Miller (42)

David Miller is one of the best fielders in world cricket.

South Africa is a team which is one of the best fielding teams in world cricket. David Miller is one of the best outfielders not only in the South African team, but also world cricket. He has this fantastic ability to pluck catches out of thin air and produce runouts out of nowhere. He is a very safe pair of hands and a bullet arm.

He made his IPL debut in 2012, but he set the IPL on fire in 2013 and 2014. He formed a lethal combination with Maxwell, not only as a batting pair but also as a fielding pair. Both of them used to field at long-on and long-off and produce some brilliance. Miller has played 66 games for KXIP and has taken 42 catches for them.

Despite a couple of disappointing seasons with the bat, KXIP used the Right To Match card and retained the South African southpaw.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore – Virat Kohli (61)

Virat Kohli's energy on the field is remarkable.

Virat Kohli is one of the most energetic players on the field. He is one who wants every player to put in more than 100% on the field. He feels that every player in the playing XI needs to be a good fielder.

Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from the inaugural season, Kohli has represented the Bangalore franchise 149 times in the IPL and has taken 61 catches. He has been electric in the field and saved a lot of runs. Also, he is currently the second highest run-getter in the history of the IPL.

He will continue to lead RCB this season in the quest of their maiden IPL title.

#2 Mumbai Indians – Kieron Pollard (70)

Pollard has taken a few stunners in the IPL.

After Harbhajan Singh, Kieron Pollard has played the most number of games for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. After becoming the most expensive player in 2010, Pollard has only represented MI in the IPL.

Pollard may seem like a big, bulky and a muscular gut. But he is very fit and one of the best fielders in the Mumbai Indians line-up. He uses his height and big hands to great effect as the big West Indian is often seen at long-on and long-off saving a lot of runs and taking some stunning catches.

Pollard has taken 70 catches for MI in 123 games. Not only that, he is the third highest run-getter for MI as well – 2343 runs in 113 innings.

#1 Chennai Super Kings - Suresh Raina (74)

Suresh Raina has been outstanding in the IPL.

For a player who has missed only one single IPL game in the entire 10 year-history, it is not a surprise that his name is on the top of this list. Suresh Raina has scored at least 350 runs in every season of the IPL. In fact, his lowest aggregate in a year is 374 which came in 2015.

He is the highest run-getter of all time in IPL. He’s played the most number of games, he has taken the most number of catches in the history of the IPL. Hence, he can be termed as ‘Mr. IPL’.

For Chennai Super Kings, Raina has played 132 games and has taken 74 catches. He has one of the safest pairs of hands. You would hardly see Raina drop any catches. He saves runs everywhere on the field and he can also chip in with some useful overs. He is a complete three-dimensional player an IPL team could have.