In a pivotal moment during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Anuj Rawat‘s extraordinary athleticism and presence of mind came to the fore as he took a spectacular catch to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal.
The match scenario
The highly anticipated encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium saw RCB skipper Faf du Plessis winning the toss and opting to field first. LSG’s opening pair, Quinton de Kock and captain KL Rahul, got off to a blistering start, putting RCB’s bowlers under pressure right from the beginning.
Devdutt Padikkal’s dismissal
Despite LSG’s strong start, the tide turned in RCB’s favor when Mohammed Siraj delivered a deceptive short ball to Padikkal. The left-handed batter, aiming to capitalize on the delivery, attempted a pull shot but mistimed it, resulting in a top edge. The ball soared high towards the wicketkeeper, prompting Rawat to sprint backward.
Anuj Rawat’s remarkable effort
Rawat, displaying remarkable agility and anticipation, covered a significant distance to reach the ball. With the crowd holding its breath, Rawat leaped into the air, extending his arms to pluck the ball out of the sky. Despite the pressure, Rawat maintained his composure and managed to hold onto the ball securely, completing a breathtaking catch.
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Here is the video:
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Quinton de Kock powers LSG to a decent score
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, De Kock continued to accumulate runs, finding boundaries consistently. The South African stalwart was, in fact, looking well set to cruise towards a three-figure score but Reece Topley got rid of him.
De Kock displayed an impressive innings, amassing 81 runs from a mere 56 deliveries, including 8 boundaries and five sixes. Alongside De Kock’s contribution, Nicholas Pooran chipped in with unbeaten 40 runs off 21 balls as LSG reached a total of 181/5 within their designated 20 overs.