India off-spinner Washington Sundar took a stunning one-handed diving catch to dismiss New Zealand’s Mark Chapman in the first T20I of the series, played on Friday in Ranchi, the hometown of former India skipper MS Dhoni.
Such exceptional was Sundar’s catch that even MS Dhoni would have been proud of seeing it.
Washington Sundar, who didn’t get to play a single T20I against Sri Lanka earlier this month, was right on the money in Ranchi.
It was a brave move from skipper Hardik Pandya to introduce him in the third over, as a seething Finn Allen had clattered the pacers. Sundar, getting some bite and extra bounce from the surface, conceded just 3 runs in his first over.
In his next over, though, he was greeted by Allen with a six. Sundar, however, retorted by dismissing the dangerous Allen. Next came in Mark Chapman, playing at number 3 instead of the rested Kane Williamson.
Chapman found life really difficult as Sundar’s balls stuck in the surface and turned considerably. The left-hander was all at seas against the 23-year-old off-spinner and was beaten on three consecutive deliveries before holing out to a spectacular return catch to the bowler.
Sundar tossed it up and Chapman presented a full front face. The ball, once again, holding a little in the surface was late on Chapman and it flew back to the right of Sundar off the bat. Then Sundar flew toward the ball with his right hand out and managed to pluck a stunning one-handed take.
As soon as he caught it, Sundar went on a sprint, celebrating with Suryakumar Yadav before others joined in. The crowd was up on their feet, in awe of Sundar’s superb catch.
The BCCI uploaded the video of Washington Sundar’s mind-blowing catch on Twitter:
WHAT. A. CATCH 🔥🔥@Sundarwashi5 dives to his right and takes a stunning catch off his own bowling 😎#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ
Live – https://t.co/9Nlw3mU634 #INDvNZ @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/8BBdFWtuEu
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 27, 2023
