Another drop catch and Virat Kohli commands new category of unwanted fielding record

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Despite being one of the most agile athletes on the field, Kohli's catching has let him down lately. Once known for pulling off incredible catches, such as one-handed running stunners, Kohli has wobbled against some of the easiest and basic catching opportunities in T20 internationals. It was in December of last year, that Kohli put down a dolly of Matthew Wade against Australia in a T20I in Sydney, one of the easiest chances you'll see. And on Tuesday, Kohli put down a chance - not the toughest - of Jos Buttler when the batsman was on 76.

Buttler reverse-swept leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kohli, who was at backward point, did well to move quickly to his right, but failed to hold on to it. Had he grabbed it, Kohli would have prevented himself from registering an unwanted fielding record. Yes, the Buttler drop was Kohli's sixth in T20I cricket since 2019, which is the most by a fielder from a Test-playing nation. The skipper surpassed England all-rounder Chris Jordan's tally of five dropped catches.

The list packs another surprise. Behind Kohli and Jordan, at No. 3 is Australia's Steve Smith, who has put down four catches, as has leg-spinner Chahal. Surprisingly enough, Kohli also has the second-least number of catches among the four, taking nine, seven more than Chahal's two, while Jordan leads the chart with 15 successful catches, followed by Smith's 11.

While Kohli has been surprisingly average with his catching, two of his worst drops came during IPL 2020 in September last year. In a match against Punjab Kings, Kohli, captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, dropped KL Rahul twice in two overs - both being fair, regulation chances - allowing the batsman a reprieve as he went on to score a century.

(With inputs from agencies)

 

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