IPL : 3 Moments which changed the match in season 2022

In the fifteenth edition of the Indian Premier League, we saw several errors caused by the fielders on the field. Some of these didn't have any remarkable impact on the game, whereas some significantly impacted the match, and the errors turned out to be costly, turning the complete game due to one mistake. Let us look at three moments from this season of IPL that completely changed the game.

Shardul Thakur's fatal catch drop in the 'Virtual eliminator.' 

The 69 match of the tournament was a do-or-die match for Rishabh Pant as he led the Delhi Capitals, and they needed to win this match. Batting first, the Capitals set a target of 160 against MI. The target was quite challenging for the opponents, and in return, MI lost their skipper early at 25. However, Ishan Kishan and Dewald Brevis steadied the innings. Brevis seemed settled on the crease and was turning dangerous for the Capitals. In the eighth over of the inning, wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav bowled a full-length ball to Brevis, which he tried to smash for a six over the mid-wicket. However, he failed to time the ball, which didn't travel the distance. Shardul Thakur, who was at the boundary rope, attempted to catch this. However, he mistimed the catch, and the ball deflected from his palms and went straight over the boundary rope.

Consequently, Shardul dropped the catch as well as gave six extra runs. This catch drop was costly for DC as Brevis scored valuable 37 runs, which were important in the run chase. Ultimately, DC lost this virtual eliminator by five wickets and was knocked out of the race for playoffs.

Anuj Rawat's drop turns out costly for RCB

In the 3rd match of this season, the Royal Challengers Bangalore clashed against Punjab Kings. Batting first, Bangalore posted a mammoth total of 205/2 with the help of skipper Du Plessis's knock of 88 (57). Both Kohli and Du Plessis smashed in the middle overs and assured a convincing total for the men in red. In return, while Punjab's batting, RCB took some quick wickets at regular intervals, and the win seemed inevitable for the Challengers. When the West Indies' all-rounder Odean Smith came in to bat, the Kings struggled at 162 for five wickets. Bangalore needed just this one wicket to seal the match completely. 

Harshal Patel invited Odean to play a line outside off-stump, and his trap was almost successful. Smith failed to connect a big one and sent the bowl straight into the hands of young Anuj Rawat. However, Odean Smith survived as Anuj could not get a hold of the ball and dropped this crucial one. This catch by the youngster turned out to be game-changing as Odean Smith scored 25 runs in just eight balls. With this catch drop and a sensational power-hitting knock, Punjab sealed a five-wicket win over Bangalore, starting their campaign with a blitz. Odean Smith was rewarded as the Man of the Match for his destructive knock.

CSK drops two crucial ones against PBKS

In the 37th match of this season, the Chennai Super Kings clashed against Punjab Kings. CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja invited the opponents to bat first. Punjab Kings were playing well however lost some wickets at regular intervals. The Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa was looking in a great flow with his bat and was playing in a good rhythm. In the seventh over, Rajapaksa tried to smash over the ropes to Jadeja however failed to time the ball. It went high up in the air and seemed an easy catch for Ruturaj Gaikwad; however, the opener dropped it and saved Rajapaksa. In the 9th over, Jadeja created an opportunity against Rajapaksa; however, Mitchell Santner dropped this one, leaving everyone disappointed. Rajapaksa scored 42 runs in just 32 balls with these two life donations. Ultimately, Punjab reached a score of 187/4 with this outstanding knock of Rajapaksa. The Super Kings scored just 176 runs in their 20 overs, with 12 runs short of the target. Punjab sealed a brilliant win over the four-times champion, and the dropped catches turned out to be one of many reasons for this failure of CSK.