Watch: Jofra Archer has had quite an IPL 2020 campaign with bat and ball, and now he’s added an extraordinary catch in the field to his growing, glittering body of work.
The moment came on the fourth ball of tenth over of the first innings of Rajasthan Royals’ clash against Mumbai Indians. Kartik Tyagi bowled a short, wide delivery to Ishan Kishan, who was well set on 37 from 35 balls. The batsman scythed the ball over the off-side, with the ball flying in the air towards the third-man fence.
It seemed on course to clear the boundary, but Archer jumped, stretched, twisted in mid-air, and grabbed a one-handed stunner before nonchalantly getting to his feet and lobbing the ball back in.
He seemed about the calmest person in the ground. Andrew McDonald, RR coach, smiled in bemusement and applauded, Tyagi put his hands on his head in disbelief, Riyan Parag became the living embodiment of the ‘shocked’ emoji, while Ben Stokes could only laugh at the absurdity of the act of brilliance.
Stokes’ presence was fitting, given the catch evoked his stunner in the opening game of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo, which led to Nasser Hussain’s immortal commentary line, “No way! No, no way! You cannot do that Ben Stokes!”
The commentators were just as baffled this time around. “Ah you’re kidding me! You are kidding me!” yelled Danny Morrison. “Just like that it’s Archer! Holy schmoly! That is obscene.”
“Only a West Indian can do that, he can jump” said Ian Bishop. “Great athleticism.”
Watch Archer’s stunning IPL catch below:
Ben Stokes' reaction. Says it all. pic.twitter.com/PBHghzMJ7Z
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 25, 2020
If that video isn’t available to watch in your location, you can find the video on the IPL website.
