3 best fielding moments by PBKS players in IPL 2023
It was again a middling story for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2023, as they got eliminated from the race to the playoffs this season.
Fans of the Punjab-based franchise would understandably be disappointed by their campaign. Despite missing the services of Jonny Bairstow for the season, PBKS were not lacking in resources.
But some ordinary cricket at times and poor tactics cost them a place in the playoffs this season.
It's not that they were pushovers by any stretch, but they missed their chances to dominate their opponents when pushed to the wall.
If one thing stood out this season for them, it was their fielding efforts. They were one of the best fielding sides in not only their catching efficiency but also in saving crucial runs for their team. With 87% catching efficiency, they managed to hold on to 47 catches this season, saving 12 runs on average per innings.
In this article, let's take a look at those moments of brilliance from the Punjab Kings players in IPL 2023.
3 best fielding moments of PBKS players in IPL 2023
#3. Jitesh Sharma
On a belter of a wicket with a fast outfield, 154 was never going to be a tough chase for the Gujarat Titans' strong batting line-up.
And with Wriddhiman Saha going all guns blazing against the Punjab bowlers, it looked like a stroll in the park chase for Gujarat. Saha started taking on Punjab's prime bowler Arshdeep Singh in the third over of the chase.
He had already carted four boundaries to the bowler before Arshdeep bowled a fuller-length delivery outside off, inviting Saha to drive.
The batsman did get forward to drive, only for the ball to take an outside edge, which landed on the bounce and wide of wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma, who dived to his right to stop the certain fifth boundary of the over.
#2. Atharva Taide
If there was any way Punjab could have stopped a rampant Suryakumar Yadav in match 31, then a freak catch would be the only option.
After initial jitters in IPL 2023, Surya seemed to have found his hands and was dismantling bowling units for fun.
Punjab was no exception either, and chasing a monumental target of 215 against PBKS, SKY had no option but to keep attacking on every ball.
With 33 needed off 15 balls, it seemed like he would win it for the Mumbai Indians, but Atharva Taide had other ideas.
Arshdeep Singh went round the wicket and bowled a dipping low full-toss at the stumps, which Surya whipped to the left of mid-wicket fielder Taide, who hopped across and stuck his left palm out to take a blinder of a catch to turn the tides in favor of PBKS.
#1. Shahrukh Khan
If you take one brilliant catch in a match, then you are a good fielder, but if you take two screamers in a match, then you're Shahrukh Khan.
In IPL 2023, when batsmen were finding it hard to bat freely on Ekana's mystery pitches, Lucknow batsmen applied themselves on a red soil wicket and posted a challenging total of 159/8. This score would have been much higher had Shahrukh not taken those blinders.
On both occassions, he displayed tremendous awareness to complete the catch on the boundary rope. He first caught Krunal Pandya's failed attempt to clear the deep midwicket boundary, lobbing the ball in the air as he approached the skirting, went over the rope, came back and completed the catch. He then dismissed Yudhvir Singh with a similar effort at the long-on boundary.