Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav stole the show with an acrobatic boundary-line catch in the T20 World Cup final. It had a huge impact on the match as the Men in Blue defended a 177-run target against South Africa to claim the coveted ICC title after a long wait of 17 years. Surya’s effort also proved the point of how a good fielding effort could immediately change the course of a game.
From Jonty Rhodes to Ravindra Jadeja, many cricketers have gained popularity for their quick reflexes over the generations. Recently, a player drew comparisons with those legendary fielders after he used his foot to complete a catch. The stunning event unfolded in a match of the European Cricket Championship.
An Instagram page named Cricket District shared the footage with the caption, “Just when we think we’ve seen it all, European Cricket delivers once again.” The official account of the tournament also dropped the same video on X (formerly Twitter), lauding the fielder, Kurshad Dalyan. The 17-year-old from Turkey is a pace-bowling all-rounder who represents Afyonkarahisar SHS in the European Cricket Series (ECS).
The batter attempted a lofted shot towards the long-on region but could not time it well. Initially, it seemed like the ball would land safely in a no man’s zone. Kurshad Dalyan, who was placed near the boundary rope, decided to give it a try. He came running to the ball but it was way out of his reach.
When Dalyan realised he wouldn’t be able to get his hands under the ball, he threw his right foot to it. He judged the trajectory well as the ball bounced off his shoe. The fielder made no mistake in completing the catch on his second attempt. The on-field umpires rechecked the catch and the replay showed that the ball had no contact with the ground.
The Instagram post has attracted a reaction from Kurshad Dalyan, who wrote in the comment section, “I’m very lucky.” Many cricket enthusiasts came forward to appreciate his effort. One of them quipped, “Bro changed his game from cricket to football in a split second.”
A viewer gave Dalyan a new nickname– “Cristiano Jadeja”. Another user assumed, “He (Dalyan) probably didn’t want to dive in dirt and found a workaround.” “I thought these things happen only in movies,” wrote an individual.
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