Iyer, stationed at the long-off boundary, executed a remarkable feat to send Hardik Pandya back to the pavilion. He leapt into the air, initially securing the ball before deftly flicking it back into play with a reverse cup motion, preventing a six and allowing Xavier Bartlett to finalize the catch.
Evidently impressed, Tendulkar praised Iyer’s athleticism and quick thinking, emphasizing that the execution was near perfect under pressure. He called it one of the finest catches he has witnessed live in a stadium.
“What made Shreyas Iyer’s catch so special was not merely the athleticism, but also the awareness behind it. He had to assess the ball’s speed, its height, the position of the boundary rope, and how close he was to stepping out, all while perfecting his jump. While still airborne, he caught the ball and passed it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a fraction of a second requires exceptional awareness, timing, fitness, and composure. @ShreyasIyer15 executed everything flawlessly. One of the best catches I’ve ever seen live!” Tendulkar shared on X (formerly Twitter).
What made Shreyas Iyer’s catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it.
He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect.
Then, while still in the…— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 17, 2026
Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer both hit impressive fifties as Punjab Kings maintained their winning streak with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, who faced their fourth consecutive loss.
Although Quinton de Kock shone with a stellar 112 not out and Naman Dhir contributed 50, rescuing Mumbai Indians in the early stages with a solid 132-run third-wicket partnership, the hosts’ total of 195/6 proved insufficient on a flat pitch against the vibrant Punjab batsmen.
Prabhsimran capitalized on a missed chance from Jasprit Bumrah (0/41), scoring a dynamic 80 not out off 31 balls (11x4s, 2x6s), while captain Iyer showcased his form with a 66 off 35 balls (5x4s, 4x6s), combining for a robust 139-run partnership for the third wicket.
In pursuit of 196, PBKS crossed the finish line with 21 balls to spare, finishing at 198/3, as MI’s bowlers collectively underwhelmed, with AM Ghazanfar’s 2/31 being the sole highlight.
Punjab got off to a rapid start, with the first over bowled by Deepak Chahar yielding 21 runs, putting MI on the defensive.
