A bizarre fielding lapse, involving Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar, became a major talking point during the IPL 2026 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (April 26).
In the 18th over of CSK’s batting innings, Kagiso Rabada bowled a short-of-length delivery to Kartik Sharma, who mistimed a pull shot and the ball went high toward square leg.
Suthar and Rashid converged from deep backward square and deep mid-wicket respectively, but failed to communicate. Both players hesitated at the last second, each expecting the other to take the catch. The ball landed safely between them and bounced away for a boundary.
The comical error evoked memories of the infamous fielding blunder Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal made for Pakistan back in 2008 against the West Indies at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Chris Gayle was given reprieve back then. It is considered one of the funniest and most embarrassing dropped catches in cricket history, often shared on social media as well.
Despite the let-off, Rabada eventually dismissed Kartik Sharma later in the same over for 15 runs. CSK ultimately finished their innings at 158/7, led by an unbeaten 74 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
