Catches that made the difference: How Sreesanth, Suryakumar, Ishan swung T20 World Cup finals in India’s favour

In cricket, there is a saying: “Catches win matches.” The phrase perfectly captured what happened during the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal, when England captain Harry Brook dropped Sanju Samson on 15. The Indian opener went on to make the difference, smashing 89 off just 42 balls and laying the platform for India’s mammoth 256/4 in 20 overs.

The Men in Blue had faced criticism for poor fielding during the T20 World Cup 2026, dropping as many as 13 catches in the tournament. However, when it mattered most, Suryakumar Yadav’s men rose to the occasion and lifted the trophy for a record third time, beating New Zealand in the final.

In the process, Suryakumar joined an elite group of Indian captains to have won a T20 World Cup after MS Dhoni (2007) and Rohit Sharma (2024). With this win, India became the first team to defend its T20 World Cup title and the first to win it on home soil. Interestingly, in all three finals, it was that one catch that turned the game in their favour.

2007 T20 World Cup final - Sreesanth’s catch vs Pakistan

This will go down as the most important catch in Indian cricket history after Kapil Dev's in the final of the 1983 World Cup. Needing just six runs in the final four balls with a wicket in hand, Pakistan just needed one shot to win after Misbah-ul-Haq single-handedly took the game into the final over.

The Pakistan batter attempted a scoop shot off the bowling of Joginder Sharma. The ball went high up in the air with Sreesanth positioned at the short fine-leg region. The whole of India was watching Sreesanth at that time.

Keeping his composure under immense pressure, Sreesanth settled himself underneath the ball to complete the catch, thus helping India to the inaugural T20 World Cup title. India won the game by five runs.

2024 T20 World Cup final - Suryakumar Yadav’s catch vs South Africa

For Suryakumar Yadav, it was all about holding the nerve, coupled with athleticism and technical brilliance. With 16 runs needed in the final over bowled by Hardik Pandya, the target wasn't impossible in front of David Miller. The South African went across to smash Pandya's wide full toss towards the long-off boundary.

It looked certain that the ball would cross the ropes. But a sudden running Suryakumar reached the ball, and upon realising that his momentum would carry him over the rope, flicked the ball in the air. He hopped back into the field and completed the catch. In the end, India won the final by seven runs.

2026 T20 World Cup final - Ishan Kishan’s catch vs New Zealand

Primarily a wicketkeeper, Ishan Kishan had to come out of his comfort zone in the T20 World Cup 2026. At times when Kishan and Sanju Samson were together in the playing XI, the latter donned the gloves.

Chasing a mountain to climb, New Zealand had hopes till Tim Seifert was in the middle. But Kishan's gun fielding in Ahmedabad made it easier for the Men in Blue. Having smashed 52 off just 26 balls, Seifert started to look dangerous and launched a flat full toss off Varun Chakaravarthy towards the boundary.

Kishan, ran to his right, made sure he is within the boundary line and completed the catch by maintaining his balance. The dismissal ended New Zealand's realistic hopes of a comeback. He had also taken catches of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell during the game.